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.
Killer on the Road
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
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Heading south to the north
I went the long way I came back
What's left you left me I left you
You-turns constantly
No stopping no stopping no stopping now
How many
I see the way home, the exit's closed now
Objects are closer than they appear
The sun is in my eyes and though I can't see you
If I don't see you anymore I'd be O.K.
No stopping no stopping no stopping now
How many
How many killer on the road
Punch up your little punching bags
How'd you like it up your ass?
Little man little man with a plan
How you gonna knock their lights out?
Little man little man in a van
You've got a flat tire now watch out
Little man little man with a tan
How many have you had about?
Punch up your little punching bags
How'd you like it up your ass?
Little man little man with a plan
How many have you had
How many have you had about?
The song "Killer on the Road" by Babes in Toyland seems to be a dark and cryptic reflection about someone's road trip experience. At the beginning of the song, the singer sees a sign while heading south to the north and takes a long detour. The lyrics "What's left you left me I left you You-turns constantly" suggest that there might be relationship issues involved, and the person is struggling to come to terms with the separation. Furthermore, the phrase "no stopping now" repeated three times could indicate the desperation and urgency of moving on from the situation.
Later on in the song, the singer seems to be struggling with their vision as they can't see the exit and the objects around them are closer than they appear. The title of the song "Killer on the Road" probably refers to the dangers and risks involved with reckless driving, as the sun is in the person's eyes and the exit is closed off, which could lead to a fatal accident. The lyrics "If I don't see you anymore I'd be O.K." implies that the person has accepted the fact that the relationship is over and they're ready to move forward, even if it means a life-threatening journey.
The final part of the song seems to be a stream of consciousness about someone confronting another person who has wronged them. The lyrics "punch up your little punching bags" suggest aggression and hostility, and the phrase "how'd you like it up your ass?" is a rhetorical question that implies the singer's desire for revenge. The repetition of "little man" throughout the song suggests that the singer is confronting someone smaller and weaker than themselves, which might indicate a power dynamic at play.
Line by Line Meaning
When I saw the sign, it was the first day
Starting my journey, optimistic and unaware of what's ahead
Heading south to the north
Going in the opposite direction of where I'm actually headed
I went the long way I came back
Taking a detour, trying to find my way back
What's left you left me I left you
We've both hurt each other and parted ways
You-turns constantly
Going in circles, unable to move forward
No stopping no stopping no stopping now
Urgency to keep moving, to get to the destination as fast as possible
How many
Questioning the number of killers on the road
How many killer on the road
Wondering how many dangerous people are out there on the road
I see the way home, the exit's closed now
I know where I need to go but it seems impossible to get there
Objects are closer than they appear
Things are not always what they seem and can be more dangerous than they appear
The sun is in my eyes and though I can't see you
Being blinded by the brightness of the world and unable to pinpoint people's true intentions
If I don't see you anymore I'd be O.K.
Accepting the idea of being alone and moving on
Punch up your little punching bags
Challenging the weak and vulnerable to step up
How'd you like it up your ass?
How does it feel to be on the receiving end of violence and aggression?
Little man little man with a plan
Assuming those with power and confidence have a sinister agenda
How you gonna knock their lights out?
How are you going to take down those who are a threat?
Little man little man in a van
Belittling those who drive a vehicle for their lack of power and danger
You've got a flat tire now watch out
Warning those who act tough that they are not always invincible
Little man little man with a tan
Dismissing and minimizing the threat of those who appear harmless
How many have you had about?
Questioning the number of individuals who are capable of causing harm
How many have you had
Asking again how many dangerous people there are out there
How many have you had about?
Repeating the question in disbelief and dismay
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAT BJELLAND, LORI ANNE BARBERO, MAUREEN HERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind