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'.
Pretty Polly
Poison Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Polly is a future girl
Left her sweet suburban home
Went to make it on her own
Kept a sweet suburban home
Taught her daughter how to use
Only the best cosmetic foam
Taught her daughter how to use
Her assets in a world of trade
Taught her daughter very well
Polly soon had got it made
Polly is a future girl
Liberation is her way
Pulling on her seamfree tights
She made straight for the city lights
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
How shall I please you. Shall I be witty
Anxious to please genetic disease
How shall I please you
Shall I show you my titty ?
Polly's doing very well
Up there in the city lights
That's the way her money goes
To pay for all her seamfree tights
Polly is a pretty girl
Liberation is her way
Polly is a future girl
Polly always pays her way
Her job is hard. She does it well
She plays around with bulls and bears
She plays hard she plays to win
Piling up her stocks and shares
Polly is a future girl
She makes a profit never loss
Polly is a pretty girl
Polly doesn't give a toss
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
How shall I please you
Was that all they taught her
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
How shall I please you
Shall I give you my daughter
Her job is hard she plays to win
Pretty Polly's in the know
Never late she takes the pill
Easy come and easy go
Pretty Polly's on the game
Polly knows her V.A.T.
Liberation is her way
Polly gets her tights for free
Polly is a pretty girl
Got an independent mind
She's got liberated dreams
Not the romantic kind
Polly is a pretty girl
Running rings around her boss
Polly is a future girl
Polly's never at a loss
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
She's good at her job
And her boss says 'You're so pretty'
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
She'll never know for sure
Why she does so well in the city...
The Poison Girls' song "Pretty Polly" is a commentary set to music about a girl named Polly who leaves her suburban background to make it on her own in the city. The song focuses on how Polly's mother taught her how to use her looks and assets to make a living, including using only the best cosmetic foam. The lyrics suggest that Polly has become a sex worker, and while she initially feels anxious to please men and be witty in her endeavors, eventually she gets ahead and does exceptionally well, making money from her stock portfolio, while taking birth control pills and receiving free clothes such as seamfree tights for her work.
The song appears to suggest that, while Polly is doing well for herself and enjoys her independence, she's also a tragic figure in some ways. The lyric "anxious to please, genetic disease" implies that Polly feels compelled to use her looks to succeed, instead of being valued for her intellect or personality. While she is liberated, she still has to play by the rules of a patriarchal society and perform for men. However, Polly is tough and resilient, and the song praises her independence, mind, and spirit. The chorus repeats several times that "Polly is a future girl," emphasizing that she's not just surviving but thriving.
Line by Line Meaning
Polly is a pretty girl
Polly is an attractive woman
Polly is a future girl
Polly is forward-thinking
Left her sweet suburban home
Polly moved away from her comfortable home
Went to make it on her own
Polly decided to achieve success independently
Her mother was a TV mum
Polly's mother had a shallow, superficial outlook on life
Kept a sweet suburban home
Polly's mother maintained an idyllic suburban household
Taught her daughter how to use
Polly's mother instructed her on how to apply makeup
Only the best cosmetic foam
Polly's mother only used high-quality beauty products
Taught her daughter how to use
Polly's mother trained her daughter in the ways of the world
Her assets in a world of trade
Polly's mother taught her how to use her physical attributes to get ahead
Taught her daughter very well
Polly's mother was an effective teacher
Polly soon had got it made
Polly quickly became successful
Liberation is her way
Polly believes in personal freedom and equality
Pulling on her seamfree tights
Polly is getting dressed in tight, modern clothing
She made straight for the city lights
Polly was eager to live a city lifestyle
Anxious to please. Genetic disease
Polly is always worried about pleasing others
How shall I please you. Shall I be witty
Polly is asking someone how best to impress them
Shall I show you my titty ?
Polly wonders if using her body is the best way to gain approval
Polly's doing very well
Polly is still thriving
Up there in the city lights
Polly is successful in the urban environment
That's the way her money goes
Polly spends her earnings on fashionable clothing
To pay for all her seamfree tights
Tight modern clothing is a significant expense for Polly
Her job is hard. She does it well
Polly's work is challenging, but she excels at it
She plays around with bulls and bears
Polly works in finance and the stock market
She plays hard she plays to win
Polly is highly competitive and driven
Piling up her stocks and shares
Polly is acquiring wealth through investing
She makes a profit never loss
Polly is always successful in her business endeavors
Polly doesn't give a toss
Polly is indifferent to the opinions of others
Pretty Polly's in the know
Polly is informed about the workings of the world
Never late she takes the pill
Polly is conscientious about contraception
Easy come and easy go
Polly doesn't worry about money
Polly knows her V.A.T.
Polly is well-informed about taxes
Polly gets her tights for free
Polly receives free clothing due to her beauty and fashion sense
Got an independent mind
Polly thinks for herself and doesn't rely on others' opinions
She's got liberated dreams
Polly has ambitious goals to achieve personal freedom
Running rings around her boss
Polly is more capable and knowledgeable than her superior
Polly's never at a loss
Polly is always confident and decisive
She's good at her job
Polly is highly skilled in her work
And her boss says 'You're so pretty'
Polly's beauty impresses her superior
She'll never know for sure
Polly is uncertain why she is successful in the city
Contributed by Elena M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
misterbonzoid
I saw the Poison girls a few times throughout the eighties. My favourite show was at a student union bar near Aldgate tube station, where they had TV sets either side of the stage showing videos someone had made as they played. A diagram of a womb and fallopian tubes still springs to mind all these years on! Great music and politics, and I was lucky enough to meet the brilliant Vi a few times because my friend Sian was keyboard player and singer with them from '83 to '85.
Si Hopebgood
Poison Girls were always a good gig.
Charlie Howard
I got to see them a few times as well.. usually support with Crass.. Anok4u2
Roger Shaw
I heard this song 30 years ago.... Once! I searched and searched for it only remembering the line Polly was a pretty girl.And it is better than the first time.
1YinYang1
That voice it's awesome.
Matt Jammy
heard of them being spoken......knew name. recently in last year I've discovered these along with another band crisis!
Leonard Mc Cullagh
So fucking good to this day 😐
Alan Bean
I'd like to hear Kate Bush do a cover version of this.
Timothy J. Horan
''Polly always pays her way...''
SteveRes
all kinds of awesome