Their music initially featured many influences from 60s psychedelia, played with a rough lo-fi abandon. They self-released several EPs and albums between 2007 and 2011, including "30 track space opera" Jurassic Exxplosion Philippic, most of which are by now scarcely available. In 2011, they met producer/songwriter Richard Swift after handing him one of their EPs, and Swift would go on to work with them for some subsequent albums. After being signed to Jagjaguwar Records, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released as their debut album on July 24, 2012. On January 22, 2013, they released their second album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. This album was produced by Richard Swift and recorded at his National Freedom studios.
For each album Foxygen 'chooses' a different era in music history to focus themselves on. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic is based on the sixties, ...And Star Power was seventies and their newest release Hang is based on the forties.
Album discographyJurrassic Exxplosion Phillipic (2007)Take the Kids Off Broadway (2011)We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (2013)...And Star Power (2014)Hang (2017)Seeing Other People (2019)
Abandon My Toys
Foxygen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I put my hands above my head
But I got several mannequins in my bed
So what do I do? (take the high road)
Teenage alien blues (take the high road)
Oh, no, no
Can't stand the truth
I threw my mind out in the garbage yesterday
Whether I'm on drugs or not, I'm brain dead, either way
So what do I do? (take the high road)
See you making out (take the high road)
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Can't stand the high road, baby
If you want some of my love, darlin'
You can walk to my house, babe
I will stand up for my rights
From Jesus Jones and all his parasites
They're doing testings on mice
In a psychedelic chromosome device
I will stand up in my mind
And tear your heart right down
The current state of our minds
In six or seven years won't matter
I will stand up in my mind
And tear your heart right down
And recognize the future is now
Oh, but it gets so hard
With both feet on the ground
I could make you my own
But now you're down
And make you my own
But now you're down
Now I've got a sweetie
Who knows just how to treat me
But everyone's talkin' 'bout haircuts
No, no, everyone's talkin' 'bout Jesus Jones
The lyrics to Foxygen's song "Abandon My Toys" explore themes of alienation and detachment, as well as the struggle to find one's place within society. The opening line, "Standing on the edge of someone's shadow," suggests a feeling of insignificance or being overshadowed by others. The line "I put my hands above my head, but I got several mannequins in my bed" could be seen as a metaphor for feeling empty and lacking genuine human connections.
The chorus of the song, with its repeated line "So what do I do?" followed by the suggestion to "take the high road," suggests a sense of confusion and uncertainty about how to navigate life. The following line, "Can't stand the truth," speaks to a desire to avoid confronting difficult realities.
The lyrics also touch on societal issues such as animal testing ("They're doing testings on mice in a psychedelic chromosome device") and the influence of popular culture ("But everyone's talkin' 'bout haircuts / No, no, everyone's talkin' 'bout Jesus Jones").
Overall, the song seems to express a sense of disillusionment with the world and a longing for something more authentic and meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the edge of someone's shadow
Feeling overshadowed and insignificant
I put my hands above my head
Feeling powerless
But I got several mannequins in my bed
Loneliness and inability to form meaningful relationships
So what do I do? (take the high road)
Looking for guidance on how to proceed
Teenage alien blues (take the high road)
Feeling like an outsider and struggling to fit in
Oh, no, no
Expressing frustration and confusion
Can't stand the truth
Feeling unable to face reality
I threw my mind out in the garbage yesterday
Feeling disillusioned and mentally exhausted
Whether I'm on drugs or not, I'm brain dead, either way
Feeling emotionally and mentally numb
See you making out (take the high road)
Feeling jealous and insecure about others' relationships
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Expressing frustration and resistance
Can't stand the high road, baby
Feeling unable to take the moral or responsible path
If you want some of my love, darlin'
Expressing romantic interest
You can walk to my house, babe
Inviting the listener to pursue a relationship
I will stand up for my rights
Asserting one's own agency
From Jesus Jones and all his parasites
Critiquing societal figures that exploit and manipulate
They're doing testings on mice
Highlighting animal cruelty in scientific experimentation
In a psychedelic chromosome device
Suggesting that technology and science can be harmful and unethical
And recognize the future is now
Acknowledging the urgency of addressing current problems
Oh, but it gets so hard
Admitting to internal struggles and obstacles
With both feet on the ground
Feeling grounded and secure
I could make you my own
Expressing romantic interest
But now you're down
Realizing that the timing or circumstances aren't right
Now I've got a sweetie
Expressing romantic fulfillment
Who knows just how to treat me
Appreciating a partner's qualities
But everyone's talkin' 'bout haircuts
Feeling frustrated by shallow or trivial concerns
No, no, everyone's talkin' 'bout Jesus Jones
Feeling frustrated by mainstream media and societal expectations
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Rado, Sam France
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind