Girl in a Coma formed when best friends Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz met in Jr-high school art class over a mutual love of the Smiths, Nirvana, and skipping school. All they needed was a singer. Enter Nina Diaz, Phanie’s little sister. Nina blew them away with her mesmerizing vocals, a powerful voice some critics have compared to Bjork, Patsy Cline, and the band’s hero, Morrissey himself. The trio practiced for three years, gigged at local punk rock clubs, played a High School talent show, one kid’s birthday party, and then hit the road, building up a solid and loyal fan base across the country.
In 2006, the Girls played for Joan Jett and long-time songwriting partner and producer, Kenny Laguna, at New York’s Knitting Factory as part of a cable TV show featuring unknown bands. Jett and Laguna were so impressed with the band that they signed GIAC to their label, Blackheart Records, on the spot.
The band’s 2007 debut album, Both Before I’m Gone, was a critical hit with raves from Alternative Press Magazine, the LA Weekly, Bust magazine, among many others, with the album reaching No. 23 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and No. 21 on iTunes. “Clumsy Sky,” the band’s first single, won a 2007 Independent Music Award.
In 2009, the band released their follow up album, Trio B.C. The album is a unique amalgamation of eclectic influences: oldies, rockabilly, 90s alternative, and contemporary bands both indie and mainstream.
Just a year later, the band recorded a companion piece to Trio B.C. Produced by Grammy-award winning producer Greg Collins (U2 and Gwen Stefani), Adventures in Coverland. features reinterpretations of songs and artists who have impacted the band. The songs range from a punked out version of Selena’s “Si Una Vez” to a stripped down version of Joy Division’s “Transmission.”
In early 2011, new material was piling up and the band was ready to head back into the studio to work on their upcoming album, Exits & All the Rest.
From sharing stages with their heroes to experiencing Arizona’s controversial laws firsthand, the album was born in an especially intense period for the band. The Girls headed a few miles north to Austin and recorded with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead). It was the band’s first time working on analog tape and all the basic tracks were laid down live. The recording process seemed to help the band capture some of the raw energy and power that they are known for in their live shows.
Celibate Now
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say it's just your charm dear,
Another road to cross and mend
But do you hear the whispers?
Say, "Oh, see her now
she's just like that rest of them."
You say your celibate now,
Try to erase the past
But oh no, you crashed into me
And made your mark.
I'm only staying because I will wait for love.
I don't know what you're doing.
I don't like this much.
But now I see your plan
and now I understand.
I'm only staying because I will wait for love.
The Girl in a Coma's song, Celibate Now, seems to be a conversation between two people, where one person is trying to resist their attraction and desire for the other. The first few lines suggest that this person wants the other, but is trying to push those feelings aside as just their charm, something they can control. However, there are whispers that imply that they can't control themselves and are just like everyone else who desires this person.
The chorus, "You say your celibate now, Try to erase the past But oh no, you crashed into me And made your mark", suggests that the one trying to resist is struggling to overcome their past and move on, but they have already left a mark on the other person. The line "I'm only staying because I will wait for love" suggests that the other person isn't interested in being with someone who is just trying to resist their desires, and is only waiting for true love.
The bridge, "I don't know what you're doing. I don't like this much. But now I see your plan and now I understand", suggests that the other person was confused and unhappy with the first person's actions, but now they understand that they were just trying to resist their feelings. Overall, Celibate Now explores the complexities of desire and resistance, and the different ways people navigate them.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know why you want her...
The singer questions the reason behind the desire for this person.
You say it's just your charm dear,
The subject dismisses the idea of true attraction, claiming it to be a mere charm.
Another road to cross and mend
The subject sees this relationship as just another trial to face and mend from.
But do you hear the whispers?
The artist inquires if the subject can hear the rumors circulating around this potential partner.
Say, "Oh, see her now
The artist commands the subject to notice the way this woman presents herself.
she's just like that rest of them."
The singer compares this woman with all the others, implying a lack of uniqueness.
I'm only staying because I will wait for love
The singer clarifies that they are only staying in this relationship because they are waiting for true love.
You say your celibate now,
The subject expresses a recent vow of celibacy.
Try to erase the past
The subject attempts to forget or move on from previous sexual encounters.
But oh no, you crashed into me
Despite the claim of celibacy, the subject engages in sexual activity with the artist.
And made your mark.
The subject left an impression or impact on the singer through their intimate interaction.
I don't know what you're doing.
The artist is unsure of the subject's motives or intentions.
I don't like this much.
The singer is uncomfortable or unhappy with the current situation.
But now I see your plan
The singer believes they have come to understand the subject's underlying motives.
and now I understand.
The singer thinks they have comprehended the true intention behind the subject's actions.
I'm only staying because I will wait for love.
The artist reaffirms their only reason for staying in the relationship is the hope for true love in the future.
Contributed by Reagan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.