7 Year Bitch was formed in 1990 by vocalist Selene Vigil, guitarist Stefanie Sargent, bassist Elizabeth Davis and drummer Valerie Agnew. Vigil, Sargent, and Agnew had been playing together in the Seattle band Barbie's Dream Car when their bassist left for Europe. They subsequently recruited Davis and renamed their band after the movie Seven Year Itch.
At their first concert, the band opened for The Gits, who would prove to have a significant influence on their music. In 1991 the band released the single "Lorna" and signed with C/Z Records. Their first album, Sick 'Em, was released in 1992, but it was overshadowed by Sargent's death on June 27. Sargent passed out on her back after returning home from a party where she had drunk alcohol and taken a small amount of heroin. She died of asphyxiation when she failed to wake up after throwing up the contents of her stomach. After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the band decided to continue, recruiting guitarist Roisin Dunne as Sargent's replacement later that year.
In July 1993, longtime friend and Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata was brutally raped and murdered while walking home late at night. This event, coupled with Sargent's death the previous year, had a profound effect on the group. As a reaction, the band recorded and released their second album ¡Viva Zapata! (1994) in tribute to both of their fallen friends. Valerie Agnew also became the primary instigator and co-founder of the anti-violence and self-defence organisation Home Alive. On April 8, 1994, the band played a benefit show for Rock Against Domestic Violence at the Cameo Theatre on Miami Beach, alongside Babes in Toyland and Jack Off Jill.
In 1995 the band signed with Atlantic Records, and in 1996 released their third album, Gato Negro. Following the tour supporting Gato Negro, guitarist Roisin Dunne left, and was replaced by Lisa Faye Beatty, the band's live sound engineer and long-time friend.
In early 1997, the band began recording material for what was to be their fourth album. The band moved from Seattle to California, Elizabeth Davis and Valerie Agnew to San Francisco and Selene Vigil to Los Angeles. With the recent departure of their guitarist, Roisin Dunne and the geographical separation between bandmates, Seven Year Bitch's career came to a close after a final tour with San Francisco's Lost Goat.
Following the break-up of 7 Year Bitch, bassist Elizabeth Davis joined the San Francisco-based band Clone, with whom she performed until 2003. In 2005 she helped to form the band Von Iva. Vocalist Selene Vigil formed a gothic/psychedelic-influenced band by the name of Cistine, in 2000. Roisin Dunne joined the band The Last Goodbye in 2006, and now resides in New York.
Their songs, "The Scratch" and "Icy Blue" were featured in the movie Mad Love with Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell.
Get Lit
7 Year Bitch Lyrics
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Get under foot
Get to the square root
Put a word to a feelin'
Let 'em know with whom they're dealin'
Dear Elizabeth throw your fit
Yes you can talk or you can walk, you can walk away
You can stay and make em pay for you, feeling this way
He goes down on me with my (critique??) you'd mind quite a bit
Dear Elizabeth throw a fit, makes me feel like I'm lit
Get out of hand
Get under foot
Get to the square root
Put a word to a feelin'
Let 'em know with whom they're dealin'
In "Get Lit" by 7 Year Bitch, the lyrics encourage empowerment and assertiveness in women. The song seems to be directed at a specific person, Elizabeth, who is encouraged to throw a fit and make her feelings known. The use of repetition in the chorus reinforces the idea that it is important to be assertive and not let others walk all over you. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has likely faced some kind of oppression or inconvenience by another person, and they are determined to stand up for themselves.
The lyrics also seem to promote a sense of community and shared experiences among women. The line "Let'em know with whom they're dealin'" implies that the singer is not alone in her struggles and encourages others to speak up and be heard. The song also suggests that collective action can lead to positive change.
Furthermore, the lyrics contain a sense of rebellion and defiance. The phrase "makes me feel like I'm lit" could be interpreted as feeling ignited or energized by expressing one's feelings and standing up for oneself. The use of the word 'lit', which is typically used to describe something that is on fire, implies that the singer is ready to ignite change and take action.
Line by Line Meaning
Get out of hand
Lose control of emotions and actions
Get under foot
Feel unwanted or in the way
Get to the square root
Find the source or cause of a problem
Put a word to a feelin'
Express an emotion in words
Let 'em know with whom they're dealin'
Make others aware of one's identity or intentions
Dear Elizabeth throw your fit
Express oneself even if it leads to conflict
Yes you can talk or you can walk, you can walk away
Choose to confront or avoid a situation
You can stay and make em pay for you, feeling this way
Stay and demand compensation for mistreatment
Thrown out grow up I shot
Rejected and forced to mature quickly
He goes down on me with my critique you'd mind quite a bit
Partner performs oral sex while receiving criticism
Dear Elizabeth throw a fit, makes me feel like I'm lit
Expressing oneself feels empowering and rejuvenating
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.