Vow

"Vow" was the debut single for Garbage, the band comprised of vocalist Shirley Manson, guitarists Steve Marker and Duke Erikson and drummer Butch Vig. The latter three called themselves "Spooner" and then "Fire Town" before they added Scottish singer Manson.

"Vow" began in rough demo form in January 1994 before Manson joined the band. Vig wrote the original lyrics after reading a newspaper article about a woman who had gone back to get revenge on an abusive husband. By the time Manson came on board, "Vow" was almost complete, but she ad-libbed some additional lyrics. One of the first lyrics she added were the opening lines: I can't use what I can't abuse And I can't stop when it comes to you

The song is about having feelings of vengeance. "You have to face your feelings of revenge and work out why you feel that way," Manson told Melody Maker. "It's about that conundrum when you're really angry but in reality you're in a pitiful state. Angry, twisted, but deep down, vulnerable."