Mary Chapin Carpenter - This Shirt Lyrics






This shirt is old and faded
All the color's washed away
I've had it now for more damn years
Than I can count anyway
I wear it beneath my jacket
With the collar turned up high
So old I should replace it
But I'm not about to try

This shirt's got silver buttons
And a place upon the sleeve
Where I used to set my heart up
Right there anyone could see
This shirt is the one I wore to every boring high school dance
Where the boys ignored the girls
And we all pretended to like the band

This shirt was a pillow for my head
On a train through Italy
This shirt was a blanket beneath the love
We made in Argeles
This shirt was lost for three whole days
In a town near Buffalo
'Till I found the locker key
In a downtown Trailways bus depot

This shirt was the one I lent you
And when you gave it back
There was a rip inside the sleeve
Where you rolled your cigarettes
It was the place I put my heart
Now look at where you put a tear
I forgave your thoughtlessness
But not the boy who put it there

This shirt was the place your cat
Decided to give birth to five
And we stayed up all night watching
And we wept when the last one died
This shirt is just an old faded piece of cotton
Shining like the memories
Inside those silver buttons

This shirt is a grand old relic
With a grand old history
I wear it now for Sunday chores
Cleaning house and raking leaves
I wear it beneath my jacket
With the collar turned up high
So old I should replace it
But I'm not about to try





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Mary Chapin Carpenter This Shirt Comments
  1. P.... L....

    One of these songs, when she sings shining like a memory inside those silver buttons i have tears in my eyes

  2. K.... G....

    I saw her in concert at red rocks Colorado. WOW fabulous

  3. J.... D....

    Mary Chapin , Now that you mentioned about Buffalo. Come on down. I'd love to see you sometime. I miss hearing from you.

  4. D.... W....

    It was a shirt a young lady who I really loved picked out for me. We did not last together and I kept the shirt a lot longer than I should have. Yeah, this song hits me hard every time I hear it.

  5. M.... .....

    Have this song on a 33 vinyl record

  6. H.... D....

    Mary is a legend 😊

  7. c.... g....

    We all have our own "this shirt", whatever it may be, that defines our life's journey.  That's the beauty of this song, that we all relate in our own way.

  8. G.... ....

    No one can rip at my heartstrings the way Mary Chapin can. I wish I could see her in concert just one more time...

  9. C.... B....

    Love it!!

  10. B.... B....

    The Shirt is symbolic of each of our life’s journeys. One of the best written songs about life. I’ve been listening to it for years. Thanks MC2.

  11. G.... M....

    Beautiful song; beautifully sung.

  12. M.... G....

    Thanks Mary...GREAT SONG !!!!

  13. P.... M....

    I could play this song over and over. I treasure the times I have seen her perform. Thank you, Mary.

  14. c.... ....

    I'm no bleeding heart but as many times as I've heard this song I still have to brace myself each time for the verse about watching the five kittens die. Easily my favorite musical artist.

    c.... ....

    Pete, listen closely, if it's any consolation, only the last and fifth kitten dies....

  15. z.... ....

    My favorite Singer****

  16. A.... ....

    I first heard this song when I worked at a country station in 1992. Always looked forward to playing it, and still get dewy-eyed whenever I hear it.

  17. C.... S....

    What an adorable poem and tune. Inspiring to all.

  18. z.... ....

    Great Mary******

  19. G.... G....

    Okay now it is 9 songs of Mary's in a row. Damn I am addicted. At 64 I am ashamed to say I have never heard of her until now. You tube rocks and more. So does Mary.

  20. R.... ....

    On my favorite list

  21. c.... ....

    Yeah. We all have that shirt and stories inside it, but we cant write them down the way Mary Chapin did. I knew that shirt so well, the red flanel one, and kept it 20 years past its prime just so I could listen to it speak to me so I could write it down and I couldnt do it. Maybe one day i'll hear it still, the weaves and threads finally letting go and giving up their treasure.

  22. D.... R....

    One of my favourite songs. Garnet Rogers cover is fantastic!

  23. B.... W....

    It's a nice song

  24. c.... e....

