They formed in the year 1989 are advocates of the DIY punk ethic and part of the musical underground culture. They are well regarded in the Industrial music, punk rock, indie rock and electronic music communities. Known for their live performances, Babyland have shared the stage with the likes of The Offspring, Legendary Pink Dots, Dystopia, Foetus, Add(n)to X, Nitzer Ebb and Psychic TV. Most of their live performances occur in underground locations that have included places like LA's Jabberjaw, Kontrol Factory, The Smell and 924_gilman in Berkeley.
Recordings prior to 1996 were released on the Los Angeles Punk Rock label Flipside, and the band participated in several of this organization's Mojave Desert events. Subsequent material has been released by the band's own label, Mattress. Recent works have also been released in Europe by Dependent Records.
Their slogan is: "We will not go away"
On October 9, 2009, it was announced that they had broken up.
Dan Gatto now plays as Continues
http://www.thisiscontinues.com/
Discography
* 1991 7 inch (1991: Flipside)
* Reality/Under/Smrow-Tow EP (1992: Flipside)
* You Suck Crap (1992: Flipside)
* Dog Snatcher EP (1993: Flipside)
* Stomach 7 inch (1993: Flipside)
* A Total Letdown (1994: Flipside)
* Who's Sorry Now (1995: Flipside)
* Split (1996: Flipside)
* B-Component 7 inch (1998: Mattress)
* Outlive Your Enemies (1998: Mattress)
* Decade One (2001: CD Compilation released in Europe: Dependent)
* 2002 (2002: Mattress)
* Past Lives ep (2003: Mattress)
* The Finger (2004: Mattress)
Smrow-Toh
Babyland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You have but one life
Choose your weapon wisely
Slay your opponent mercilessly
Conquer all that surrounds you
The game
To pass on the weight
We isolate and push away
Infection is claimed
Infected
We're all the same
With no high score
Tag backs are allowed
The opponent lives within ourselves
Conquer your mind
Destroy all its lies
I know it hurts to find out you're it
We'd better come clean
A point's all that we got
A fucking beep and flash on the screen
To better their score is all that they want
So watch your back
System infraction
Penalty one life
So watch your back
It's all that I ask
The song "Smrow-Toh" by Babyland is a commentary on the human experience and specifically the concept of life being akin to a game. The lyrics encourage the listener to choose their path wisely and to be ruthless in their pursuit of success. The game being referenced is one that requires players to slay their opponents and conquer all around them. However, the game's underlying message is darker as it presents life as a constant struggle for survival where we are all infected with the same disease - the human condition.
The lines "We isolate and push away. Infection is claimed. Infected. We're all the same" suggest that no matter how we try to separate ourselves from others, we are all connected through our shared human experience. The song also warns against complacency and the temptation to simply go through the motions of life without striving for something greater. The lines "So watch your back. It's all that I ask" serve as a reminder that we must always be vigilant and aware of the world around us.
Overall, the song offers a sobering look at life and the human condition, and encourages listeners to be mindful in their pursuit of success while also recognizing the importance of connection and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to Smrow-Toh
This is a game, Smrow-Toh, that you will enter.
You have but one life
You only have one life, preserve it.
Choose your weapon wisely
Opt for the weapon that suits you best.
Slay your opponent mercilessly
Do not hesitate to beat down your challenger.
Conquer all that surrounds you
Dominate your environment by beating your enemies.
The game
The activity in which we are participating.
To pass on the weight
To share the burden of the game.
Epidemic
The spreading of a problem that affects all of us.
We isolate and push away
We separate ourselves and forget about compassion.
Infection is claimed
Everyone can be affected by the epidemic.
Infected
We are all infected, but we haven't noticed.
We're all the same
Despite our differences, we all are affected.
With no high score
There is no ultimate winner here.
Tag backs are allowed
You can try once more if you fail.
The opponent lives within ourselves
Our inner demon is the tough challenger.
Conquer your mind
Win over your own mind, control it.
Destroy all its lies
Break down all of the lies that your mind tells you.
I know it hurts to find out you're it
It's hard to realize that you are in possession of the detrimental mentality.
We'd better come clean
It's time to tell the truth.
A point's all that we got
In this game, we collect points.
A fucking beep and flash on the screen
A tiny notification pays off the work we've put in.
To better their score is all that they want
Beating others' scores is their sole focus.
So watch your back
Be careful, enemies are everywhere in this game.
System infraction
Breaking the game's regulations.
Penalty one life
You lose a life due to the rule-breaking.
It's all that I ask
Stay alert and keep your guard up.
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.