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.
Bluebell
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takes little pills and calls them trapeze
I know you're right
Everything you do is right
Everything I do is true
Bluebell to hell
Lo and behold a girl with a goal
Looks so old she's made out of gold
I know you're right
Everything you do is right
Everything I do is true
Bluebell to hell
I want to live in the smallest corner
In the densest mind in the fuckmost room
And sing "The stars they swing from
Their chandelier strings"
I know real love
You know who you are
You're deadmeat motherfucker
You don't try to rape a goddess
Flies through the air with the greatest disease
Takes little pills and calls them trapeze
I know you're right
Everything you do is right
Everything I do is true
Bluebell to hell
You are so obvious
The song "Bluebell" by Babes in Toyland is a complex and intriguing piece, with lyrics that touch on themes of empowerment, rebellion, and the inherent chaos of life. In the first stanza, the singer describes someone who "flies through the air with the greatest disease" and "takes little pills and calls them trapeze." These lines could be interpreted as criticism of someone who is living recklessly and dangerously, but also with a sense of excitement and thrill. The phrase "calls them trapeze" suggests that this person views their self-destructive behavior as a form of art or performance.
The second stanza introduces a "girl with a goal" who "looks so old she's made out of gold." This line could be interpreted as a reference to the concept of alchemy, where gold is seen as a symbol of spiritual enlightenment or transformation. The singer then repeats the lines "I know you're right, everything you do is right, everything I do is true," which could be interpreted as a sarcastic commentary on the idea of blind conformity or obedience to authority.
The final stanza introduces the singer's own desires, expressing a desire to "live in the smallest corner" and sing about the stars swinging from their chandelier strings. This romantic image suggests a longing for beauty and wonder amidst the chaos and darkness of life. The final lines are a sharp rebuke to someone who has attempted to take advantage of the singer, warning "you don't try to rape a goddess."
Line by Line Meaning
Flies through the air with the greatest disease
The person mentioned is so high they feel like they are flying with the world's deadliest disease.
Takes little pills and calls them trapeze
The person takes small pills and imagines that they are performing trapeze acts.
I know you're right
The singer believes that the person they are speaking to is always correct.
Everything you do is right
The artist believes that everything the person they are speaking to does is correct.
Everything I do is true
The artist believes that everything they do is honest and sincere.
Bluebell to hell
A statement of frustration or disappointment.
Lo and behold a girl with a goal
There is a girl who has a specific objective or aspiration.
Looks so old she's made out of gold
The girl looks old, but appears to be valuable like gold.
I want to live in the smallest corner
The artist wants to live in a tiny place.
In the densest mind in the fuckmost room
The artist wants to live in the most crowded space with the most messed up individuals.
And sing "The stars they swing from Their chandelier strings"
A desire to create an artistic expression involving the beauty of the stars and chandeliers.
I know real love
The artist has experienced genuine love.
You know who you are
The person being addressed is aware of their identity.
You're deadmeat motherfucker
A statement of aggression towards the person being addressed.
You don't try to rape a goddess
A warning to the person being addressed to not disrespect someone who is held in high regard like a goddess.
You are so obvious
The artist believes that the person being addressed is transparent and easy to read.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAT BJELLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind