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.
Laredo
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can fly higher when I'm tired
My two hands are scorched from holding this torch
Mind feels like neon all glowing and bent up
You look good on my back like a shark fin
Rectify desensitized
'Tis the season to drink poison
Your mind's gone greasy it slides right off me
And all the jaded stars spit black cigars
No truce for you
A spec of something that I knew
Yes I read what you did and I see what you did
The lyrics of Babes in Toyland's song Laredo are cryptic and laden with symbolism. The first line, "Tear your wings off at the spine and tape them to the back of mine," suggests a desire for a deeper connection between two people. The singer wants to merge with the other person in a way that is more intimate than simply holding hands or hugging. The imagery of wings being torn off and reattached implies a violent act, and perhaps even a desire for the other person to suffer pain in order for the connection to be stronger.
The next line, "I can fly higher when I'm tired," is more straightforward in its meaning. It suggests that the singer is invigorated by the presence of the other person, and is able to overcome fatigue in order to continue striving towards their goals. The following line, "My two hands are scorched from holding this torch," reinforces this idea. The singer is carrying a heavy burden, but is willing to endure the pain in order to achieve their objectives.
The lines that follow are more difficult to interpret. "Mind feels like neon all glowing and bent up" suggests a sense of disorientation or confusion. The image of neon lights bent out of shape reinforces this feeling. "You look good on my back like a shark fin" is another puzzling image. While it may suggest a feeling of power or domination, it is difficult to say for certain what the singer means by it. The remainder of the lyrics continue in this vein, with fragmented images and a sense of underlying tension and unease.
Overall, the lyrics of "Laredo" suggest a complex and often contradictory set of emotions. The desire for connection and intimacy is balanced against a sense of violence and aggression. The focus on pain and suffering is tempered by glimpses of hope and optimism.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear your wings off at the spine and tape them to the back of mine
By taking your abilities and making them mine, I can excel beyond what I'm capable of doing myself.
I can fly higher when I'm tired
When I'm exhausted, I'm able to push myself further than I would normally be able to.
My two hands are scorched from holding this torch
I've been carrying the weight of responsibility for too long, and now it's beginning to take a physical toll on me.
Mind feels like neon all glowing and bent up
My mind is in a state of high-energy and buzzing with electricity, much like the bright glow of neon lights.
You look good on my back like a shark fin
You fit perfectly into my life and I feel like I'm unstoppable with you by my side - like a shark with its powerful dorsal fin.
Rectify desensitized
I need to fix my lack of emotion and begin to feel things again.
'Tis the season to drink poison
I'm in a dark place and feel like I'm surrounded by toxicity in my life.
Tralala was a bad head girl
I regret following a bad leader in the past and it's had a negative impact on me.
Your mind's gone greasy it slides right off me
I don't let other people's negativity or drama stick to me, it just slides right off.
And all the jaded stars spit black cigars
Even those who are supposed to be role models or stars are full of bitterness and negativity.
No truce for you
I refuse to back down and make peace with someone who has wronged me.
A spec of something that I knew
Even though everything feels uncertain and chaotic, there's still a small glimmer of hope that reminds me of what's important.
Yes I read what you did and I see what you did
I'm aware of the wrongdoings you've committed and I see through your lies.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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