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.
Race Car Driver
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mysterious, I'll say.
Will you be my race car driver?
Of all your first mistakes,
am I the best to make?
Will you be my race car driver?
But why crash when there's so much to say?
We will not crash today.
We will not crash.
Your words, they will meet me
Inside my favorite dreams.
You know you're just like me.
We'll scram. We'll sing. Until we can be.
Will you be my race car driver?
Will you be my race car driver?
But why crash when there's so much to say?
But why? We will not crash today.
We will not crash today.
We will not crash.
Skip through the CD til you hear
The words which will catch your ears.
You are the sweetest pain.
You are the sweetest pain.
I say pain because I know
The clock has struck midnight.
So I will go back to my hole
and just wait for you driver.
You know you're just like me.
You know you're just like me.
You know you're just like me.
You know you're just like me.
The song “Race Car Driver” by Girl in a Coma is a romantic track that seems to reflect the feeling of infatuation and the fear of taking the next step in a relationship. The opening lines, “With your eyes, you will gaze. Mysterious, I'll say” seem to indicate that the person being sung to is being admired from afar, and the singer is not quite sure how to proceed. The chorus, “Will you be my race car driver?” suggests a desire for excitement and speed, but also a sense of danger and risk associated with pursuing this person.
The second verse suggests a sense of shared interests or common ground between the singer and the object of their affection. “Your words, they will meet me inside my favorite dreams. You know you're just like me. We'll scram. We'll sing. Until we can be.” It’s possible that the singer is hesitant to take the leap because they fear losing this connection or bond they feel with this person.
The repeated line, “But why crash when there's so much to say?” seems to echo this sense of apprehension and hesitation, yet also a desire to move forward. The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer acknowledging that they must retreat back to their own reality, but recognizing that the person they’re singing to is just like them, and hoping that a connection can still be made.
Line by Line Meaning
With your eyes, you will gaze.
I find you intriguing, your eyes are captivating and have caught my attention.
Mysterious, I'll say.
You have a sense of mystery about you that I find alluring and attractive.
Will you be my race car driver?
I want you to be my partner, to take me on an exciting, fast-paced ride and lead the way in our journey together.
Of all your first mistakes, am I the best to make?
I may not be perfect, but I wonder if I'm the best choice you could make in a partner, despite the risks and potential mistakes we may encounter.
But why crash when there's so much to say?
Why should we give up on each other and our relationship when there's still so much we want to share, explore and communicate about?
But why? We will not crash today.
We refuse to let our partnership and relationship fail. We will communicate, trust and take the necessary steps to avoid crashing, both literally and figuratively.
Your words, they will meet me inside my favorite dreams.
Your words and thoughts will connect with me and make me feel safe, comfortable and happy, even in my dreams and fantasies.
You know you're just like me. We'll scram. We'll sing. Until we can be.
Our similarities bring us together and we will escape, explore and sing together until we can finally be ourselves and be free.
Skip through the CD til you hear the words which will catch your ears.
Take a chance and explore different aspects of our relationship until we find what resonates with us and what we truly want and need from each other.
You are the sweetest pain.
You bring me joy and pleasure, but also challenge me and cause some pain and discomfort, which I'm willing to accept because of our love and connection.
I say pain because I know the clock has struck midnight.
I call you my pain because I know that our time together is limited and temporary, and I cherish every moment we have.
So I will go back to my hole and just wait for you driver.
When we part ways, I retreat into myself and wait for the next time I can be with you and share more experiences and emotions together.
You know you're just like me.
We have a deep understanding and connection that goes beyond words, and we share many similar traits, thoughts and feelings, which make our partnership strong and resilient.
You know you're just like me.
We have a deep understanding and connection that goes beyond words, and we share many similar traits, thoughts and feelings, which make our partnership strong and resilient.
You know you're just like me.
We have a deep understanding and connection that goes beyond words, and we share many similar traits, thoughts and feelings, which make our partnership strong and resilient.
You know you're just like me.
We have a deep understanding and connection that goes beyond words, and we share many similar traits, thoughts and feelings, which make our partnership strong and resilient.
Contributed by Adam S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.