History
Formed in 1987, Backyard Babies originally consisted of singer/bassist Tobbe (Tobias Fischer), guitarist Dregen, guitarist Johan Blomqvist, and drummer Peder Carlsson. They were then called Tyrant and played several live shows in their local area and recorded a rough demo. Tobbe was soon replaced by frontman Nicke Borg on vocals and guitar, and Blomqvist switched to bass. Fischer went on to be a professional photographer and web designer in Stockholm, continuing to work occasionally with his old bandmates.
In 1989, the band changed their name to Backyard Babies and recorded two more demos and did a national tour of Sweden. The band self-released a debut EP titled Something to Swallow. This got them signed in 1993 by Swedish label Megarock Records.
Backyard Babies released their debut album Diesel & Power in 1994. The music on it took influences from rock, punk, and blues. In addition to the album, the band also released the single "Electric Suzy" with a cover of "Taxi Driver" by Hanoi Rocks as the B-side. After touring with former Hanoi Rocks members in Demolition 23 and doing a short headline tour in late 1995, premiering new songs that remain unreleased, the band was put on hiatus, as guitarist Dregen formed the garage rock band The Hellacopters. Dregen appeared on two albums with the Hellacopters" Supershitty to the Max! (1996) and Payin' the Dues (1997).
The Backyard Babies reunited in 1997, with a new record contract with MVG Records. They recorded their most critically acclaimed album, Total 13. Critics compared the album favorably to the New York Dolls, Ramones, and The Damned. They toured the United Kingdom with good response. A single was released from the album, "Bombed (Out of My Mind)", with the B-side "Rocker" featuring a duet with Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe. Their next single was the self-released "Is It Still Alright to Smile?". The B-side of the single was a cover of the Faster Pussycat track "Babylon" featuring guest appearances from Ginger of the Wildhearts and Nicke Andersson who had played with Dregen in the Hellacopters. In 1998, the band toured the United Kingdom once more, this time in support of Alice Cooper.
After the collaboration on the song "Babylon", Dregen, Ginger, and Nicke Andersson formed the side project Supershit 666, which released a six-track EP in 1999. Dregen returned to the Backyard Babies soon after as the band took off for another tour of the United Kingdom, this time in support of AC/DC.
The Babies recorded a follow-up to Total 13, titled Making Enemies is Good which has been described by some critics as a more "controlled chaos" approach than their previous effort. Two of the singles from it were hits "The Clash" and "Brand New Hate", the latter of which was co-written with Ginger. They toured in support of the album with Motörhead.
On 15 October 2002, Backyard Babies guitarist Dregen was on the front pages of Swedish national newspapers. After returning home from a club where he was DJing, he and his friend were assaulted, robbed, and knocked unconscious. Dregen suffered a broken jaw but the band continued recording their next album; Stockholm Syndrome. The album, released in 2003, was viewed by some fans as a return towards a more energetic and raw sound. The album won them a Swedish Grammy. The album spawned three singles, "Minus Celsius", "A Song for the Outcast" and "Friends".
During 2005, the band toured the United States (with openers The Chelsea Smiles & Crash Kelly) and Europe alongside Social Distortion. The album People Like People Like People Like Us, produced by Nicke Andersson of The Hellacopters, was released in 2006. It spawned two singles: "The Mess Age (How Could I Be So Wrong)" and "Dysfunctional Professional". A self-titled album was released in August 2008. The first single was "Fuck Off and Die". The second single "Degenerated" is supported by an animated video clip. Their self-titled 2008 album reached number 1 on the Swedish albums chart.
The compilation album Them XX was released in 2009 to honor the band's 20th anniversary. The accompanying tour was rumored to be their last. After a hiatus, the band reconvened with an announcement in May 2014. Their 2015 album Four by Four reached number 2 on the Swedish albums chart. In September 2018 they played at the Hard Rock Hell Sleaze festival in Sheffield, England. The band released their eighth studio album, Sliver & Gold, in 2019. In 2022, in an interview with The Sound Lab, Dregen confirmed Backyard Babies were on hiatus due to commitments with The Hellacopters but there were plans to create more music in the future.
Discography
Diesel & Power (1994)
Total 13 (1998)
Making Enemies Is Good (2001)
Stockholm Syndrome (2003)
People Like People Like People Like Us (2006)
Backyard Babies (2008)
Four by Four (2015)
Sliver & Gold (2019)
PayBack
Backyard Babies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let my creepers do the walkin'
Let my the fingers do the shivering
'til...Mah!
Body starts achin'
And your hips start shakin'
While I'm sippin' Bloody Mary
Hey! Wow!
Well I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Cause I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Well I'm stranded by the standard
And my ego has just landed
Now the document's been handed
To...Maah
Supervisor Criticizor
A&R's & Moviestars
Managers & editors
Yes or no?
But hey! Of course!
Hey! Wow!
Well I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Cause I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
No I don't need no invitation
All I needed was a little patience
Hey! Wow!
Well I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Cause I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Well I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Cause I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Well I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
Cause I've heard that a million times
But now it's payback time
The song Payback by Backyard Babies is a high energy rock song about payback. The lyrics emphasize the idea that after hearing the same things over and over again, it's time for revenge. The singer uses a variety of body parts and actions, such as lips, creepers, and fingers, to convey the message that it’s time for payback. The song also features references to substances like Bloody Mary, which is portrayed as a scary drink, and focuses on the challenges of dealing with critics, managers, editors, and others in the music industry.
The chorus repeats the line, "Well I've heard that a million times, but now it's payback time," which serves as a reminder of the central theme of the song, and empowering the singer to take revenge through their music. The song's energy is expressed through its fast-paced rhythm and driving guitar riffs. The singer's powerful, passionate voice fuels the song's rebellion and defiance, making it a classic rock anthem.
Overall, Payback is a song about the frustration and anger that come with constantly hearing the same rhetoric or dealing with the same people who are often less than pleasant. By using powerful imagery about bodily sensations and substances, the song becomes an anthem for anyone who has had enough, celebrates their strength, and vows to take revenge.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon and let my lips do the talkin'
I want to use my words to seduce you.
Let my creepers do the walkin'
I want to use my stylish shoes to impress you.
Let my the fingers do the shivering
I want to make you feel excited and nervous with my touch.
'til...Mah!
I want to keep you mesmerized until you can't resist me.
Body starts achin'
Your body feels the physical desire for me.
And your hips start shakin'
Your body responds to my touch with desire.
While I'm sippin' Bloody Mary
I am enjoying a drink while seducing you.
Cause that Mary fuckin' scares me
The drink I'm having is very strong and makes me uncomfortable.
Well I've heard that a million times
I've listened to other people's opinions for a long time.
But now it's payback time
It's now time for me to make my opinion be heard.
Well I'm stranded by the standard
I feel stuck conforming to society's expectations.
And my ego has just landed
I'm feeling confident and want to express my true feelings.
Now the document's been handed
I have proof to back up my opinion.
To...Maah
I want to convince and impress a specific person.
Supervisor Criticizor
People who are supposed to guide and support me can be overly critical.
A&R's & Moviestars
People who have achieved fame and success can be arrogant and self-centered.
Managers & editors
People who control my career can hold me back from expressing myself.
Yes or no?
Should I conform to their expectations or express my true feelings?
No I don't need no invitation
I don't need permission to express myself.
All I needed was a little patience
I needed to wait for the right moment to express myself.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREAS SVENSSON, ANDREAS TYRONE SVENSSON, JOHAN BLOMQVIST, NIKLAS ROGER BORG, PEDER CARLSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind