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.

House
Babes in Toyland Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my love
It feels like God

Just you shut my mouth
Just try and shut my mouth

Stubbed my toe running to your house
Broke my leg running to your house
Lost my head running to your house
Broke my crown running to your house

Well, oh my God
Is this what it feels like to be in love?
Is this what it feels like?
Oh my love
It feels like God

Just you shut my mouth
Just try and shut my mouth
Mad pilot fly

Just try and shut my mouth
Mad pilot fly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of House by Babes in Toyland discusses the concept of love and how it causes one to do crazy things. The phrase "stubbed my toe, broke my leg, lost my head, broke my crown" shows the physical pain and suffering that can come from love. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the intensity of one's emotions when experiencing love. Moreover, the line "Is this what it feels like to be in love?" implies a sense of disbelief and wonder that one can feel when experiencing love for the first time.

The lyrics also convey a sense of obsession and desperation, with lines like "just try and shut my mouth" and "mad pilot fly." It shows how love can take over one's thoughts and actions, making them feel out of control. The line "it feels like God" suggests that love is a powerful force and has the ability to make one feel invincible.

In conclusion, the lyrics of House by Babes in Toyland delve into the physical and emotional effects of love. It portrays love as a powerful entity that brings intense emotions and can drive one to do crazy things.

Line by Line Meaning

Stubbed my toe running to your house
I went through a lot of trouble to get to your house

Broke my leg running to your house
I endured pain to get to your house

Lost my head running to your house
I was so focused on getting to your house that I lost my senses

Broke my crown running to your house
I suffered a major blow on my way to your house

Oh my God
I am overwhelmed with emotion

Is this what it feels like to be in love?
I am questioning if the intensity of my emotions is due to being in love

Is this what it feels like?
I am unsure if what I am feeling is really love

Oh my love
My feelings for you are strong

It feels like God
My feelings are powerful and divine

Just you shut my mouth
I won't stop expressing my feelings

Just try and shut my mouth
Even if you try to stop me from expressing my feelings, I won't be silenced

Mad pilot fly
I am in a state of erratic emotions

Just try and shut my mouth
I won't be silenced, no matter what

Mad pilot fly
My emotions are wild and out of control

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

b

4y↑8

Stubbed my toe running to your house
Broke my leg running to your house
Lost my head running to your house
Broke my crown running to your house
Oh my God
Is this what it feels like to be in love?
Is this what it feels like?
Oh my love
It feels like God
Just you shut my mouth
Just try and shut my mouth
Stubbed my toe running to your house
Broke my leg running to your house
Lost my head running to your house
Broke my crown running to your house
Well, oh my God
Is this what it feels like to be in love?
Is this what it feels like?
Oh my love
It feels like God
Just you shut my mouth
Just try and shut my mouth
Mad pilot fly
Just try and shut my mouth
Mad pilot fly

All comments from YouTube:

chris g.

10y↑25

goddamn I LOVE her vocals

soniczap

13y↑4

This was my first Babes in Toyland song, years upon years ago. I was hooked after that.

Gustavo Lopes

8y↑2

umas das melhores bandas grunge com vocal feminino,yerrrrr demais,muito loco este som.....

b

4y↑8

Baron Saturday

8y↑18

Whatever this is called, it rocks.

Dan C.

11y↑3

forgot how friggin' great this song is.

William Beglen

5y↑30

Babes in Toyland hated being called "Grunge" or "riot grrrls" they considered their music just plain "punk rock".

Jeremy Blatter

4y↑2

Just like Kurt Cobain.

Julius Ebola

3y↑10

@Jeremy Blatter Kurt was a total riot grrl.

Justin Bogenschutz

8y↑37

for the people arguing that this is not grunge or whatever, just think there was basically 3 veins of "the grunge scene" back then. Nirvana represented the mostly punk aesthetic, Pearl Jam was more based in classic rock, and Alice In Chains more of the metal aesthetic. When Kurt died, I think that took away the punk feel to "grunge" leaving only Pearl Jam and AIC as the main initial influences that later bands evolved from why bands like Creed and whatever sucked ass. Unfortunately bands like Mudhoney and Babes in Toyland became after thoughts in the grunge world because their sound wasn't close to the surviving Grunge mainstays. David Grohl could've tried to carry the legacy but decided that corporate rock was better suited for his business interests

Dave Pettit

6y↑2

Pretty much this.

froggy8030

6y↑1

Justin Bogenschutz Nirvana were pop grunge they took influence from the melodic of the 60's Beatles and Beach Boys

Dinosaur Jr.

6y↑6

froggy8030 There are so many things wrong with what you just said...

froggy8030

6y↑1

Dinosaur Jr. Listen to interviews wuth both Butch Vig and the members of Nirvana and they themselves admit a pop connection. They weren't ashamed of it and infact it embodies gen X and grunge it was about both repulsion at what was commercial and obbsession with through childhood nostalgia warped by cynicism and backlash rage into an art movement. Like it or not The Beatles were Pop. Nirvana made their version of grunge rock by intertwining warped Pop melodies. QUALITY songs as in Pop with a capital P not the pish that came to represent pop in the last 4 decades. Bands like Black Flag and Live were Punk grunge

Dinosaur Jr.

6y↑1

froggy8030 You wasted so much time with this reply xD

8 More Replies...

A. Gaz

2y↑1

This song brings me so much joy. OG love for you ladies. fuck yeah dudes.

Sofia

i adore them

CYB3RSVNG

7y↑9

this is so good

Falafel Boi

8y↑42

wish they were more known. Nirvana is the only band people ever think when they think of grunge

Christina Keller

8y↑1

Ikr

Ramon Moreno

6y↑8

They toured with Nirvana and they had music videos on mtv

Todd Gambit

5y↑1

When I think grunge I think Mr Clean.

Derriel Dixie

4y↑1

They don’t consider themselves grunge, they’re from MN.

MyNegativeCreep

14y↑5

Nice song GRUNGE FOR EVER

bmxband1t77

Wailing Wimmen of Wongo. FANTASTIC!🕺

moonstone

6y↑42

Babes weren't really grunge, though they were working in the same space and with similar elements. That said, they definitely were NOT riot grrrl. A lot of people mistake "riot grrrl" to mean "angry music made by women in the '90s," which is not the case—riot grrrrl was basically a cult in the woods with Kathleen Hanna as its poster child, made up almost exclusively of Evergreen State College students. The majority of those bands were not so much bands as they were feminist art projects. Babes in Toyland were not part of this for both obvious geographic reasons, as well as ethical ones; Kat's lyrics were not overtly political or concerned with feminism per se.

Chris Dymmel

5y↑9

Agreed. This is more punk than anything. It sounds closer stylistically to a mashup of X-Ray Spex, The Cramps and Destroy All Monsters than anything to do with any of the grunge set. Not that it really matters, though. If you like it, just call it good ass music and enjoy!

Julius Ebola

3y↑1

It was more akin to noise rock or art rock, like Sonic Youth. Weird tuning and muting in the guitar riffs, feedback and atonal elements, and of course Kat's vocal insanity. Really, Babes were more influential than they were influenced by others.

Derriel Dixie

2y↑7

It’s really shitty and ignorant of you to call Riot Grrl a cult. It was groundbreaking in that women were representing themselves in the punk scene and talking about important social issues that were otherwise ignored. They also did have several bands like Sleater Keeney that released albums to critical acclaim.

George Zsebe

Thank you for sharing! ^_^

T Ch

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Josh Crawford

15y

Wow very cool!

Stephany Calderón

11y

Up grunge girlss!!!

Matthew Graham

9y↑1

Same here soniczap.....this was my first song too.....first and only show Lollapalooza 1997....next one tomorrow night in st louis......

Sable Kentzworth

10y↑31

Cool song, but what's up with the description of this video? "Babes in Toyland were not part of the grunge movement being located in Minneapolis, but rather were part of the underground riot grrrl punk genre" - That's the opposite of what they were! The Babes have repeatedly denied being a Riot Grrrl band. They were a Grunge group.

Jocey Unicorn

Sable Kentzworth they are still considered a riot grrrl band though.

Musique Bleue

9y↑2

Jocey Unicorn By whom ???

Jocey Unicorn

Quentin Lejas well I can't possibly know who first gave them that label but in general they are considered a grunge/riot grrrl band, probably because they were active back when grunge/riot grrrl bands was very active and since Babes In Toyland had a similar sound to those bands they automatically got labeled as one of them.But I do know they never considered themselves riot grrrl personally.