Christine by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Album: Kaleidoscope (1980)

Charted: 24

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This song is about Christine Costner-Sizemore, whose struggles with multiple personality disorder were documented in the book The Three Faces Of Eve, which was written by her psychiatrists Corbett Thigpen and Hervey Cleckley. The story was then dramatized in a 1957 film also called The Three Faces Of Eve in which Joanne Woodward won an the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Two of Christine's identities, the Strawberry Girl and the Banana Split Lady, are mentioned in the lyrics of the song.
The band first became interested in the case of Christine Sizemore following the discovery (via a friend) of an article in a 1977 Observer magazine about the strange case history of Sizemore. Steve Severin got hold of the book I'm Eve, co-written by Sizemore and her cousin Elen Sain Pittillo. Inspired, Steve Severin wrote the lyrics that told of the 22 personalities that had at the time emerged throughout her life.
The B-side of the single, "Eve White/Eve Black," tells of the confrontation between the 2 major personalities and of the battle for possession of Christine's body.

Comments: 3

Darrell from EugeneI have a good friend named Christine who hates this song, along with the Stephen King "killer-car" (by the way, the California license number CQB241 and anything containing that combination will live forever as a symbol of automotive evil)novel and film and "Christine Sixteen" by Kiss, and her inflated self-righteousness tells her that these works of fiction may be disrespectful to her despite the only connections being the name.
Rayna from Pembroke Pines, FlAnd I thought it was a song about a teenage girl trying on different identities and different "selves" as she went through adolescence -- but then, i first heard the song when I myself was a teen.
Dennis from Newton, MaThis is a great site. Sensibly set up to enrich the appreciation of song lyrics. A challenge would be to discover from where the music, rhythyms, arrangement, tempo, intrumentation, vocals, etc. were inspired/developed/etc.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Your Time Is Gonna ComeLed Zeppelin

"Your Time Is Gonna Come" became the first Led Zeppelin song to be covered when Sandie Shaw recorded it in 1969.

Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana

Teen Spirit was a kind of deodorant marketed to young girls. That's where Kurt Cobain got the title "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

Run Like HellPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" was released as a single in America because it has a catchy beat, but the lyrics describe a reign of terror instigated by the despot Pink, the main character in the concept album The Wall.

Losing My ReligionR.E.M.

"Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. isn't about religion, but unrequited love. The title is based on a Southern expression meaning "at my wit's end."

It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)R.E.M.

"It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" was inspired by a dream where Michael Stipe conjured up images of people with the initials L.B.: Lester Bangs, Leonid Breshnev, Lenny Bruce and Leonard Bernstein.

What Made Milwaukee FamousRod Stewart

The very American song "What Made Milwaukee Famous" was never a big hit in the US, but Rod Stewart made it famous in the UK.

Editor's Picks

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."