Last time I saw you, you were on stage
Your hair was wild, your eyes were red
And you were in a rage
You were swinging your guitar around.
Cause they wanted to hear that sound
But you didn't want to play.
And I don't blame you.

I don't blame you.

Been around the world, in many situations
Been inside many heads in different positions
But you never wanted them that way.
What a cruel price you thought that you had to pay.
And that for all that shit on stage.

But it never made sense to them anyway,
Could you imagine if when they turned their backs
They were only scratching their heads.
Cause you simply deserve the best.
And I don't blame you

They said you were the best,
But then they were only kids
Then you would recall the deadly houses you grew up in
Just because they knew your name,
Doesn't mean they know from where you came
What a sad trick you thought that you had to play.
But I don't blame you

They never owned it
And you never owed it to them anyway.

I don't blame you.



Lyrics submitted by Brutin

Track duration: 03:05

"I Don't Blame You" as written by Corey Latif Williams, Anthony Ryan Leslie

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


I Don't Blame You song meanings
Add your thoughts

41 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    Song Meaning:It is about Kurt Cobain.

    The song I Don't Blame You, from 2003's You Are Free, has been taken as a rejection of fans' demands, specifically the lines: "They never owned it/ And you never owed it to them anyway." Online message boards have been filled with speculation over who it's about – Marshall herself or some other fame-troubled singer?

    "I've never told anybody this," she says, "but that is about Kurt Cobain. It's about him blowing his head off."

    guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/18/…
    Flag StrsrStrson August 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about Amy winehouse, actually.

    well...No, i don't but still - she said it could be about anyone, so it could have been brian wilson,conor oberst, marilyn manson...sufjan stevens (line 4 & 5 - thats why he never has a banjo any more!)
    quelqu'un
    Flag xgames180on March 30, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:On second thought, it's obviously about Django Reinhardt. I'm 96.4877301% sure.
    Flag ApesMaon November 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm 100% sure it isn't about Kurt Cobain OR Elliot Smith. You people glomming onto that don't know enough about Chan Marshall.

    My Theories:
    1) it's about Chan Marshall
    2) it's about Marc Bolan
    3) it about Weird Al Yankovic
    4) it's about none of the above, no one in particular...
    Flag ApesMaon November 04, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I always think of Syd Barrett when I listen to this song.
    Flag afro_kidon May 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe it's about Kurt Cobain as well and it's really poignant and makes me sad all over again. sad and yet at peace with it, y'know - that's kinda what the song is about too. cat power is awesome.
    Flag lyrical_butterflyon September 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure she's singing to herself. Or to her old self-destructive self. This song seems like a eulogy for early cat power. "I Don't Blame You" and the next song on the record, "Free" sound like an artist giving herself permission to be reborn. And the changes in her sound and confidence in her live performance and interviews around this time gives this interpretation weight.
    Flag robofagpantson June 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe this song to be about her and no one else. Chan struggled with severe alcoholism during the writing process of this album. She didn't go into rehab until shortly before it was released. She was at the peak of her addiction and terribly depressed. She was so depressed that she believed herself to be worthless and this caused her terrible stage fright which would sometimes lead to her actually walking off stage in the middle of a set, which left many fans upset and confused. I think this was her way of telling everyone that she needed to get help and she didn't owe anyone an explanation for her prior behavior.
    Flag cehlrainsaon September 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:She has implied in several interviews that this song is completely autobiographical.
    Flag mcdanielon July 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sounded very reminiscent of Kurt to me.

    It's definitely not about Elliott Smith, or at least not his death, since "You Are Free" was released 8 months before he died.
    Flag JeremyB1on March 27, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain