The band most often explained that they took the name from the Australian term "sheila", which denotes an effeminate man or wimp - thus making them in a literal sense, the sacred wimps. The name is also similar to that of the suicidal main character of the book Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York. However, they took their name directly from a college friend named Sheila Devine. After changing the spelling and operating as Sheila Divine for several months the "The" was added to distinguish the band from such female artists as Fiona Apple.
The Sheila Divine formed in 1997 and played their first show on July 4 at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The lineup consisted of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Aaron Perrino, bassist Jim Gilbert, and drummer Shawn Sears. All three had met in college at State University of New York at Oneonta, but each had ended up in Boston independently. They were signed to local indie label Cherry Disc Records and released their self-titled five track EP in 1998. They gained a loyal local following and went on to win the 1999 WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble. Cherry Disc Records were bought out by Roadrunner Records, who released The Sheila Divine's first full length album New Parade in 1999. It received critical praise from local press and spawned the college radio hit Hum. The album featured re-recorded versions of songs that appeared on their first EP, as well as several brand new songs (the Japanese import edition featured two additional songs unavailable on the domestic release, "Secret Rendezvous" and "Weightless", the latter of which had also been released as the b-side to the then-titled "Criminal", the band's only released vinyl 7-inch).
In late 2000, the band was hard at work on their second album when they added Colin Decker as a second guitarist to broaden their sound. The band released their second album, Where Have My Countrymen Gone, in March 2001 on Co-Op Pop Records. Later that year in August, Shawn Sears left the band to spend more time with his recently born child. Following a handful of shows with fill-ins Pete Caldes (The Gravel Pit/The Gentlemen) and Paul Buckley (Orbit), drummer Ryan Dolan replaced Sears a month later; Dolan had previously been in the band Lincolnville with guitarist Colin Decker. The Sheila Divine continued to tour constantly and created a large fan base that included both people who would see them across the country and others who would record live shows to share. The band was always generous to bootleggers and allowed video and/or audio taping at all shows.
The band released the six track EP Secret Society in September 2002 (Arena Rock Recording Co.). They embarked on a non-stop world tour consisting of China, Europe, and then across the United States and back. This rigorous schedule would prove to be the band's undoing. While at a show in the mid-west a confrontation with Jim resulted in Aaron throwing his guitar down and announcing to the audience that the band was breaking up. Upon returning home, the band stated on their website they would not break up, but would instead take time off. Aaron Perrino went on to start recording songs in the studio by himself, which would end up on the War Chords EP, the debut release of his new solo project, Dear Leader. The Sheila Divine officially announced their demise on their website in April of 2003, and played two farewell shows in October at The Paradise in Boston, Massachusetts. The sold-out shows were attended by fans who had travelled from as far away as Oregon and Belgium.
Happily, original bandmates Aaron and Jim are still on friendly terms, as their respective new bands have played together several times. They still call Boston home. Shawn left Boston and now lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Ryan left Boston and moved to Maine, becoming a father for the first time. Colin Decker moved to San Francisco and is involved with television production.
On December 31, 2005 The Sheila Divine played a reunion show at Bill's Bar on Landsdowne Street in Boston. The band played as a three piece with Aaron, Jim, and Ryan. A second reunion show was played on Saint Patrick's Day March 17, 2007 at TT The Bear's Club with the same lineup.
The group continue their occasional efforts, the products of which can be seen at their Bandcamp page, http://thesheiladivine.bandcamp.com/, and their main web site: http://the-things-that-once-were.com/. In 2012 they released a new album, The Things That Once Were.
Albums:
New Parade (1999 · Roadrunner Records)
Where Have My Countrymen Gone (2001 · Co-Op Pop Records)
The Things That Once Were (2012)
EPs:
The Sheila Divine EP (1998 · Cherry Disc Records)
Secret Society EP (2002 · Arena Rock Recording Co.)
Singles:
Hum/I'm A Believer cassette promo (1999 · Roadrunner Records)
Hum radio promo CD (1999 · Roadrunner Records)
Like A Criminal 7" vinyl (1999 · Roadrunner Records)
Ostrich radio promo CD (2001 · Independent)
Compilations
Viva Noel - A Q Division Christmas : "O Holy Night" (1999 · Q-Division Records}
Then Covered Now : "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" (1999 · Hearbox Records)
In Our Lifetime: Vol. 3 : "New Landscape" (2002 · Fenway Recordings)
Countrymen
The Sheila Divine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
all your patriots are just millionaires
and look what they've done
they just puncture you and destroy the heir
all your countrymen gone
they just picked up and left when the west was won
and where are they now?
one good thing about the feeling
operate and keep me stale
will my warm heart ever fail?
will my warm heart ever fail?
i am bore from two sides
with an eagerness of the newly free
are you dead or alive
when your country's mottos don't tread on me
one good thing about the feeling
operate and keep me stale
will my warm heart ever fail?
will my warm heart ever fail?
will it fail? will it fail?
The Sheila Divine's song "Countrymen" is a lament of the singer, asking where all their countrymen have gone. All the patriots are just millionaires now and they've left their own country, "puncturing" it and destroying their own heritage. The song is a commentary on the state of the country and its leadership, expressing the singer's frustration and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. The singer feels bored and stuck, unsure if their heart will ever fail them in their quest for a better country.
The lyrics of the song evoke the image of a country that has lost its way and its people. The reference to the west being won implies a time when the country was united and moving forward, yet now it seems as if the country is in a state of decline. The use of the word "countrymen" is significant, as it implies a sense of community and shared purpose that has been lost. The singer is asking where the people who once shared their values and aspirations have gone.
At the heart of the song is a feeling of disillusionment and frustration. The singer feels as if they are caught between two sides, unable to find a way forward. Yet despite this, there is a sense of resilience and determination. The repeated line "will my warm heart ever fail?" suggests a determination to keep fighting for what they believe in, even when the odds are against them.
Line by Line Meaning
where have my countrymen gone?
The singer is asking where their fellow citizens have disappeared to.
all your patriots are just millionaires
The people that claim to love their country are actually just wealthy individuals.
and look what they've done
The actions of these supposed patriots have had negative consequences.
they just puncture you and destroy the heir
These individuals harm and damage their own country and its heritage.
all your countrymen gone
The artist is reiterating the disappearance of their fellow citizens.
they just picked up and left when the west was won
These people left once their country was winning.
and where are they now?
The singer is questioning where these people are currently.
well, a secret assassin has taken some
Some of these individuals were killed for their disloyalty.
one good thing about the feeling
The artist acknowledges a positive aspect of their emotions.
operate and keep me stale
The artist is requesting to be kept emotionless.
will my warm heart ever fail?
The singer is questioning if their emotions will ever cease.
i am bore from two sides
The artist is experiencing boredom from multiple angles.
with an eagerness of the newly free
Despite their boredom, the singer is excited to be living freely.
are you dead or alive
The singer is questioning if their fellow citizens are still alive and present.
when your country's mottos don't tread on me
The country's motto should not be oppressive towards its own citizens.
will it fail? will it fail?
The artist repeats their earlier question about their emotions failing.
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.