Poison Girls formed in Brighton in 1976, before moving to Burleigh House in Essex, near to Dial House, the home of fellow anarchist band Crass, with whom they worked closely for a number of years, playing over 100 gigs with the band. In 1979 they contributed to the revival of the peace movement by playing a number of benefit gigs with Crass and paying for the production of the first CND badges since CND's heyday. Again in 1979, and again with Crass, they proved influential to the establishment of the short lived Wapping Autonomy Centre by contributing the track "Persons Unknown" to a split single with Crass (who contributed "Bloody Revolutions") and raising over £10,000. Their song "Bully Boys", an attack on violent machismo led to the band being attacked by members of the National Front.
In 1980, they toured the Netherlands and Germany with Crass. Their concert in March 1980, in Voorschoten, the Netherlands, was with Crass, Annie Anxiety, Seaman Stockton, and Dutch bands Cheap'n'Nasty, Perfect Grandmothers, God's Hangover, Neo Neurotics.
In 1981, they toured the Netherlands again, eg, Rotterdam and The Hague, with Annie Anxiety. In the The Hague Paard van Troje venue, Cheap'n'Nasty were support band; with Captain Sensible of The Damned on drums, as Cheap'n'Nasty could not find their boy drummer Maarten and their girl drummer Ria was ill.
The band also set up the label X-N-Trix alongside a publishing arm for the Impossible Dream magazine and recording studios for other artists.
Though their last studio recording to date was in 1985, a number of Poison Girls compilations have since been released, and their songs frequently appear on punk anthologies.
Poison Girls were involved with the production of Aids — The Musical, through a company called The Lenya Hobnoobs Theatre Company. They did another show called Mother Russia was a Lesbian in 1992, and reunited for a show at the London Astoria II in 1995, celebrating the 60th birthday of Vi Subversa. Currently, Richard Famous works as a painter and decorator and Vi Subversa lived in Brighton. The pair have performed as That Famous Subversa, a cabaret act they did together before the Poison Girls.
Water Wing Records, from Portland, Oregon, USA, released vinyl editions of 'HEX' and 'Chappaquiddick Bridge' in late 2014, the first time these records have been repressed since 1985. To complement this release, there are plans for an edition of the 1980 silk screened lyric book 'Words Written In Trust' to be reproduced.
Band members
Vi Subversa - vocals/guitar
Richard Famous - guitar/vocals
Lance d’Boyle - drums/backing vocals (1976–84)
Bella Donna - bass (1976–77)
Pete Fender - bass (1978, 1984)
Scott Barker - bass (1978)
Bernhardt Rebours - bass/synth/piano/backing vocals (1979–81)
Nil - tapes.(1979–1981 Electric violin and Bass (1980–1995)
Chris Grace - bass (1982–83)
Mark Dunn - bass (1983–84)
Cynth Ethics (Sian Daniels) - synth/vocals (1983–85)
Martin Heath - bass (1984)
Max Vol - bass (1984–87)
Agent Orange - drums (1984–87)
Andy - bass (1989-89)
In the early days of the band some reports quote Vi as using the names Vi Squad or Vi Perversa.
In the summer of 1979, the editor of Dutch Pin fanzine met Poison Girls in the Small Wonder record shop in London. He asked Vi: What's your name? Vi: I will write it down for you ... Richard Famous: Oh no, you are not changing it again! She wrote 'Vi Subversa', while she was on the sleeve of the Poison Girls and Fatal Microbes EP which had just come out as 'Vi Squad'.
Jenny
Poison Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do they fuck you up Jenny
Are you fucked up Jenny
Do they fuck you up much Jenny
Can you call your soul
And your body your own
Have you got a shelter
And is it a home Jenny?
Are you wrapped up Daddy
Have they wrapped you up Daddy
Are you tied up Daddy
Have they tied you up Daddy
Can you call your time
And your money your own
Have you got a shelter
And is it a home for Daddy?
Are you shacked up Mama
Has he packed you up Mama
Have you packed it in Mama
Why don't you jack it in Mama
Is there cream on your cake
Is there jam on your bread
Have you got what you want
While you're lying in bed Mama?
Are you locked up baby
Have they locked you up baby
Are you made up baby
Are you a make believe baby
Are you a make belive
In a gilded cage
Have you got a shelter
Or is it a cage for a baby?
Are you knocked up Jenny
Are you banged up Jenny
Are you screwed up Jenny
Nearly used up Jenny
Are you all stitched up
In the family way
Are you gonna make it
And can you make it pay
Jenny?
