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The Coat Is Always On Lyrics

Mother don't sit
Mother don't stand
Mother don't send me

Sister, come lay your head on me
(Smoking grass go into the movie)
(The ambulance is after you too)
(Promise we're gonna go to New York City)
I can see you haven't had any sleep in a long time
(Sorry about the fight in front of you)
(Anchorwoman said 'motherfucker' on TV)

That baby's gonna be so easy on me
Never see his smile
Never see his face

Father said he was gonna give me something
(Smoking grass, go into the movie)
He gave me hate
(The ambulance is after you too)
(Promise we're gonna go to New York City)
Mother don't sit
(Sorry about the fight in front of you)
Mother don't stand
(Anchorwoman said 'motherfucker' on TV)
Mother don't send me

Brother can't even speak
(The coat is always on because it's always cold)
He's got a tongue and two legs to walk on
(You always laugh when she wants to hear it)
(A lot of times we would just starve)
And he can't breath
(They recognize the color of the smear)

Brother is old and grey
(Maybe we'll all listen when you can read my mind)
Brother is old and grey
(I'm sorry, please don't be mad)
Brother is old and grey
(You always laugh when she wants to hear it)
And he's only
(A lot of times we'd just starve)
He's only seventeen

Father said he was gonna give me something
(We recognize the color of the smear)
He gave me hate
(Maybe we will all listen when we are all under)
Mother don't sit
(Maybe we will all listen when we are all under)
Mother don't stand
(Maybe we will all listen when we are all under)
Mother please don't send me

Maybe I'll listen and you can read my mind
I'm sorry please don't be mad

What happened to home?
(Anchorwoman said motherfucker on TV)
What happened to home sweet?
(Maybe I'll listen when you can read my mind)
What happened to home sweet?
(I'm sorry, please don't be mad)
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Cover art for The Coat Is Always On lyrics by Cat Power

smoking grass go into the movie the ambulance is after you today promise we're gonna go to new york city sorry about the fight in front of you the anchor woman said 'motherfucker' on tv

the coat is always on because it's always cold you always laugh when she wants to hear it a lot of times we would just starve they recognize the color of the smear maybe i'll listen and you can read my mind i'm sorry please don't be mad

we recognize the color of the smear maybe we will all listen when we are all under

Cover art for The Coat Is Always On lyrics by Cat Power

"Brother can't even speak He's got a tongue and two legs to walk on And he can leave Brother is old and grey Brother is old and grey Brother is old and grey And he's only He's only seventeen"

i think this is a refernce to george orwell's "1984"

Cover art for The Coat Is Always On lyrics by Cat Power

Wow I never noticed how much this song relates to me

Cover art for The Coat Is Always On lyrics by Cat Power

This song reminds me of my childhood best friend and his relationship with his family. Ironically, his hair was a little grey at 17...

Cover art for The Coat Is Always On lyrics by Cat Power

I think this song is about how depression affects those around us, and how ultimately the environment will affect us. The first part, requesting her sister to lay her head down, means that her sister (or the one she pretends to have for this song) is fatigued and weak from depression. The lyrics "Father said he was going to give me something / gave me hate" mean, in my perception, that you can't even run to your family for help; they will only hate you and make you feel worse. The part stating "Brother can't even speak...he's only 17" talks about that depression has gotten the better hold of her brother, to the point he can't even function normally in daily life. Surprisingly this brother she refers to is only 17, so young yet depression can still affect anybody. I think the very last part, about "home sweet home" questions what happened to the "good old days" and wonders if life will ever get better. Either that, or perhaps she is referring to suicide and the "home" is Heaven, and she is contemplating suicide and remembering there is always death to fall back on.

 
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