    What a so beautiful song!

  25. D.... J....

    I love MCC. Ever since the release of State of the Heart.

  26. c.... e....

    What a beautiful song and singer.

  27. J.... L....

    What an incredible song -- what a great subject to sing about. We can probably all relate to it in some manner. A favorite pair of shoes, boots, jacket, sweater, pocket book, hat, even an old car....but, Mary Chapin Carpenter's "This Shirt" hits the nail on the head. This singer-songwriter is one of the finest ever.

  28. i.... c....

    Been a while since I've  heard her poetry... Incredible

  29. J.... H....

    One of my faves!

  30. B.... A....

    Who else do we know that can write a great song about a "Shirt" ?

  31. J.... W....

    My wife and I saw MCC years ago in Vermont. Great concert, she is an excellent singer/songwriter.

  32. o.... ....

    I feel so privileged to have first heard this song back in the days when MCC was doing warm up gigs and only had a handful of songs, inc. this gem.

  33. b.... ....

    this song is the reason I love MCC!

    b.... ....

    me too but also Marys Land...

  34. J.... ....

    WOW! ... what Lyrics! ...... :-)

  35. A.... ....

    I love all her songs!!! sadly they are hard to find in France. My favo is Jubilee!

  36. K.... B....

    I drove out to Kansas from PA with three small boys all by myself and it was so wonderful. We listened to this album the whole way out and back!

  37. i.... ....

    The sleeve with your heart rolled into it, walking into the high school dance and hoping.......Just hoping. Things don't matter, except when they DO matter.

  38. H.... J....

    Come join "The Mary Chapin Carpenter Group" on Facebook. It's lots of fun. Always looking for people to contribute videos, photos and stories. Thank you!

  39. D.... G....

    Cannot believe that you were in Belfast the same time as us this summer and I didn't go..............this is a great song and wow she's so young and beautiful

  40. S.... ....

    MCC communicates her pure heart into incredibly touching, beautiful songs. Brilliant.

  41. W.... M....

    Such memories~

  42. D.... L....

    SO brilliant! I've never been able to get through it without crying. Ever.

    D.... L....

    Pure Energy
    The line about the fifth kitten dying really gets me. The come on come on album had songs that could rip your heart out as well, I am a town, and only a dream. Just listened to these exquisite songs in rapid succession and feeling beautifully melancholy. These songs seem seem much more poignant at 50 than when I wore them out at 24.
    Mary Chapin Carpenter, now that, my friends is a songwriter!

  43. B.... B....

    Mary is one of the best songwriters around. This is the first country cd I've ever bought.

    B.... B....

    Mumford

  44. P.... M....

    I really like this song, and I wish she would release it as a single.

    P.... M....

    @Pete Marshall She did. 25 years ago.

    P.... M....

    +Rick Bentsen But it was completely overlooked. This first time I remember seeing this video was on VH-1 and remember thinking, What a brilliant narrative and how odd it was that she's never fully seen in the video.

  45. R.... G....

    Again a real poet and musician. Thanks to exist, MCC, you bring so much heat in my heart.

  46. t.... ....

    Not taking from Mary but if you have time to listen give Garnet Rodgers cover of this song a spin , it's where I first heard it .

  47. D.... S....

    I have my duffel bag issued at Ft Jackson in 1983 and went all over the world until 2007. Strange how we become attached to inanimate objects.

  48. M.... S....

    I got an old shirt that i just can't throw away too!

  49. J.... B....

    Still one of her all-time best.

  50. J.... H....

    best in all the world of MCC's songs.  Love it

  51. D.... W....

    Still a beautiful song from a beautiful lady!  Thank you!

  52. A.... a....

    Beautiful song. She sounds so much better when she drops that godawful, shit-kicker country twang and just sings in her natural voice like this.

    A.... a....

    Don't belittle shit-kickers and their drawl.
    It's shows your prejudices and judgmental snit too easily.
    Perhaps you'd like to hear her sing with an inner-city ghetto twang?
    Count your blessings, friend.
    :-)

    A.... a....

