Catherine
PJ Harvey · Is This Desire? [1998]
Catherine De Barra you've murdered my thinking
I gave you my heart, you left the thing stinking
I'd break from your spell if it weren't for my drinking
And the wind bites more bitter with each light of morning
I envy the road, the ground you tread under
I envy the wind, your hair riding over
I envy the pillow your head rests and slumbers,
I envy to murderous envy your lover
'til the light shines on me
I damn to hell every second you breathe
I envy...
Oh my Catherine
for your eyes smiling
and your mouth singing
with time I'd have won you
with wile I'd have won you
or your mouth singing
I gave you my heart, you left the thing stinking
I'd break from your spell if it weren't for my drinking
And the wind bites more bitter with each light of morning
I envy the road, the ground you tread under
I envy the wind, your hair riding over
I envy the pillow your head rests and slumbers,
I envy to murderous envy your lover
'til the light shines on me
I damn to hell every second you breathe
I envy...
Oh my Catherine
for your eyes smiling
and your mouth singing
with time I'd have won you
with wile I'd have won you
or your mouth singing
Catherine
Released on the 1998 album Is This Desire?, "Catherine" stands as a defining track in PJ Harvey's evolution from post-punk to gothic rock. The song exemplifies her signature use of distorted guitars, haunting vocals, and atmospheric production to explore themes of isolation and emotional turbulence. As a centerpiece of her discography from this era, the recording showcases her ability to blend raw intensity with melodic vulnerability. Its enduring presence in her catalogue highlights its status as a pivotal moment in her artistic development, resonating deeply within the alternative music landscape of the late 1990s.