It had something to do with the rain
Leaching, loamy dirt
And the way the back lane came alive
Half moon whispered, "Go"
For a while I heard you missing steps in the street
And your anger pleading in an uncertain key
Singing the sound that you found for me

When the winter took the tips of my ears
Found this noisy home
Full of pigeons and places to hide
And when the voices die
I emerged to watch abandoned machines
Waiting for their men to return
I remember the way I would wait for you
To arrive with kibble and a box full of beer
How I'd scratch the empties desperate to hear
You make the sound that you found for me

After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby
Let you brush my matted fur
How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
Shallow breathing made me purr

But I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound


Lyrics submitted by superficies, edited by Mellow_Harsher, komies

Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure Lyrics as written by Jason Tait John K Samson

Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING

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Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure song meanings
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    General Comment

    Signed up just because of this song. Here's my take on the lyrics, which basically agree with everything that you folks have said. Virtute's departure is explained in the first four lines of the song. The rain, the loamy dirt, and the half-moon all whispered for Virtute to "go". All of these natural, outdoorsy things remind Virtute about the freedom that she had being a feral, outdoorsy cat, and these things convince her to leave and go back to that life. She feels taken for granted by her owner, who prefers his beer to Virtute and who likes wallowing in self-pity (from the first song). Now, she's back to being a feral cat who can't remember the sound her owner once made for her (Virtute, her name). But yet she still finds herself thinking wistfully about her ex-owner, even as her memories of him are leaving. I have heard a LOT of songs in my lifetime. A LOT. And none of them hit me as hard as this one does. As much as I love it, I also find it sort of hard to listen to, as it makes me want to cry every time I do. My girlfriend simply refuses to listen to this song because it breaks her heart every time. God willing, on the next release by The Weakerthans, there will be a song called "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Return". There has to be. Please?

    Killian32on October 29, 2007   Link

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