    @Raoul Carggarglin
    I love a good sexy southern drawl. my room mate in college was from southern Virginia and I pcked up his accent after a while. when his mother visited she didn't believe I was from England...

    A.... a....

    Can't imagine anyone, who doesn't appreciate, the southern drawl of a good southern woman!

  53. J.... d....

    I so love this song - reminds me of my way through life so much

  54. u.... ....

    Just before heading to Uni today I randomly remembered hearing this song when I was kid 16 years ago or so, but couldn't really remember it that well. Decided to quickly track it down, and had to even look it up by searching for a handful of lyrics I knew.

    Now I'm having to choke back the tears and dry my eyes again thanks to that little bit of curiosity. Damn it Mary!

  55. B.... S....

    Beautiful song. Makes me cry every time. 

    B.... S....

    +Bob Smith Me to ....

  56. J.... J....

    I could try to explain how beautiful this song is... but I'm not about to try.

    J.... J....

    Well said! One of my favorite songs of all time.

    J.... J....

    Jarno Järveläinen lbbbbb

  57. G.... ....

    Love this song!! <3 <3 Great story behind it too. :) Love you Chapin!!!! <3 <3

  58. t.... p....

    Haven't heard it for a whle great

  59. C.... F....

    Such a great song and wonderfully talented lady, love her voice and great guitar playing

  60. J.... H....

    always loved this song - still do - wonderful - thank you

  61. r.... j....

    MC2, Love you always.

  62. A.... ....

    My mother used to play this song over and over when I was a kid. Loved it, then actually listened to the lyrics when I got old. Great story behind the song

  63. s.... ....

    Johnny, you are wise beyond your years. I congratulate you on your mature taste I .am also a little concerned that you are listening to such introspective music. Please continue to keep your ears eyes and mind open

  64. N.... S....

    every song tells a story, this is a beautiful story. :3

  65. L.... B....

    Loved your "he thinks he'll keep her video"......you should do one to this kiddo!

  66. M.... G....

    I have all her albums, State of The Heart is still the one I listen to most.

  67. J.... J....

    This shirt and whole State of the Heart-album are great. So hard pick favorite, but this was once my favorite.

  68. c.... ....

    How many artists could write such a moving song about something as mundane as a shirt?

  69. h.... ....

    or you just mispelled a four letter word

  70. T.... ....

    @hardcorenate123456 You misused "buy", it's "by".

  71. h.... ....

    @hotkarlhot how did you get through school buy misspelling four letter words

  72. S.... ....

    @LittlelonghornGBG95 Well then the "beast" as you put it is Mary Chapin Carpenter herself, because she wrote the song. She usually writes her own material and this song is no exception. I agree with you, a great song with lyrics full of depth, unlike most of today's mainstream music (country or otherwise).

  73. B.... C....

    Love this song/story :-)

  74. P.... ....

    So. Much. Nostalgia.

  75. R.... R....

    I've listened to this song as long as I can remember. It brings back memories from when things were simple, pure. Brings tears to my eyes every time.

  76. A.... K....

    My friend and my godfather died this week. This was one of his favourite songs. He introduced me to it 8yrs ago.

  77. t.... ....

    not really. you heard her did you not<<

  78. K.... ....

    still my favorite MCC song. She was great in concert a few months ago in Morristown, NJ!

  79. C.... S....

    This song is a gem of popular music. I love these simple yet magical words. No one can describe everybody´s life so beautifully. This girl is unique!

  80. L.... S....

    That shirt should be on My floor :))

  81. e.... m....

    I am a man and not big on country music but I just Love this Lady---what an incredible songwriter---would love to meet her in person---

  82. d.... ....

    Seeing MCC and Shawn Colvin at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California next month!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!

  83. D.... M....

    I absolutely LOVE this song. I sing along with Mary Chapin (Chappy) and usually get teary eyed.

  84. l.... ....

    Mary's music is magically moving! I love her! So talented!

  85. g.... ....

    I love this song too!

  86. B.... L....

    a Beautiful story teller in verse

  87. K.... Y....

    love this song :)