Katy Song

Red House Painters

Some escape some door to open
This path seems the blackest but I
Guess it's the soonest
But there in the clearing I
Know you'll be wearing
Your young aching smile and
Waving your hand
Can't go with my heart when I
Can't feel what's in it I
Thought you'd come over
But for some reason you didn't
Glass on the pavement under my shoe
Without you is all my life amounts to

A final sleep no
Words from my cutting
Mouth to your ear or
Taut wicked pinches
From my fingers to your bitter face
That I can't heal
I know tomorrow
You will be
Somewhere in London
Living with someone
You've got some kind of family
There to turn to
And that's more than I could ever give you

A chance for calm
A hope for freedom
Outlet from my cold solitary kingdom
By the forest of our spring stay
Where you walked away
And left a bleeding part of me
Empty and bothered
Watching the water
Quiet in the corner
Numb and falling through
Without you what does my life amount to


Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown

Katy Song Lyrics as written by Mark Edward Kozelek

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Katy Song song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentThis is simply one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It describes the feeling of loving someone you can't have in a way words alone can't. The haunted lyrics surrounded by the fluttery guitar melodies make this song unforgettable to me. Most of all, I perfectly relate to it.
    GrungeRock1991on April 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis is a great song. I love the lines "can't go with my heart when i can't feel what's in it" and "without you what does my life amount to?"
    matrixmouse7on June 06, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Commentgreat song to make people cry! me too!
    "without you my life amounts to a final sleep..."
    just beautiful! =~
    Xpretoxon July 07, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Commenti think this song is one of the truly profound demonstrations of human divinity. how he can integrate such graceful poetry in common conversational narrative floors me. just reading the lyrics on this neon screen bring tears to my eyes.
    fallenhorseson October 18, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentSpeaks to me in a lot of ways, too, especially 'cause my "first love", we'll say, fits a lot of what's here, and not in a "I'll make her fit" type of way. Still feel for her sometimes, a lot of times when the weather starts to turn to autumn; guess I'll never quite know why, but it's the same feeling as this song - know she's better off somewhere else, with someone else, and yet...
    SovietCommissaron September 15, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI remember it was the 23rd of December 2021, it was me and her laying on her bed looking at the ceiling as if we were looking at the stars, here where I live it\'s too cloudy to ever see stars during the Winter. I had asked her if she wanted to listen to music and I introduced her to the last song I would have ever shown her, it was Katy song. As soon as I heard the guitar melody I knew neither of us would be okay at the end, our situation was so complex like a math equation you spend hours working on but you just can\'t get the answer, truth is it\'s right in front of you it\'s all supposed to make sense but for some reason it didn\'t. One thing I wish I knew when laying down with her is that I wish I knew this would be the last time I ever saw her, I was so clueless not knowing what was bound to happen the day after, but at this moment it didn\'t matter, hearing this song play in the background subconsciously explaining our situation we had at that moment is all we needed before a goodbye, we felt at peace. The day after she did something that made me realize I couldn\'t stay hurting my self and waiting for someone that can\'t be with me, so I said goodbye. I don\'t know where you are, or what you\'re doing right now Vanessa, but I know life will be good to you, even if it won\'t be for me, I love you.
    Dylan_Barreraon January 12, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI really like this song; it's very mellow.
    atarisemokidon June 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentyea. this guy knows how to write one amazingly dperessing song. i love it. it seems pretty straight forward. he loves a girl but he has so many issues she cant really stay with him. but it hurts him bad for her to leave. but she is leaving him and he doesnt know if he can handle it.
    gregisgregon October 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentyea. this guy knows how to write one amazingly dperessing song. i love it. it seems pretty straight forward. he loves a girl but he has so many issues she cant really stay with him. but it hurts him bad for her to leave. but she is leaving him and he doesnt know if he can handle it.
    gregisgregon October 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love this song.
    in huge part to the fact that my name is katy.

    ha and i love that my ex is probably thinking this.
    yussss.
    iforgoton June 25, 2006   Link

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