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.
Sybil Vane Was Ill
Girl in a Coma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A women's touch can cure no man
In beauty liesa sticky game
Without your words, you are nothing.
Sybil vane was ill.
Sybil vane was ill.
But she knows now that shes falling
"i'll better prove myself.
I'd better prove myself."
Try to hide all your sins.
Write a letter to make ammends
But shes not that tough to let you roam around her.
But she is not that tough because
she is gone...but you.
You are the greyest of them all.
Yeah you...your boastful tounge has bit them all.
And after all was said and done,
The pleasure was all yours to run.
You dragged her down and said,
"Oh you are such a fool.
Where's your stamina at?"
She says, "It's lost in you."
You showed her life beyond acts and
Now she lusts for you.
Oh there was no fair warning
No, there was no fair warning
But her heart it just stopped
And you grow weary of nites crawling
of nights crawling
deep into your breathless eyes
Made you soon realize
That sybil vane she spoke no lies
Soon figure out that everything was true.
Sybil Vain inspired and she'll do the same for you.
With her jaded head, she couldn't have it all.
Remember now, she died
holding too much thought in her mind
for you.
The song "Sybil Vane Was Ill" by Girl in a Coma seems to touch on the themes of abuse and manipulation within a relationship. The opening lines "She won't mind they always said, a woman's touch can cure no man" indicate that the singer's partner is dismissive of her needs and emotions. The idea that "Without your words, you are nothing" implies that the partner holds all the power in the relationship and the singer is dependent on him.
The title of the song refers to a character from Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". Sybil Vane is a young actress who falls in love with the singer, Dorian. When Dorian becomes cruel and abusive towards her, Sybil dies by suicide. It seems that the lyrics draw parallels between Sybil's tragic story and the singer's own relationship.
There are a few lines in the song that suggest the singer is trying to escape the toxic dynamic. When she says "I'd better prove myself" it seems like she is trying to gain some power back. She also references writing a letter to make amends, possibly indicating that she has been mistreated by her partner but is willing to try and make things work.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sybil Vane Was Ill" paint a picture of a relationship that is based on power imbalances and emotional manipulation. The singer of the song seems to recognize the toxicity of the situation but is struggling to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
She won't mind they always said
People assumed she would be okay with whatever was done to her
A women's touch can cure no man
Female influence cannot fix everything
In beauty lies a sticky game
The concept of beauty can lead to trouble
Without your words, you are nothing.
Communication is essential for meaningful existence
Sybil vane was ill.
The titular character was not well
But she knows now that shes falling
She is aware of her descent
And she will say to you, "i'll better prove myself.
I'd better prove myself."
She feels the need to demonstrate her worth
Try to hide all your sins.
Cover up your misdeeds
Write a letter to make ammends
Apologize for what you've done
But shes not that tough to let you roam around her.
She is not strong enough to resist your influence
But she is not that tough because
she is gone...but you.
She is weak because she is no longer present, but you remain
You are the greyest of them all.
You are the most bland and unremarkable
Yeah you...your boastful tounge has bit them all.
Your arrogance has caused harm to others
And after all was said and done,
The pleasure was all yours to run.
Despite everything, you took delight in your actions
You dragged her down and said,
"Oh you are such a fool.
Where's your stamina at?"
You lowered her self-esteem and belittled her
She says, "It's lost in you."
She lost her strength due to your influence
You showed her life beyond acts and
Now she lusts for you.
You introduced her to a new way of living, but it created an unhealthy attraction to you
Oh there was no fair warning
No, there was no fair warning
But her heart it just stopped
She was not given a proper notice, but the shock caused her death
And you grow weary of nites crawling
of nights crawling
deep into your breathless eyes
You become tired of memories of her that haunt you
Made you soon realize
That sybil vane she spoke no lies
You finally understand that Sybil was telling the truth
Soon figure out that everything was true.
You eventually comprehend the reality of the situation
Sybil Vain inspired and she'll do the same for you.
Sybil's story has the power to motivate others
With her jaded head, she couldn't have it all.
Due to her cynical mindset, she was unable to achieve her desires
Remember now, she died
holding too much thought in her mind
for you.
She passed away with too much on her mind, and you were partly responsible for her distress
Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.