Vow (song)

Vow (song)

"Vow" is a song by alternative rock band Garbage. It was released by Mushroom Records UK and Almo Sounds as their debut single in 1995, having been written and recorded one year earlier. The song started as a demo during sessions between band members Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker, and had its composition finished after singer Shirley Manson joined the band. The lyrics deal with themes of revenge and retaliation, and were inspired by a newspaper article on domestic abuse.

"Vow" first appeared on a Volume CD sampler at the end of 1994. The song was subsequently picked up and broadcast by BBC Radio 1 DJs Steve Lamacq and John Peel, and playlisted by modern rock radio stations in Los Angeles and Seattle. "Vow" generated such significant buzz through positive reviews and word-of-mouth that it was eventually chosen as Garbage's first single release. After a low-key independent record label pressing in the United Kingdom, where it was packaged in a very limited edition logo embossed aluminium case, "Vow" went on to top the alternative charts in Australia and reached the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.