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.
White Sweater
Romeo Void Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I race through swamps
Snakes wrapped around my legs
A hot towel of muscle
In my dream
I watch my sister fall down
An elevator shaft
Shag haircut and a limp white sweater
That I, I, I, I gave her
Moving as if someone was pulling a pink
Sliver out of her cold body
I went on a blind date
We sat in the back seat
He thought he could free me
Didn′t know I could be mean
Till he shoved my face down
I gave him my left knee
I knew he was stupid
But I needed a replacement
I'm not gonna call you when I′m lonely
Not gonna call you when I'm lonely
Lonely, not gonna call you when I'm lonely
In my dream, I always test myself
I race through swamps
Snakes wrapped around my legs
A hot towel of muscle
In my dream
I watch my sister fall down
An elevator shaft
She was even wearing her new
Shag haircut and a limp white sweater
That I, I, I, I gave her
Moving as if someone was pulling a pink
Sliver out of her cold body
The lyrics of "White Sweater" by Romeo Void contain vivid and surreal imagery that suggests a theme of danger and vulnerability. The singer, who is presumably a woman, describes a recurring dream with snake-infested swamps and a feeling of intense physical exertion. This dream may symbolize the struggle to survive and overcome obstacles in life. The mention of the singer's sister falling down an elevator shaft while wearing a new shag haircut and a limp white sweater, which the singer gave her, adds to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The image of someone pulling a pink sliver out of the sister's cold body suggests a sense of violation and violation of privacy.
The second verse of the song describes a violent encounter on a blind date, and the singer's reaction to it. She reveals her capacity for meanness when she defends herself against her date's attempted assault. The line "I knew he was stupid, but I needed a replacement" suggests that she is seeking a way to fill a void in her life, perhaps hinting at a pattern of unhealthy relationships. The refrain "Not gonna call you when I'm lonely" asserts the singer's independence and refusal to rely on someone else for comfort or companionship.
Overall, "White Sweater" by Romeo Void is a complex and thought-provoking song that touches on themes of fear, danger, vulnerability, and self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
In my dream, I always test myself
The singer is constantly challenging themselves in their dreams.
I race through swamps
The singer faces difficult obstacles in their dreams.
Snakes wrapped around my legs
The singer is vulnerable and in danger in their dreams.
A hot towel of muscle
The artist finds comfort and strength in their own body in their dreams.
In my dream
The artist is still talking about their dreams.
I watch my sister fall down
The singer witnesses a traumatic event involving their sister.
An elevator shaft
The setting of the event is specific and drastic.
She was even wearing her new
The artist remembers a small detail about their sister's appearance.
Shag haircut and a limp white sweater
The artist describes their sister's outfit in detail, emphasizing the limpness of the sweater.
That I, I, I, I gave her
The artist gave the sweater to their sister.
Moving as if someone was pulling a pink
The way the sister falls is reminiscent of something being removed from her body.
Sliver out of her cold body
The description of the object being removed is eerie and unsettling.
I went on a blind date
The singer is changing subjects and telling a new story.
We sat in the back seat
The setting of the date is cramped and intimate.
He thought he could free me
The date had some ulterior motive for meeting the singer.
Didn′t know I could be mean
The artist is unafraid to stand up for themselves.
Till he shoved my face down
The date becomes violent and aggressive.
I gave him my left knee
The singer defends themselves by physically attacking the date.
I knew he was stupid
The singer recognizes the date's flaws and weaknesses.
But I needed a replacement
The artist was using the date as a form of temporary companionship.
I'm not gonna call you when I′m lonely
The artist is declaring their independence and unwillingness to seek comfort from others.
Not gonna call you when I'm lonely
The artist emphasizes their point and repeats it for emphasis.
In my dream, I always test myself
The singer ends the song by reminding us that they are still preoccupied with their dreams.
I race through swamps
The challenges in the artist's dreams are ongoing.
Snakes wrapped around my legs
The dangers in the singer's dreams persist.
A hot towel of muscle
The singer continues to find comfort and strength within themselves.
In my dream
The song ends where it began, with the singer still in their dreams.
Writer(s): Debora Iyall, Frank Zincavage, Peter Woods
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chriscollins570
Love the acceleration of mood and tempo in White Sweater. So Eclectic!
@gregdonnison4206
Loved stepping back to that 1980’s beat and edgy sound. They're their own band, but so reminiscent of Souixie Souix, the Cure et al.
@lopezb
Great song. Forgot how good they are. Heard these guys play once in Seattle. The combination of drums, bass, guitar, sax, voice....all so good and they play so well together. That I... I...I ..I gave her....
@JayGorham
At WREX, perhaps? That was a great show!
@drunvert
Hadn't heard this song before. And it gets great. So much Souxsie sound on this one.
@joselolaza793
Romeo Void was an awesome band! Love this song and so many others! I wish some new talent would create awesome music like this 🤨😳
@davidmeza6318
I went on a blind date.. Always loved that lyric. Met her on stoop in SF as they barely began. This is what they were. Lyrically.. But. Corporate greed changes all. Miss this entire period
@flimsyjimnz
blind date??
@PeaceBisquit
Love this song and this group! Debora Iyall is truly an underrated goddess and the boys of RV were one of the tightest bands around! #Igavehimmyleftknee
@dmk7700
Really obscure 80's cut. KOOOOOOL!