Siouxsie and the Banshees – Christine

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She tries not to shatter
Kaleidoscope style
Personality changes behind her red smile
Every new problem brings a stranger inside
Helplessly forcing one more new disguise

Christine, the strawberry girl
Christine, banana split lady
Christine, the strawberry girl
Christine, banana split lady

Singing sweet savages lost in our world
This big-eyed girl sees her faces unfurl
Now she's in purple, now she's the turtle
Disintegrating

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Lyrics submitted by AeroGoat

Track duration: 02:59

"Christine" as written by Roy Hall

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Christine song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:Based on Christine Seisnal, who had a personality disorder:

    SEVERIN: "All twenty two personalities had different names, which was a really good source for the lyrics - the Strawberry Girl, Banana-split Lady . . .they were either names by her or the family. There’s a book called The Three Faces Of Eve about her, which is more like a biography she wrote with a friend of hers from her childhood, a cousin. She turned out to go to college and become some sort of knob on psychiatry." Source: Zigzag 05/80.
    Flag JJKelsallon December 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh man! I didn't know there was a book. I'm totally going to read that soon.
    Flag stonedskateron February 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Haha I had no clue she said "banana split lady" even knowing that, it still doesn't sound like thats what she's saying.
    Flag Muzzyon January 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Here is why it could be about adolescence

    She tries not to shatter, kaleidoscope style (she tries to retain grace and dignity after some humiliatine adolescent fiasco)
    Personality changes behind her red smile. (she puts on lipstick and feels more "grown up")
    Every new problem brings a stranger inside Helplessly forcing one more new disguise
    (she tries on different personalities or ways of acting with each new circumstance)

    Christine-the strawberry girl (pink clothing and/or strawberry flavored lip gloss, both fashion/beauty standbys for girls in their teens around the time this song was recorded)
    Christine-banana split lady (cultural strerotype of teenage girls liking sweets, especially ice cream and sundaes)

    Singing sweet savages lost in our world. (Teenagers going unnoticed by the world of adults)

    This big-eyed girl sees her faces unfurl (She sees all the facets of her personality develop)

    Now she's in purple (A fun-loving partygoer wearing colorful clothes)
    Now she's the turtle (she feels awkward and shy)

    That's why I believe this could be a song about a girl going through teenhood
    Flag CuteSparkinaon July 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought Siouxsie used the book 3 faces of eve to display someone finding themself, as they try on different personalities to find the one that suits them best.
    Flag symmenthaon June 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought Siouxsie used the book 3 faces of eve to display someone finding themself, as they try on different personalities to find the one that suits them best.
    Flag symmenthaon June 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about the book "3 faces of eve", where many of the references in the song, "banana split lady, strawberry girl" are what eves children called her different personalities in the book.
    Flag surftheseaon November 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wow awesome i must never admit i never thought about the lyrics of this song or what it about but wow so cool.
    Flag Cpt-Sensibleon April 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wow, Siouxsie and the Banshees always have such complicated songs to understand, but I guess that's part of why I like them so much. Anyway, this song and Hong Kong Garden are probably my two fav's.
    Flag Let_The_Led_Outon December 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought it was about a girl going through adolescence and trying on new personalities as she develops a sense of self. Then again, I first heard this song when I myself was a teen
    Flag CuteSparkinaon July 01, 2005   Link

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