Backyard Babies are a Swedish rock band originally from Nässjö and currentl… Read Full Bio ↴Backyard Babies are a Swedish rock band originally from Nässjö and currently based in Stockholm. The band was formed in 1989 and over the years they have released eight studio albums and won two Swedish Grammy Awards. They are largely attributed with popularizing sleaze rock in Scandinavia and Sweden. Their single "Minus Celsius" appears as a playable bonus track in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and "Degenerated" is available as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero World Tour.

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)

Rocker
Backyard Babies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm in construction of destruction
But I think I'm on overload
And I hold my hands together
Still the walls come crushin' down

My body ain't working faster
My mind's working overtime
Going hundred miles an hour standing still

But I'm alive and doing fine

I got the city sound rockin'
But I ain't got the money
I got the city sound rockin'
Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do

Hey, little miss Double Bubble
I don't think you're worth the trouble
And don't believe what you read in the magazines
'Cause there ain't no fuckin' limousines

I got the city sound rockin'
But I ain't got the money
I got the city sound rockin'
Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do

My mission is chaos in order
With intelligence in command
I'm way smarter than the guy who built the A-bomb
Whatever the fuck his IQ

And my body ain't working faster
My mind's working overtime
Going hundred miles an hour standing still
But I'm alive and doing fine

I got the city sound rockin'
But I ain't got the money
I got the city sound rockin'
Don't you think it's funny
I got the city sound rockin'
I got the city sound rockin'

I got the city sound rockin'
Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do

Overall Meaning

"Rocker" by Backyard Babies is a song that depicts the inner turmoil and struggles of a person who lives on the edge. The song opens with the line "I'm in the construction of destruction, but I think I'm on overload," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels overwhelmed and overburdened with his chaotic lifestyle, and he fears that he is losing control. He tries to hold his hands together, which could mean anything from a physical gesture to a metaphorical plea for help, but "the walls come crashing down" anyway. This line suggests that the singer's efforts to stay in control are ultimately futile, and he is powerless to prevent his own downfall.

The second verse of "Rocker" continues to explore the singer's inner turmoil. He feels that his mind is working "overtime" and his body is not keeping pace. He is "going hundred miles an hour standing still," which could symbolize his hyperactivity, restlessness, or anxiety. However, the singer insists that he is "alive and doing fine." This line reveals a paradoxical aspect of his personality: even though he is struggling, he is also thriving in some ways. The third verse is a playful jab at a woman named "little miss Double Bubble," whom the singer deems "not worth the trouble." He mocks the image of glamour and wealth that he perceives in magazines and claims that "there ain't no fuckin' limousines." This line could be interpreted as a critique of materialism or celebrity culture.

Overall, "Rocker" is a song that explores the dark side of fame, fortune, and success. The singer's gritty, rebellious spirit is mixed with a sense of desperation and insecurity, resulting in a complex and multi-layered portrait of a rocker's life.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm in construction of destruction
I am working hard to create chaos and destruction.

But I think I'm on overload
However, I feel like I may be taking on too much.

And I hold my hands together
Despite this, I try to stay calm and collected.

Still the walls come crushin' down
Nevertheless, the pressure is overwhelming and I feel like I am failing.

My body ain't working faster
Physically, I am not able to keep up with the demands.

My mind's working overtime
Mentally, I am constantly thinking and problem-solving.

Going hundred miles an hour standing still
Despite this, I feel like I am stuck in one place, not making progress.

But I'm alive and doing fine
However, I am still alive and doing well, despite the challenges.

I got the city sound rockin'
My music is loud and energizing, catching people's attention.

But I ain't got the money
Yet, I am not financially successful.

Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do
But I find the irony amusing and continue to make music for the love of the art.

Hey, little miss Double Bubble
Addressing a woman, perhaps one who is superficial and materialistic.

I don't think you're worth the trouble
I do not consider her worth the effort or hassle.

And don't believe what you read in the magazines
Magazines often glamorize and exaggerate the lifestyles of the rich and famous, do not believe everything you read.

'Cause there ain't no fuckin' limousines
Those extravagant lifestyles are not necessarily true, and I do not have the money for luxury transportation.

My mission is chaos in order
My goal is to create productive and positive outcomes from seemingly chaotic situations.

With intelligence in command
I am in control and making calculated decisions based on my intelligence and knowledge.

I'm way smarter than the guy who built the A-bomb
I pride myself on my intelligence and consider myself smarter than someone who created a destructive weapon like the Atomic Bomb.

Whatever the fuck his IQ
Regardless of that individual's IQ or intelligence level.

I got the city sound rockin'
My music is loud and energizing, catching people's attention.

Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do
But I find the irony amusing and continue to make music for the love of the art.

I got the city sound rockin'
My music is loud and energizing, catching people's attention.

Don't you think it's funny 'cause I do
But I find the irony amusing and continue to make music for the love of the art.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREAS SVENSSON, NIKLAS ROGER BORG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS