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.
Bruise Violet
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Really makes me hot
You got a lot and more
When you get caught
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You little bitch well
I hope your insides rot
Liar, liar, liar
You see the stars through
Eyes lit up with lies
You got your stories
All twisted up with mine
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You were born with glue
Instead of spine
Liar, liar, liar
You, of thee I sing
Well ha ha ha, tied to a string
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You got this thing that
Really makes me hot
You get a lot and more
When you get caught
Bruise violet
Bruise violet
Bruise violet
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You see the stars through
Eyes lit up with lies
You little bitch well
I hope your insides rot
Liar, liar, liar
The refrain "liar, liar, liar" provides the central theme of Babes in Toyland's song, Bruise Violet. The band is known for their punk rock feminist anthems, and this song is no exception. The first verse says, "You got this thing that really makes me hot," introducing an unspecified attraction to the subject of the lyrics. However, the next line, "You got a lot and more when you get caught," reveals that the singer has fallen for lies and games that the other person is playing. The second verse begins by describing the other person's "eyes lit up with lies," putting emphasis on the knowledge that they are being misled. The final verse is the most direct, with the singer calling out the person as "you little bitch" and hoping that their "insides rot." The use of violent language shows the anger and frustration felt by the singer.
Overall, Bruise Violet is about the frustration of being attracted to someone who is untrustworthy and manipulative. The constant lies and manipulation create a toxic relationship, as evidenced by the repeated refrain of "liar, liar, liar." The song also speaks to the larger societal issues faced by women, with the use of the word "bitch" and the anger felt toward someone who threatens their stability.
Line by Line Meaning
You got this thing that
You possess qualities or characteristics that I find both desirable and frustrating.
Really makes me hot
Your presence or actions cause me to experience strong feelings of attraction or arousal.
You got a lot and more
You possess or exhibit many desirable traits and qualities.
When you get caught
When your behavior or actions are exposed or revealed to others.
Follows me around
Your presence or influence seems to always be present in my life or mind.
You little bitch well
You are someone who I view as weak, annoying, or treacherous.
I hope your insides rot
I wish for you to experience physical illness or decay as a result of your behavior or actions.
Liar, liar, liar
You are dishonest and untrustworthy.
You see the stars through
You behold the beauty and grandeur of the universe through a lens of deception and falsehood.
Eyes lit up with lies
You are filled with deceit and falsehood, and it is reflected in your countenance.
You got your stories
You have constructed elaborate tales or falsehoods that distort the truth.
All twisted up with mine
Your lies or deceptions have become entangled with my own experiences or perspective.
You were born with glue
You lack resilience and are easily influenced by others, to the point of being stuck to them like adhesive.
Instead of spine
You lack the courage to assert your own values or opinions, and are easily swayed by the opinions of others.
You, of thee I sing
In this moment or situation, you are the subject of my thoughts, emotions, or criticisms.
Well ha ha ha, tied to a string
I find humor or pleasure in the idea of having control or influence over you, like a marionette on a string.
Bruise violet
You are a sensitive or fragile person who is easily hurt or damaged.
Bruise violet
Your sensitivity and vulnerability can be likened to a flower that bruises or wilts easily.
Bruise violet
The pain or damage you experience as a result of your interactions with others can be compared to a bruise on a violet.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAT BJELLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oopsibrokethecow
I was thirteen when I first heard this song, and I just happen to catch a small clip of the video on MTV during a documentary I was watching about the "new" grunge sound and the "riot girl" movement. I HAD to have it, and it was my first real exposure to anything outside of what one would expect a thirteen year old would be listening to. I was mind blown by the entire experience, even though I didn't fully understand it at the time.
I rode my bike down to an independent music store that my town had the time called Music City. I asked them if they had the "cassette" and the guy gave me the most taken back expression and asked again. Not because he didn't know who they were, but because I don't think he was expecting a thirteen year old girl on a little blue bike with a basket and horn, who probably walked in looking exactly how a thirteen year old girl in the 90's would look, asking for such an album. He said no one has asked for it, at all, and he didn't keep them in stock. Then, he asked how I knew about them. Since He didn't carry any of their stuff, he had to order it. That was back before the internet days of ordering, so he showed me the album cover out of his supplier catalog he ordered from to make sure that is who I meant, and I confirmed it.
There was something about the anticipation of waiting the WEEKS it took for it to get there, because he said he was going to place a special order for it, but would add it to his big order. I paid for it right then since I had the money, and when I finally got the call at home that it was there, I couldn't ride my bike fast enough.
Unfortunately, he had ordered the incorrect album. He didn't order Fontanelle, but instead ordered Spanking Machine, their debut album. He offered my money back, but I still took that cassette and loved it just as much! He finally was able to find a supplier that could send Fontanelle, but it took forever for some reason. By the time I got my grubby little hands on it, I listened to that shit until the tape nearly wore itself out. After CD's started taking over, I finally found it in the used CD section of the very same music shop, still ran by the same guy, when he moved to a larger location.
As a side note; I miss the days of actual CD stores! Especially the independently owned ones. I discovered SO much good music in those places, and finding them used when you're a broke kid working part-time at Taco Bell, was a great way to open so many doors to different artists and styles of music. Especially when you could trade your old stuff in for new, and they took pretty much anything in any condition at that time, since CD's were all the rage. It's also where I REALLY got into Manson, because I could get all his stuff at a good price, and the guy who ran that shop always had band shirts and other merchandise you could find other places. Like pentagram jewelry, incense, black light posters, candles and occultist decor.
That just doesn't exist anymore, and I feel bad for generations of young people who will never have that experience of going into a music store, being able to sample new stuff and hold it in their hands, look at the album art as they listen, and search around for unique band merchandise in person, talk to people and the staff that worked there for new suggestions. That's how I found about my first rave was through the shop owner, and there is no way I would have otherwise. I got to know him well throughout the years, and when he finally closed shop and I watched the rest of the music shops slowly following, it was a whole different world than just going online and listening.
It blows my mind to this day that it all started with a thirty second clip of the Bruise Violet video I saw on a random MTV documentary at thirteen years old.
@erinbowjoe5973
You got this thing that
Really makes me hot
You got a lot and more
When you get caught
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You little bitch well
I hope your insides rot
Liar, liar, liar
You see the stars through
Eyes lit up with lies
You got your stories
All twisted up with mine
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You were born with glue
Instead of spine
Liar, liar, liar
You, of thee I sing
Well ha ha ha, tied to a string
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You got this thing that
Really makes me hot
You get a lot and more
When you get caught
Bruise violet
Bruise violet
Bruise violet
You got this thing that
Follows me around
You see the stars through
Eyes lit up with lies
You little bitch well
I hope your insides rot
Liar, liar, liar
@chlochlo4155
I swear this song is never loud enough.
@johnnymk6874
truth
@katejackson4236
turn it up. this is one song.
@charleybarley914
Try listening to it in the 7th st Entry about 8 feet from Kat's stack, thats about loud enough.
@baxtronx5972
Imagine 21st century studio gear recording this. It would destroy most people's ears.
@itsthewanderingfool
I’ll never for the life of me understand why this band is so underrated.
@p1sstoph3
because 60-70% of the population prefers shitty music, it's always been that way
@chrismillar7593
They were a bit early to hit the scene and only made three albums. Their first isn’t well known. Their second album is well known. I don’t really know why they stopped making albums and touring - they were a successful band at the time. Their 3rd and last album was published in 95 which was right around the time when grunge was getting huge. I was 14 at the time and I think it was around that time that I’d first heard of them.
I feel like if they had kept going they would be more popular.
@charleybarley914
See also the Replacements, See also Husker Du
@kristoffcicourel1426
Because they are girls xd