Babes in Toyland was an American punk band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesot… Read Full Bio ↴Babes in Toyland was an American punk band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1987, when Lori Barbero met Kat Bjelland at a friend's barbeque. Originally four-piece, the band developed into the honed-down trio of Lori (long-time Minneapolis scenester) on drums, Kat (a transplant from Oregon via San Francisco, who moved to Minneapolis specifically to form a band) on vocals and guitar, and Michelle Leon on bass. Courtney Love, a close friend and former bandmate of Bjelland's in the short-lived group The Pagan Babies, had a brief stint in the band as a bass player in 1987, before being kicked out and later forming Hole two years afterward.

Babes In Toyland's debut single on Treehouse Records ("Dust Cake Boy" b/w "Spit To See The Shine") landed them a deal with Minneapolis' famed Twin/Tone Records.

Their debut album Spanking Machine -- released in 1990 -- caught the attention of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, who began singing their praises in the music press and invited the band to support them on their European tour. Meanwhile, Spanking Machine was released in the UK by Southern Studios, and was quickly gaining favour with the music press and John Peel who recorded a session with them and named the album as his favorite of 1990.

In the summer of 1991, To Mother was recorded at Southern Studios with John Loder in the producer's seat. The EP entered the independent charts in the top 10 and stayed there for an amazing 13 weeks (ten of which the EP held at the No. 1 position). Early in 1992, Michelle Leon amicably left the band and was replaced by Maureen Herman, an old friend and long-time fan of the band. Their second and most successful album, Fontanelle was released in August 1992 and was followed by the outtakes EP Painkillers in June 1993.

After a number of other tours, Babes in Toyland released Nemesisters, their third and final studio album, in 1995. After this, the band were on-off with Leon's departure leading to the dissolution of their record label contract. In 2001, the band reformed for one final time and performed their final show on November 25 in Minneapolis. After this, the band officially disbanded, however, Kat Bjelland performed a number of shows in Europe under the band's name, only to face legal action from former members if the tour went further ahead.

After much speculation, in 2014, Babes in Toyland had announced they reunited and announced tour dates.
In 2015, Maureen Herman was replaced by Clara Salyer.

22
Babes in Toyland Lyrics

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Fama tunes into agasaya
Aura like amberella
Ama is my govinda
All in time (all in time)
All is mine (all in time)

Fachea anima interstellar
Hidden in logorrhoea

She is an amatia
All in time
All in time
All in mine

Fama turns into agasaya
Elijah electra

I live to enlight ya
All in time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Babes in Toyland's "22 in" offer an ethereal and mysterious vibe, using obscure and otherworldly words that create a feeling of transcendence. The lines seem to be addressing an elusive and mystical figure named Fama or Fachea, who may represent different aspects of the universe or human psyche. "Fama tunes into agasaya" may suggest a deepening of communication with a higher power or altered state of being. "Aura like amberella" evokes a visual of a radiant aura, perhaps hinting at spiritual illumination or enlightenment. "Ama is my govinda" could be seen as a reference to the Hindu deity Krishna or the ultimate source of joy and salvation.

The following lines continue with the enigmatic imagery, as "animus" and "anima" represent the male and female aspects of the unconscious self in Jungian psychology. "Hidden in logorrhoea" is a reference to a disorder of excessive talking, which could be interpreted as a chaotic and fragmented state of mind. "She is an amatia" could be a wordplay on the Latin term "ametia" meaning folly or madness. The chorus repeats the phrase "All in time, all in mine," which could signify a belief in a predetermined destiny or the power of the individual to determine their own fate through mindful action.

Line by Line Meaning

Fama tunes into agasaya
Fama is delving into the secrets of the universe

Aura like amberella
The energy around Fama is vibrant and powerful

Ama is my govinda
Ama is a guiding force in Fama's life

All in time (all in time)
Everything will happen when the time is right

All is mine (all in time)
Fama will have everything they desire eventually

Fachea anima interstellar
Fachea is exploring the depths of the galaxy

Hidden in logorrhoea
Surrounded by endless chatter and noise

She is an amatia
Fachea is a rare and unique individual

All in time
Everything will happen when it's meant to

All in time
Patience is key

All mine
Everything will eventually be Fachea's