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.
Memory
Babes in Toyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You decide what's on the mind coming in from
The other side look what you done to me
Following following look what you done to me
Shadowing shallowing
The other side
I knew you first
I loved you first
Pokin naked Ruthie with a sharp-end stick shit
I am mean
Memory hide see halloween you know me
Look what you done to me following following
Look what you done to me sallow and shallowing
The other side
I knew you first
I loved you first
I am yr curse
You decide what's the mind coming in from the
Other side look what you done to me
The lyrics of Babes in Toyland's song "Memory" are open to interpretation, but they seem to revolve around memory, power dynamics, and a potentially abusive relationship. The first verse suggests a game of hide and seek or Halloween, with the singer wondering if they are being pursued by a man or their own thoughts. The second line could be an invitation for the listener to decide for themselves what is going on in the singer's mind. They seem to be haunted by something or someone from the "other side", who has had a negative impact on them. The repetition of "look what you done to me" suggests some kind of harm or manipulation has taken place, with "shadowing" and "shallowing" adding to a sense of being trapped or suffocated.
The second verse deepens the sense of the singer's powerlessness, with the repeated phrase "I knew you first / I loved you first / I am the first" possibly referring to an abusive partner who has warped the singer's sense of self and history. The jarring line "Pokin' naked Ruthie with a sharp-end stick shit / I am mean" suggests a violent or cruel streak in the singer, but it is possible that this is a projection of their abuser's behavior onto themselves. The chorus repeats the same phrases as the first verse, with the addition of "sallow & shallowing", which could suggest a physical or emotional decline.
Overall, "Memory" is a haunting and unsettling song that leaves much up to interpretation. It seems to explore themes of memory, trauma, and the ways in which abusive relationships can warp a person's sense of self and reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Memory hide and seek halloween men or me
Remember playing hide and seek on Halloween, unsure of who's hiding and who's seeking, questioning whether it's the men or myself
You decide what's on the mind coming in from the other side look what you done to me
It's up to you to interpret what's going through my mind from the other side, and see the effect you've had on me
Following following look what you done to me shadowing shallowing
I'm following your lead and look at the damage it's done, now I'm questioning and weakening myself
The other side I knew you first I loved you first I am the first Pokin' naked Ruthie with a sharp-end stick shit I am mean
When we were on opposite sides, I was the first to know and love you. But now, my behavior towards you is mean and cruel, like poking Ruthie with a sharp stick while naked
Memory hide and see halloween you know me You decide what's on the mind coming in from the other side Look what you done to me following following Look what you done to me sallow & shallowing
Remember those Halloween hide and seek games we played? You know me, but from the other side you may not recognize me. Look at what you've done to me, both in my attempts to follow you and my emotional state now
The other side I knew you first I loved you first I am yr curse
From the other side, I am the curse that you can't escape. I was the first to know and love you, but now I bring only pain
You decide what's on the mind coming in from the Other side look what you done to me....
It's up to you to determine what's going through my mind from the other side, but regardless, see what you've done to me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LORI ANNE BARBERO, KAT BJELLAND, MAUREEN HERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind