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)
Walking Dead
The Sheila Divine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing to mention
There's no reaction
For the walking dead who speak
Disguise
Detract attention
Oh did i mention
The part of the walking dead who speak?
There's a price
For their existence
When no one listens
To the walking dead who speak
Lets coin a phrase
Bend the truth
Suck the life out of every one of you
Cause when it's done
You might smile
And it only happens once in a while
My advice
To all the critics
Those seasoned cynics
The part of the walking dead who speak
Lets coin a phrase
Bend the truth
Suck the life out of every one of you
Cause when it's done
You might smile
Cause it only happens once in a while
The Sheila Divine's "Walking Dead" is a haunting and thought-provoking song that is full of meaning and emotion. It is a song about the walking dead, who are the people who have lost their voice and are no longer heard. The lyrics are a reflection of the world in which we live, where many people are ignored, overlooked, or simply forgotten. The song describes the struggle of these walking dead and the importance of listening to their voices, as their existence has a price.
The first two lines of the song, "Surprise, nothing to mention, there's no reaction for the walking dead who speak," sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's a powerful statement that suggests that the walking dead are invisible to the world and are rarely heard. The next few lines describe how the walking dead have to disguise themselves to detract attention, and they often go unnoticed, like a ghost blending in with its surroundings. Moreover, the lyrics also suggest that these walking dead have to bend the truth, or use other tactics, to be heard and seen, which is a sad reality of the world we live in.
The chorus "Let's coin a phrase, bend the truth, suck the life out of every one of you, cause when it's done, you might smile cause it only happens once in a while," expresses the frustration of these walking dead, who are desperate to be heard and seen. It also highlights the irony that even when they do get noticed, it is often only for a fleeting moment. The song is a call for us to listen to the walking dead, to acknowledge their voice and existence, and to make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Surprise
Unexpectedly, without warning
Nothing to mention
No notable or relevant information to discuss
There's no reaction
No response, emotional or otherwise
For the walking dead who speak
Referring to people who are ignored, overlooked or marginalized
Disguise
Concealment, the act of hiding one's true identity or intentions
Detract attention
Divert focus or notice away from oneself
Oh did i mention
A rhetorical question, implying that something has already been brought up before
The part of the walking dead who speak?
Referring again to marginalized individuals, who may be considered 'dead' due to their lack of agency or voice
There's a price
A cost associated with something
For their existence
The price of simply existing as a marginalized individual
When no one listens
When others fail to pay attention to or acknowledge marginalized individuals
Lets coin a phrase
Creating a new saying or slogan
Bend the truth
Misleading or distorting the truth for one's own benefit
Suck the life out of every one of you
Draining the vitality or energy from others, potentially to gain power or influence
Cause when it's done
Once the damage has been inflicted
You might smile
A suggestion that those causing harm or perpetuating injustice derive satisfaction from their actions, even if it is at the expense of others
And it only happens once in a while
Implying that these harmful actions are not always visible or apparent
My advice
A recommendation or suggestion
To all the critics
Addressing those who criticize, judge, or scrutinize others
Those seasoned cynics
Referring to experienced, jaded individuals who may be critical of others' actions or motives
Lets coin a phrase
Repeated from earlier, suggesting a call to action
Bend the truth
Repeated from earlier, emphasizing the idea of manipulation or deceit
Suck the life out of every one of you
Repeated from earlier, suggesting that this harmful behavior is not confined to one group or individual
Cause when it's done
Repeated from earlier, emphasizing the impact and aftermath of these actions
You might smile
Repeated from earlier, suggesting a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment for those responsible
Cause it only happens once in a while
Repeated from earlier, reinforcing the idea that this behavior may not always be visible or apparent
Contributed by Zoe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luka Dragovic
can any1 link the studio version of this song?