Indovina and Human Drama began their career in New Orleans in the early 80s as The Models, releasing two singles along with compilation appearances. A mid-'80s move to Los Angeles and the discovery of an already existing Australian band also named The Models set the stage for Indovina and company to begin their new incarnation.
The newly renamed Human Drama became a member of the "Scream scene" of the mid-'80s, which sprang up around the short-lived Los Angeles underground goth/metal club that brought Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to the world. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness", to the 1987 Scream Compilation LP, which led to a major label deal with RCA.
1989 saw the release of the debut Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death EP and the full length Feel LP. Both releases featured a electric guitar-oriented approach. Indovina felt that RCA wasn't properly promoting the band, and the band and label parted ways.
Moving to the independent Triple X label, the next Human Drama release was 1992's The World Inside. Stylistically different from the first two releases, Indovina moved Human Drama into a quieter, more strings-based sound. This album is widely regarded as Indovina and Human Drama's most important work. The LP earned the band critical raves and a near fanatical following, especially in Mexico. A solo performance of various cover songs by Indovina at the album's release party predicted the next Human Drama album. Released in 1993, PinUps was an open tribute to David Bowie's album of the same name, a collection of remakes of various sources of inspiration.
A move to New York city accompanied a temporary co-release stint on the Projekt label, resulting in two additional mid-decade releases, 1994's Human Drama EP and 1995's Songs of Betrayal, which was later re-released as two separate discs with additional tracks.
The next Human Drama release would be a live album. 1997's Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four Days Later, featuring many of the early Feel-era songs, along with some new cover song choices.
1999 brought Solemn Sun Setting, which saw a merging of the two "different" Human Drama styles, before the following year's career overview, Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World.
The final Human Drama album, 2002's Cause and Effect, continuing themes from Solemn Sun Setting, was an unexpected goodbye from Indovina and company, for both the band and their fans.
In 2004, Human Drama recorded their final track, the Beatles "Let It Be", which was given to fans who attended the band's farewell performance in Los Angeles. When asked why he chose "Let It Be" as their final recording Indovina answered, "I strived my entire career to write a song as good as that, but since I couldn't, I decided to record it as a salute to, what is in my opinion, the best song ever written".
Indovina has since moved on with his next project, Sound of the Blue Heart.
Caroline Says II
Human Drama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
as she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
it isn't any fun
Caroline says
as she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
Caroline says
as she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
but I don't love you anymore
Caroline says
while biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
and this is a bum trip
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling
It's so cold in Alaska
it's so cold in Alaska
It's so cold in Alaska
Human Drama's song Caroline Says II is a powerful statement on domestic abuse and the struggle of a victim to break free from a cycle of violence. The song's stark opening lines, "Caroline says, as she gets up off the floor, why is it that you beat me, it isn't any fun," immediately set the tone for the rest of the song. Caroline is tired of being mistreated and is beginning to find the strength to stand up for herself. As she applies her makeup, she advises her abuser to learn more about himself and to think beyond his own self-interest.
However, Caroline's strength is not solely derived from her ability to stand up to her abuser. Throughout the song, she expresses a sense of acceptance of her situation, and even an eagerness to experience more of what life has to offer, stating "She's not afraid to die, all her friends call her Alaska." She knows that her life is meant to be more than living in fear, but she is willing to take risks and try new things, even if that means taking speed, which her friends see as a joke.
Line by Line Meaning
Caroline says
As Caroline speaks up
as she gets up off the floor
after being physically assaulted, she stands up
Why is it that you beat me
Questioning the reasoning behind their violent behavior
it isn't any fun
To signify that she doesn't enjoy being physically abused.
as she makes up her eyes
Putting on makeup in front of the mirror
You ought to learn more about yourself
Providing words of advice
think more than just I
Encouraging someone to reflect on things that affect both parties involved
But she's not afraid to die
Someone who doesn't fear death
all her friends call her "Alaska"
Caroline has a unique nickname among her circle of friends
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
Questioning Caroline's decision to use drugs
What is in her mind
Curious about Caroline's thoughts
as she gets up from the floor
Caroline has been on the floor repeatedly due to being beaten.
You can hit me all you want to
Declaring she isn't afraid anymore
but I don't love you anymore
Caroline has fallen out of love with her abuser
while biting her lip
Trying to contain emotions
Life is meant to be more than this
There is more to life than this current situation
and this is a bum trip
Current situation experiences is terrible
She put her fist through the window pane
Caroline reacts very strongly to the situation
It was such a funny feeling
A strange sensation
It's so cold in Alaska
A reference to the cold environment of the land
it's so cold in Alaska
A repetitive statement referring to the environmental motif
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC TURNER, JERRY DIXON, JOEY CAGLE, JOHN OSWALD, LOU REED, STEVEN CHAMBERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind