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.
Mother's Lullaby
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh and you couldn′t tell a lie you couldn't tell a lie to save your life
And i broke the spell again a cross around my hand i took the time to weep it dropped me on my feet
Oh and i couldn′t tell a lie i couldn't tell a lie to save my life
And you broke his heart again you spit it back to him and then i broke it all the bridge that binds us all
Oh and we couldn't tell a lie we couldn′t tell a lie to save our lives
Bring it back against the wind hold me up to gasp and never let me send
And you will fly in the bottle of time
See how high you fly
Oh and you couldn′t tell a lie
Mother's Lullaby by Girl in a Coma is a poignant and hauntingly beautiful song that speaks of the pain of broken relationships and the struggle to tell the truth. The lyrics in the song evoke a sense of vulnerability and heartbreak that is both relatable and heartbreaking. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song as the singer speaks of reaching the end but then being brought back home. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of a relationship or the end of a journey. The singer then speaks of someone reaching out to them to "freeze the idle breeze". This can be interpreted as someone offering comfort or solace during a difficult time.
The chorus of the song is a powerful statement that the singer and the person they are speaking to cannot tell a lie to save their lives. This suggests that honesty is an important value to both the singer and the listener. The singer also speaks of breaking a spell and weeping, which can be interpreted as a symbol of emotional release. The final verse of the song is a call to action to "bring it back against the wind". This can be interpreted as a metaphor for moving forward in the face of adversity.
Overall, Mother's Lullaby is a powerful and emotional song that speaks of the pain of broken relationships and the struggle to be honest in a world that often values deceit.
Line by Line Meaning
So i reached the end of all to bring it back to home and then you reach to me to freeze the idle breeze
Despite going through everything, I ended up back at square one, and then you came along and brought peace to my chaotic life
Oh and you couldn′t tell a lie you couldn't tell a lie to save your life
You are such an honest person that you couldn't lie even if it meant saving your own life
And i broke the spell again a cross around my hand i took the time to weep it dropped me on my feet
I unintentionally broke the good fortune that seemed to be coming my way, but I found solace in my faith and it helped me get back on my feet
Oh and i couldn′t tell a lie i couldn't tell a lie to save my life
I am incapable of lying, no matter how dire the situation may be
And you broke his heart again you spit it back to him and then i broke it all the bridge that binds us all
You hurt someone's feelings once again and I had to end the toxic relationship, destroying the connection that tied us all together
Oh and we couldn't tell a lie we couldn′t tell a lie to save our lives
We both value honesty so much that we would never even consider lying
Bring it back against the wind hold me up to gasp and never let me send
Let's push ourselves against difficult odds and face our fears together, but never let me give in to despair
And you will fly in the bottle of time
You will soar to new heights, even if we only have a limited amount of time
Fly butterfly drink your bottle of wine
Embrace life to the fullest, enjoy a drink and indulge in its pleasures, just like a butterfly does
See how high you fly
Marvel at your own potential and see how much you are capable of achieving
Oh and you couldn′t tell a lie
Once again, you demonstrate your integrity by refusing to tell a lie
Writer(s): Phanie Diaz, Abelina Olivarez Diaz, Jennifer Alva
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.