They are best known for the songs "Never Say Never" (1982) and "A Girl in Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)" (1984), which were minor hits, with the latter becoming a Top 40 pop single. Their popularity was primarily in alternative and college radio, and as a dynamic performing act. They recorded for 415/Columbia Records. The original band members met at the San Francisco Art Institute. Most of the band members were also visual artists and did their own album art.
The band wrote and recorded four demo tracks in October 1993 (If I Was Your Cat, Stormy Eyes, Two Rivers, and Safe Place), which were sent to Sony Music but never released.
After the demise of Romeo Void, Debora Iyall, the lead singer and lyricist, put together and sang in the groups Knife in Water and Lower East Venus. John Haines played drums for Pearl Harbour and the Explosions.
The band was reunited briefly in 2003 for a one-off concert by VH-1's Bands Reunited, although Benjamin Bossi was unable to perform due to hearing loss.
Out On My Own
Romeo Void Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would watch as they'd come and go
They didn't care if they left me cold
They didn't care if they left me out in the cold
Out on my Own
As the years went by I learned not to cry
I walked away with my head held high
And I remember when they left me it was for good
Out on my Own
I thought I knew what I wanted, thought I got what I needed
thought I knew what I wanted, thought I got what I needed
She knew what she wanted
She got what she needed
I was the girl who tore up the streets
House on the hill was not my dream
I was the one who had to run free
Had to run wild, nobody running with me
Out on my Own
I thought I knew what I wanted, thought I got what I needed
thought I knew what I wanted, thought I got what I needed
She knew what she wanted
She got what she needed.
The lyrics to Romeo Void's song "Out On My Own" tell the story of a girl who struggled with letting people into her life, only to be left feeling isolated and alone. The first verse sets the stage for the theme of the song, as the girl reflects on her reluctance to saying "no" to others and the pattern of people coming and going from her life without caring about how it impacted her. The chorus repeats the refrain of being "out on my own," highlighting the loneliness that permeates the girl's experiences.
However, as the song progresses, the girl begins to gain strength and independence. She refuses to cry or be defined by those who left her in the past, and instead walks away with her "head held high." The second verse highlights the girl's determination to live life on her own terms, rejecting the typical societal expectations for women to settle down in a "house on the hill." The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, which takes on a more triumphant tone as the girl proudly proclaims she "got what she needed" and is no longer held back by others.
Overall, "Out On My Own" is a powerful anthem of female empowerment and the struggle to overcome societal expectations and past hurts. The imagery of being "out on my own" is aptly portrayed throughout the song, with the girl's journey to finding strength and independence being the central focus.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a girl who just couldn't say no
I was too timid to establish boundaries and often found myself agreeing to whatever people asked.
I would watch as they'd come and go
I was constantly being abandoned by people who came into my life, never to be seen again.
They didn't care if they left me cold
These people who came into my life didn't care about my well-being, leaving me feeling uncared for and lonely.
They didn't care if they left me out in the cold
These people had no concern for me or my needs, leaving me alone and vulnerable.
Out on my Own
Alone, without anyone to depend on, I had to find my own way in life.
As the years went by I learned not to cry
With time, I stopped crying over the loss of these people and began to toughen up.
I walked away with my head held high
I left these people who didn't treat me well behind, with confidence, and moved on with my life.
I can remember when I thought it was good
Despite my previous experiences, I held onto the idea that these people who came into my life were good for me in some way.
And I remember when they left me it was for good
I realized that these people who came into my life did so with the intention of leaving permanently.
I thought I knew what I wanted, thought I got what I needed
I believed that I knew what I wanted and thought that these people could provide me with what I needed.
She knew what she wanted
Despite not having a clear idea of what she wanted at first, she eventually discovered it.
She got what she needed
In the end, she found what she truly needed, through strength, perseverance, and personal growth.
I was the girl who tore up the streets
I was a free-spirited and adventurous girl who didn't fit into societal norms.
House on the hill was not my dream
I didn't aspire to achieve material success or live in a luxurious home.
I was the one who had to run free
I needed to live my life independently and didn't want others to hold me back.
Had to run wild, nobody running with me
I was the sole architect of my own destiny and couldn't rely on anyone else to accompany me on my journey.
Contributed by Zoe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.