Marrying ethereal yet sometimes ferocious vocals with confessional lyrics, Krebsbach’s sound is forged in the fire of love and loss.
After circling the lower 48 for the last 7 years with acts like Buddy Wakefield, Andrea Gibson. and Philadelphia based Kississippi, Krebsbach retraced her steps back to her hometown of Missoula, Montana and started to take the stories she had collected and turn them into songs under the moniker ‘Wilma Laverne Miner’, her paternal grandmother’s maiden name.
Her debut EP ‘Used To’ (recorded with Alan Day of Four Year Strong) released in February 2020 combines her country roots with snarling synth lines that make you unsure if you want to hit the dancefloor or kick the jukebox. Her pleading but unrepentant voice evokes visions of a bar fight in the glow of a neon sign---rough and tumble but honest and at the mercy of the listener.
Krebsbach channels the raw power of the women of music that came before her---her onstage persona deeply influenced by Linda Ronstadt, Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry and Joan Jett (to name a few). She’s sweet yet powerful, raucous, commanding and impossible to ignore.
3 AM
Wilma Laverne Miner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But nothing ever felt right
I told you not to love me
But you still showed up in the middle of the night
Wearing a halo made of streetlights
It was 3 a.m. and you didn't flinch
When I showed you the blood on my hands
That I haven't done a few ugly things
Like ignore you all night when you just want to talk to me
I used to be happy to see you
Now I don't even think about you
The lyrics for Wilma Laverne Miner's "3 AM" speak of a complex and conflicted relationship between two people. The singer is torn by their feelings for the other person, at times wanting to be close to them and at other times pushing them away. The opening lines express this dichotomy, with the singer saying they have tried both being present and being absent but neither option feels right. They warn the other person not to love them, but they continue to pursue them, even showing up in the middle of the night. The image of the "halo made of streetlights" suggests that the other person is being perceived as angelic, even though they may be distracting the singer from their own path.
The second verse adds an element of danger to the relationship. The singer has blood on their hands, and yet the other person doesn't seem to be bothered by it. This suggests that they are both caught up in some kind of turmoil or conflict that is blinding them to reality. The singer tries to be good, but they can't deny that they have done some "ugly things." The song seems to highlight the idea that love can be messy and painful, but it can also be an undeniable force that draws people together.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried being there, and I tried being gone,
I attempted to find a balance between being present and giving space, but neither option felt right.
But nothing ever felt right
Neither decision I made was fulfilling or satisfactory.
I told you not to love me
I warned you that my love may not be what you are looking for or what you need.
But you still showed up in the middle of the night
Despite my warning, you still came looking for me.
Wearing a halo made of streetlights
You illuminated the darkness around me and brought light into my life.
It was 3 a.m. and you didn't flinch
You were unperturbed by the late hour and my distress.
When I showed you the blood on my hands
When I revealed to you the terrible things I have done.
I try to be good, but I cannot pretend
I strive to be a better person, but I cannot deny my past mistakes.
That I haven't done a few ugly things
I have made some unsavory decisions in my life.
Like ignore you all night when you just want to talk to me
One of those mistakes was neglecting your desire to communicate with me for an entire evening.
I used to be happy to see you
I once enjoyed your company and presence.
Now I don't even think about you
But now, you are not even on my mind.
Writer(s): Kaylen Krebsbach
Contributed by David Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.