The lyrics of Poison Girls' song "Jenny" touch upon societal issues and the harm caused to individuals by societal norms and expectations. The lyrics inquire about Jenny being "fucked up" by the people who are supposed to care for her. The use of profanity and repetition emphasises the gravity of the situation and the urgency to understand and perhaps even rectify it.
The lyrics also address the notion of ownership of oneself and one's possessions, which may be a reference to the systemic oppression and marginalisation of certain groups. The song questions whether people have control over their own lives and if they have a place to call home.
There are mentions of Daddy being "wrapped up" or "tied up", which may be a reference to patriarchal pressures and societal constructions of masculinity. Mama's situation is discussed, and there are questions about whether she has attained satisfaction in life. Finally, the lyrics address a pregnant Jenny, and raise concerns about her future.
Overall, the song draws attention to the injustices and the trauma that can be caused by societal pressures, and highlights the need for change and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Does it fuck you up Jenny
Jenny, are you deeply disturbed or affected by something?
Do they fuck you up Jenny
Are others causing you harm or distress, Jenny?
Are you fucked up Jenny
Jenny, are you feeling overwhelmed, disturbed, or in distress?
Do they fuck you up much Jenny
Are others causing you a significant amount of harm or distress, Jenny?
Can you call your soul
Do you have a strong sense of self and identity, Jenny?
And your body your own
Do you have control over your own physical being, Jenny?
Have you got a shelter
Do you have a safe space or environment to call your own, Jenny?
And is it a home Jenny?
Does that safe space or environment feel like home to you, Jenny?
Are you wrapped up Daddy
Are you feeling entangled, involved, or obsessed with someone or something, Daddy?
Have they wrapped you up Daddy
Have others caused you to become entangled, involved, or obsessed with them, Daddy?
Are you tied up Daddy
Do you feel tied down, constrained, or imprisoned by someone or something, Daddy?
Have they tied you up Daddy
Have others caused you to feel tied down, constrained, or imprisoned, Daddy?
Can you call your time
Do you have control over your own time and how it's spent, Daddy?
And your money your own
Do you have control over your own financial resources, Daddy?
Have you got a shelter
Do you have a safe space or environment to call your own, Daddy?
And is it a home for Daddy?
Does that safe space or environment feel like home to you, Daddy?
Are you shacked up Mama
Are you living with someone, Mama?
Has he packed you up Mama
Has he pressured you to give up something important to you, Mama?
Have you packed it in Mama
Have you given up on something important to you, Mama?
Why don't you jack it in Mama
Why don't you just give up on something that's causing you distress, Mama?
Is there cream on your cake
Are you enjoying the good things in life, Mama?
Is there jam on your bread
Are you experiencing small but meaningful pleasures in life, Mama?
Have you got what you want
Do you have what you desire or need in life, Mama?
While you're lying in bed Mama?
Do you feel content or fulfilled with what you have while you rest, Mama?
Are you locked up baby
Do you feel trapped or imprisoned in some way, Baby?
Have they locked you up baby
Have others caused you to feel trapped or imprisoned, Baby?
Are you made up baby
Do you feel like you're pretending or putting on a facade, Baby?
Are you a make believe baby
Are you living a life that's not authentic or true to yourself, Baby?
In a gilded cage
Are you living in a beautiful but confined or uncomfortable environment, Baby?
Have you got a shelter
Do you have a safe space or environment to call your own, Baby?
Or is it a cage for a baby?
Or is that safe space or environment actually a confining or controlling one, Baby?
Are you knocked up Jenny
Are you pregnant, Jenny?
Are you banged up Jenny
Are you feeling beaten down, Jenny?
Are you screwed up Jenny
Are you feeling emotionally or mentally disturbed, Jenny?
Nearly used up Jenny
Do you feel like you're running out of energy or resources, Jenny?
Are you all stitched up
Have you dealt with everything that needs to be taken care of, Jenny?
In the family way
Are you pregnant, Jenny?
Are you gonna make it
Do you have the strength or resources to make it through a difficult situation, Jenny?
And can you make it pay
Can you find a way to turn a difficult situation into a success, Jenny?
Jenny?
Is this all true, Jenny?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Poison Girls
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kerry E Sutherland
still a brilliant track after all the years RIP Vi 😎
Manolo Xines
BRILLIANT STUFF...we miss you Vi! :(
Tim Neave
This is a stunningly fine thing. Why don't the people know, especially the girls. Work to be done.
chicago_x_rocker
SUBVERSA 2020!!!
Manolo Xines
Do they Jenny?