Released worldwide after a low-key independent record label pressing in the United Kingdom, "Vow" went on to top the alternative charts in Australia and reach the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Garbage hadn't initially planned its release as a single, or its inclusion on their debut album, 1995's Garbage.
In 2007, "Vow" was remastered and included on Garbage's greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.
"Vow" began in rough demo form in January, 1994, during sessions between band members Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker located in either Marker's basement recording studio or at their own Smart Studios business in Wisconsin university town Madison.After Marker saw Shirley Manson's group Angelfish on 120 Minutes, the band invited Manson to Smart Studios to sing on a couple of tracks. After a dreadful first audition, she returned to Angelfish. Manson eventually returned to Smart for a successful second time, where she began to work on the then-skeletal "Queer" and "Vow" (ad-libbing lyrics).
The genesis of "Vow" came from a newspaper article Vig had read about a sado-masochistic couple who couldn't keep away from each other, an intense relationship showing that violence can come from psychological stand point. Garbage had even joked to journalists the song was about John and Lorena Bobbitt.Lyrically, Manson claimed "'Vow' is about having feelings [of vengeance]. You have to face your feelings of revenge and work out why you feel that way. It's about that conundrum when you're really angry but in reality your in a pitiful state. Angry, twisted, but deep down, vulnerable"
Halfway through the recording sessions for Garbage, Mushroom's Rob Jefferson secured the band a Volume compilation inclusion.[10] The only song the band had finished in any shape or form was "Vow". When the Volume compilation was released in December, 1994, "Vow" began to receive radio airplay on XFM and from Radio 1 DJs Steve Lamacq, John Peel and Johnnie Walker. Word-of-mouth on "Vow" took the track back to the U.S.By May, 1995, alternative radio in the U.S. had picked up on the track, and it began to receive heavy rotation nationwide.
The terms of the licensing deal regarding "Vow"'s inclusion on Volume meant that the single could only be released on a limited basis.Mushroom wanted to issue "Vow" commercially to gauge reaction to the Band's music.Concerned that their label was only known in the U.K. for the Neighbours theme, to move away from the association, Mushroom founded the Discordant label for the sole purpose launching Garbage.
Prior to commercial release "Vow" had already topped NME's playlist chart for 5 weeks and received "Single of the Week" status in seven publications,including NME and Melody Maker. On March 20, "Vow" was released in a 7" vinyl format, backed with a remix of the title track and packaged in an aluminium sleeve. 1,000 copies were pressed, of which only 934 were made available to buy,barely enough to reach the U.K. Top 100."Vow" sold out in one day.
"Vow" debuted on Hot Modern Rock Tracks at #39, where it climbed over the following weeks peaking at #26 twice."Vow" was released commercially in the U.S. on June 20 on CD maxi and cassette formats. "Vow" bubbled under for two weeksbefore it spent two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 staying at #97 both weeks. "Vow" became notable as setting the record as the lowest-debuting "Hot Shot Debut" in Hot 100 history (which has since been broken).
Mushroom and Discordant licensed "Vow" for distribution internationally, releasing the single on June 20, with two brand new b-sides, "Subhuman" and "#1 Crush". For Australia and New Zealand, White, in addition to CD and cassette, issued a limited edition CD format packaged in a rubber wallet.In Australia, after four weeks "Vow" peaked at #32,topping their alternative charts,while in New Zealand, "Vow" reached #41."Vow" was also released by BMG in Europe and South Africa.
For its U.K. and North American release, "Vow" was backed with "Vow (Torn Apart)", a remix produced by Garbage themselves. For the international release of the single "Vow" was backed with "Subhuman" and "#1 Crush". "Subhuman" had only ever been intended as a b-side for the "Vow" single, but on August 7, 1995, it was released as "Vow"'s follow-up single in the U.K., as Mushroom considered it a strong song.In October, 1996, a remix of "#1 Crush" by Nellee Hooper was released on the soundtrack to Baz Luhrman movie William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Airplay of the track resulted in it, on January 4, 1997, reaching #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, staying for four weeks. It also reached #29 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.
Both "Vow" and "#1 Crush" were released on the b-side to "Subhuman".
The U.K. release of "Vow" was in a 7" vinyl format packaged in an aluminum metal case, the first of six specially packaged singles Mushroom Records released between 1995 and 1996. Each single cost the label, making a 70p per unit loss on each single, but the investment paid off as each subsequent single became bigger hits. Second single "Subhuman" followed in a rubber sleeve, "Only Happy When It Rains" in a hologram-stickered rain-effect card sleeve, "Queer" in a perspex case, "Stupid Girl" in both red and blue cloth bags and finally "Milk" in a rippled card sleeve with a 16-frame 3-D image mounted on front.Each release became instant collectors items: by the time second single "Subhuman", was released, copies of "Vow" were selling for £100.
The idea behind the packaging reconciled with the eighteen-month marketing strategy behind the launch of the band. The packaging was tailored around the artwork designs for the six singles and the label's plan to brand the "G" logo. After each single, the sleeve artwork would go up a stage; the "Vow" and "Subhuman" artwork was two-colour, "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Queer" were three colour with gold embossing on "Queer" and "Stupid Girl" had four colour artwork.After the release of "Milk", CIN banned sales of specially packaged singles from counting towards the U.K. Singles Chart, which meant "Milk" was the last in the run of special edition Garbage 7" singles.
Upon its release, "Vow" received an overwhelmingly positive response from music critics. James Delingpole of Sunday Telegraph wrote "'Vow' displays a maturity, inventiveness and originality way beyond the powers of your average pop newcomer",The Times described it as "the missing link between Courtney Love and PJ Harvey"]while Paul Yates of Q magazine said "Garbage's signature lies in songs like 'Vow', good pop tunes dealt a rough treatment and brazen vocals".NME's Emma Morgan wrote "it's the simplicity of the lyrics that strikes the winning goal",while earlier in the year NME had made "Vow" its Single of the Week, writing "["Vow" is] a shape-shifting squalling epic. It shimmers like Siouxsie's 'Christine'. It's a credit to the band's producing skills that such an ambitious thing is lashed together at all".Melody Maker stated "this has classic written all over it";they too had named "Vow" their Single of the Week, writing the song "is surreal pop heaven mixed with industrial nightmares".[Kerrang! magazine's Paul Rees described "Vow" as "edgy dislocated pop with a sparkling chorus"and "the most brilliant pop song of 1995". Select's Ian Harrison liked the song, but felt that it "pilfers from The Smiths "How Soon Is Now?"".
"Vow" also appeared in a number of year-end lists: #45 in John Peel's Festive Fifty, #15 in Triple J's "Hottest 100 of 1995",[38] and #66 in KROQ's "Top 106.7 of 1995".
"Vow" has been performed on every single major Garbage tour from 1995 - 2005. Live renditions became notable for Shirley's ad libbing of songs past and present. Performanes of "Vow" have featured lines from Patti Smith's 'Revenge', Marianne Faithfull's 'Why D'Ya Do It?', The Beatles 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road', Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain', Cole Porter's 'Let's Do It', Bright Eyes' 'Lover I Don't Have To Love' and Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Mystery Girl' and 'Maps'.*
Vow
Garbage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't stop when it comes to you
You burned me out but I'm back at your door
Like Joan of Arc coming ack for more
I nearly died
I nearly died
I nearly died
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to shut you up, I came to drag you down
I came around to tear your little world apart and break your soul apart
Ah, you burn and burn to get under my skin
You've gone too far now I won't give in
You crucified me but I'm back in your bed
like Jesus Christ coming back from the dead
I nearly died
I nearly died
I nearly died
I came to knock you up, I came to cut you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to rock you up, I came to shout you down
I came around to tear your little world apart and break your soul apart
I nearly died
I nearly died
I nearly died
I came to cut you up, I came to knock you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to shut you up, I came to suck you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
Tear your little world apart
Tear your little world apart and break your soul apart
I can't stop when it comes to you
I can't stop when it comes to you
When it comes to you
When it comes to you
The lyrics to Garbage's "Vow" paint a picture of a tumultuous and toxic relationship. The singer acknowledges that they can't use or abuse what they can't control, but they also can't stop when it comes to this apparent romantic interest. The person burned them out, but they find themselves continually returning like Joan of Arc or Jesus Christ. The energy of the song is intense and violent, with lyrics like, "I came to cut you up, I came to knock you down, I came around to tear your little world apart and break your soul apart."
It's clear that the singer has a lot of anger and resentment toward this person, but despite their best efforts to disengage, they remain pulled back into the relationship. The lines, "You crucified me but I'm back in your bed, like Jesus Christ coming back from the dead" suggest a sense of powerlessness and even martyrdom. The repeated refrain of "I nearly died" highlights the exhausting nature of the cycle of conflict and reconciliation.
Overall, "Vow" is a raw and emotional song about a relationship that seems doomed from the start. The singer can't resist the pull of this person who has hurt them so much, but the intensity of their feelings leaves them feeling like they're on the brink of collapse.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't use what I can't abuse
I am unable to make use of something without exploiting it in some way.
And I can't stop when it comes to you
I am unable to resist my urge to pursue you and continue our relationship, despite its negative effects on me.
You burned me out but I'm back at your door
You caused me extreme emotional and mental fatigue, but I am still drawn to you and seeking your attention.
Like Joan of Arc coming back for more
Similar to Joan of Arc returning to battle, I am determined to continue pursuing you despite the challenges and harm it may cause me.
I nearly died
My relationship with you has brought me to the brink of physical, emotional, and mental breakdown.
I came to cut you up, I came to knock you down
I am hoping to inflict pain or damage upon you, whether emotionally or physically.
I came around to tear your little world apart
I am seeking to ruin your life and those around you.
I came to shut you up, I came to drag you down
I aim to silence you or put you in your place and bring you down to my level.
Ah, you burn and burn to get under my skin
You are intentionally attempting to emotionally harm me and get a reaction from me.
You've gone too far now I won't give in
I have reached my limit with your behavior and will no longer tolerate it.
You crucified me but I'm back in your bed
You have hurt me severely, yet I am still willing to be intimate with you and continue our relationship.
Like Jesus Christ coming back from the dead
Similar to Jesus' resurrection, I am seemingly indestructible and able to return and continue our relationship no matter the cost.
I came to rock you up, I came to shout you down
I want to disturb your peace and quiet, and overpower you with noise and presence.
I came to suck you down
I aim to drain your energy and bring you to a low state.
Tear your little world apart
My intention is to destroy you and everything surrounding your life.
When it comes to you
My obsession with you is all-consuming and I cannot resist my urges to pursue you.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DOUGLAS ELWIN ERICKSON, SHIRLEY ANN MANSON, STEVE W. MARKER, BRYAN DAVID VIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bradyn Austin
I can't use what I can't abuse
And I can't stop when it comes to you
You burned me out but I'm back at your door
Like Joan of Arc coming back for more
I nearly died
I nearly died
I nearly died
I came to knock you up, I came to cut you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to rip you up, I came to shut you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
And break your soul apart
Ah, you burn and burn to get under my skin
You've gone too far now, I won't give in
You crucify me but I'm back in your bed
Like Jesus Christ coming back from the dead
I nearly died
I nearly died
I nearly died
I came to knock you up, I came to cut you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to rip you up, I came to shut you down
I came around to tear your little world apart
And break your soul apart
I nearly died
Oh, I nearly died
I nearly died
I came to cut you down, I came to knock you up
I came around to tear your little world apart
I came to shut you down, I came to rip you up
I came around to tear your little world apart
And break your soul apart
Tear your little world apart
Tear your little world apart
And break your soul apart
I can't stop when it comes to you
I can't stop when it comes to you
When it comes to you
When it comes to you
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Duke Erikson / Shirley Manson / Steve Marker / Butch Vig
Trina
Loved this when it first came out, I was 14, I'm 42 and this still gives me goosebumps, especially the awesome ending
Gabriela Aparición Reyes
😂yo también WOW
Calebmalkavian
"You burned me up but Im back at your door.. Like Joan Of Arc coming back for more". Man, I love this line.
Curiosity Piqued
Like Jesus Christ comin back from the dead!!!😈👿
A McName
Yup, the Jesus Christ and Joan of Arc lines, they just don't write lyrics like that anymore. I played this and some other garbage for my nieces and nephews. Thought for sure they would hate it. Nope, they all wanted to hop into the way-back machine. Kids today really don't have it easy.
WanderAndArgo Racing Clips
I never thought that line was all that great really
Chris Huston
@WanderAndArgo Racing Clips There always has to be a Goddamn hater somewhere in every comment section, right? 😡😡😡
WanderAndArgo Racing Clips
@Chris Huston ok Mr. 3X Angry Face 🥳
Rhys Grammling
I was born in 2004. My mom insisted I hear this band at least once. Now I'm addicted. The 90s are the best and Shirley Manson is my new favorite person in the world. Her weirdness (which is awesome- normal people freak ME out) seems genuine whereas everyone else is just attention desperate. My favorite song of theirs is I'm Only Happy When it Rains. Everyone who doesn't know who this band (and particularly Shirley Manson) is needs to find out RIGHT NOW.
VoiD EndlessLanD
Only happy when it rains is the best!