06. Catherine
Written by Polly Jean Harvey
Musicians: Polly Jean Harvey, Mick Harvey, John Parish, Rob Ellis, Eric Drew Feldman, Jeremy Hogg, and Joe Gore

Found on:
Is This Desire?

There has been much debate about who Catherine (of the song of the same title) is. Noe sent these lines from the book Wurthering Heights (Emily Bronte), which has a character named Catherine: "I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, and everything he touches, and every word he says - I love all his looks and all his actions, and him entirely, and altogether" (Chapter 9, page 78). These lines seem to be mimicked by Harvey with "I envy the road, the ground you tread under. I envy the wind, your hair riding over. I envy your pillow, your head rests and slumbers. I envy to murderous, envy your lover."

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 breath

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