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.
Jungle Train
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me enter you
Entertain center
Entertain you
With my pain
Rip strike
Black eyes
Capsized
Revel and strike
Got my love in pocket
Gonna hock it for my life
Fall short
Rip strike
The lyrics in Babes in Toyland's song Jungle Train are vivid and provocative, invoking a sense of violence and passion. The repeated phrases of "rip strike" and "entertain you" create a primal and aggressive tone. The mention of "black eyes" adds to the intensity of the lyrics, suggesting that there may be physical altercations involved. The line "capsized, revel and strike" can be interpreted as a metaphor for losing control, becoming overwhelmed, and then striking out in response. The lyrics also mention having love and hocking it for life, possibly indicating that the singer is willing to sacrifice everything for what they desire.
Overall, the lyrics in Jungle Train can be seen as metaphorical commentary on the destructive nature of desire and the lengths one is willing to go to attain it. The lyrics draw from the imagery and language of gritty rock and roll combined with dark poetic expression, making it a standout track in Babes in Toyland's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Rip strike
I am starting this song with a strong expression to convey my intense and powerful feelings.
Let me enter you
I am asking for permission to get into your world to show you my perspective.
Entertain center
I have the ability to entertain you and make you the center of my attention.
Entertain you
My goal is to keep you captivated and interested.
With my pain
I will use my personal struggles and hardships to make my performance more meaningful and genuine.
Black eyes
I have been through difficult experiences that have left me wounded and scarred.
Your side
I am by your side and will support you through your own struggles.
Capsized
Together, we may feel overwhelmed and lost, but we will find our way through.
Revel and strike
We will celebrate our successes and persevere through our setbacks, always fighting back.
Got my love in pocket
I have a lot of love to give and will always keep it close to me.
Gonna hock it for my life
I am willing to risk everything to share my love and passion with the world.
Fall short
Despite our best efforts, we may not always succeed and fall short of our goals.
Rip strike
I am ending this song with the same powerful expression to leave a lasting impact on my audience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAT BJELLAND, LORI ANNE BARBERO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind