The group was fronted by a female singer (Sarah Shannon) (original lead singer Bridget Cross left to join Unrest) and featured both female and male vocals, sometimes simultaneously. In the group's recordings, Shannon's voice had a light, airy quality with a slight vibrato.
The band took its name from a Primal Scream B-side.
Velocity Girl released three recordings on the Sub Pop label, Copacetic (1993), Simpatico (1994), and Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts (1996). Velocity Girl disbanded in October 1996 (although a reunion show was played in 2002 to benefit original singer Cross). Sarah Shannon, Kelly Riles and Jim Spellman reunited in a short-lived project called Starry Eyes which released a single EP Starry Eyes (1997, Radiopaque).
Guitarist Archie Moore went on to form The Heartworms and The Saturday People.
Sarah Shannon currently (2002-2007) records as a solo artist.
57 Waltz
Velocity Girl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always leaving me behind
This is the sound of my heart breaking
My love has come
Stepping out to my big chance
Losing myself is sad and unfair
We are alone and my heart is breaking
We are alone and my heart is breaking
The lyrics of Velocity Girl's song "57 Waltz" is a lamentation of a heartbroken lover. The singer is in love with someone who seems to be moving forward while leaving them behind. The line "waltzing ahead in a straight line, always leaving me behind" is an apt analogy of a dance where partners move back and forth in a synchronized manner, but in this case, the singer is unable to keep up with their partner. The singer is heartbroken and laments the loss of the love they yearned for. The phrase "this is the sound of my heart breaking" suggests the singer's deep anguish and the pain that their heart has gone through.
The lyrics are reminiscent of unrequited love and the feeling of being left behind. The singer speaks about their love coming to them, but they are unable to take full advantage of the opportunity. The line "stepping out to my big chance, losing myself is sad and unfair," is indicative of failure to grasp their chance at love. The singer is consumed with grief and unable to connect with their love interest. The phrase "we are alone and my heart is breaking" reinforces the loneliness that the singer feels.
In essence, "57 Waltz" is a story about love, loss, and the feeling of being left behind. It represents the pain and heartbreak associated with unrequited love, and how it affects the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
Waltzing ahead in a straight line
Moving forward confidently without deviation or hesitation
Always leaving me behind
Leaving the singer feeling left out and left behind
This is the sound of my heart breaking
Expressing deep emotional pain and heartache
My love has come
The artist has found someone they love and care deeply for
Stepping out to my big chance
Taking a leap of faith to pursue an opportunity that may change their life
Losing myself is sad and unfair
Feeling undervalued and neglected, with the added sadness of possibly losing one's self in the process
We are alone and my heart is breaking
There is a sense of isolation and despair, with the added pain of heartbreak
We are alone and my heart is breaking
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the overwhelming sense of loneliness and heartbreak
Contributed by Elijah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.