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.
Say
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say I
I will say I
Dust as dust as ancient ones
Born again and die not us
You will stay or go
I made you up inside my head
Gentleman take off your hats
Everyone will quote me on this line
Save me
Say I
I will say I
Dust as dust as ancient ones
Born again and die not us
You will stay or go
I made you up inside my head
Gentleman take off your hats
I'm going out tonight
Everyone will quote me on this line
But don't save me no don't save me
'Cause I'm going away
But baby don't worry
We're not gonna stay too late
Safe was a very happy game
For the lovers tonight
In the black of the night
Safe
Why wait why say it's ok
The lyrics of Girl in a Coma's song Say are an invitation to the listener to enter a world of ambiguity and poetry. The first verse begins with a statement that anticipates the attention that the following sentence will receive - "Everyone will quote me on this line." The line follows - "Say I" - which is repeated throughout the song, and has a double meaning. The first is to say the word "I," as if to affirm one's own existence, and the second is to command someone to say "I love you." The next lines, "Dust as dust as ancient ones/Born again and die not us" refer to the cyclical nature of life and death, and suggest the possibility of reincarnation. The following line, "You will stay or go" leaves the listener uncertain about the subject of the address, but it could be interpreted as addressing a lover. The following line, "I made you up inside my head" further supports this reading, as it suggests the idea of an imagined love. The song then ends with "Gentleman take off your hats/I'm going out tonight," which could be interpreted as an invitation to their male listeners to join the singer in a night of revelry.
This song is open to interpretation, as it has many possible meanings. It could be about the pain of loss and letting go, about the desire for love, or about the desire to escape from reality. The lyrics are poetic and mysterious, and they leave a lot of room for personal interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone will quote me on this line
The singer is making a statement they believe is profound and will be often repeated.
Say I
The singer is giving permission for others to attribute the statement to them.
I will say I
The singer affirms their ownership of the statement.
Dust as dust as ancient ones
The artist is acknowledging the inevitability of death and the equalizing nature of decay.
Born again and die not us
The artist holds a belief in reincarnation or an afterlife where death is not permanent.
You will stay or go
The singer recognizes that others have choices and may not always choose to stay in their life.
I made you up inside my head
The singer admits to creating an idealized version of someone in their imagination that may not hold up in reality.
Gentleman take off your hats
The artist is likely addressing a group of men and asking them to show respect for the situation at hand.
I'm going out tonight
The artist has plans to leave and enjoy themselves beyond this moment.
But don't save me no don't save me
The artist does not want to be rescued, possibly from their own choices or habits.
'Cause I'm going away
The singer is making a choice to leave, whether physically or emotionally.
But baby don't worry
The artist acknowledges the concerns of another person but tries to reassure them.
We're not gonna stay too late
The singer is attempting to allay fears that they will not act recklessly and will be responsible.
Safe was a very happy game
The singer recalls a time when life seemed more stable and less chaotic.
For the lovers tonight
The singer may be referring to themselves and another party involved in a romantic relationship.
In the black of the night
The artist is describing a specific moment or setting, possibly one where they feel anonymous or unseen.
Safe
The artist repeats the word for emphasis, perhaps as a reflection of a yearning for a simpler, more secure time.
Why wait why say it's ok
The singer is questioning the benefit of avoiding conflict or postponing difficult conversations, because it may not actually be better in the long run.
Contributed by Lucy N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sarahi Ramirez
They're still so underrated and wish more people were blessed with their sound. Been listening since age 11. I'm 23 now. Once a banger, always a banger.🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
D G
Nina has posted some covers on her yt this year [ 2020]!!!!!
Tony Diablo
\m/ (-_-) \m/
D G
San Antonio loves and supports their own!!!!!!!
Nicolas Rodriguez
Forever in love with Nina Diaz
Aubrey Hale
Came here to say this. 😁
Kratos Cross
I am too
Cheryl Sanders
I was looking for this band so long I forgot its name. While watching Joan Jett in an interview on audience channel she said she produces the group. I was like ok now I understand part of why I like the band and YAAAAAAY now I can find them. GIRL Rock!!18
Lord Tachanka
Holy shit, I must have been at least 7 when I first heard this song... Time flies by fast.
junio
same omg