Christine

Written after reading the book The Three Faces Of Eve about Christine Sizemore who suffers from multiply personality disorder, the names in the songs, Strawberry Girl, Turtle Lady etc. are actual names that Christine's children gave to the different distinct personalities, of which there were 22 in all.

Certainly seems to be about someone with multiple split personalities.
I hope I never go mad. What do you think MrLongrove?
Nope I think we're just fine.

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

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.

its called dissasociative identity disorder (DID), aka multiple personality disorder NOT SCHIZOPHRENIA. schizophrenia is where a person will hear voices or see people that arent there. DID is where the person will have several seperate personas, like in this song.

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

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.

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.

wow awesome i must never admit i never thought about the lyrics of this song or what it about but wow so cool.

Haha I had no clue she said "banana split lady" even knowing that, it still doesn't sound like thats what she's saying.