It all started with "The Fratellis," Stolen Babies' original 12+ member group. Horns blared, oversized dolls jumped out of toy boxes, squabbles were had, babies were stolen, turned into flies and fed to giant spiders. Eventually, the blundering theatrics came to an end, but the four stuck together.
More misadventure, more junk food...
Taking their name from a song/skit from the early days, Stolen Babies have been described as playing prog-pop-cabaret-thrash-quirky-goth-rock. Mostly though, they would just like to think that their songs are fun to dance and fall down to.
It's nearly impossible to talk about Stolen Babies without mentioning their ongoing collaboration with graphic novelist extraordinaire Crab Scrambly. His artwork has graced their early releases, website and merch. More notably you can see Crab's original paintings that provide the otherworldly landscapes to Stolen Babies video "Push Button," and of course the artwork for the bands debut full length album "There Be Squabbles Ahead," which was recorded and produced by Dan Rathburn of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Which now brings Stolen Babies to...the beginning of The End.
STOLEN BABIES are:
Dominique Persi - lead vocals, face paint keeping, accordion sprinkling
Rani Sharone - electric and upright bass swapping, mental guitar playing, programming, sampling, vocals
Ben Rico - multiple keyboard reaching, beating, vocals
Gil Sharone (The Dillinger Escape Plan) - aggressive drumming
Oakland, California, USA in 2002
Tablescrap
Stolen Babies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scrapbook
Somehow I've misplaced you
You were a scratch on a paper, ink and a voice
Not meant to look back at me
The something or someone played a joke
Put on a twisted show
And there we were
I remember just listening,
Looking up to a fantasy
Til the day it was right in front of me
Now it's ruined, now it looks like tablescraps and nothing else
It kills me to think about all the things
I threw around while hiding
My nature is and always has been that of a pill-bug
When someone gets too close
I now can see how you saw me when I couldn't see myself
But there we were
I remember just listening,
looking up to a fantasy
Til the day it was right in front of me
Now it's ruined, now it looks like tablescraps...
I don't think that I really wanted any of it
But before I could understand anything that was happening
So quickly, the bottle, the squinting
I could not undo the knots of an undeveloped mouth
...On the way back from the island,
The turbulence hinted at no end
All I got, I barely saw...
Now I've finally tied it up with no regrets
But I remember… just listening,
Looking up to a fantasy
Til the day it was right in front of me
Now it's ruined, now it looks like tablescraps and nothing else
Now it looks like tablescraps
All that's left are tablescraps
All that's left are tablescraps
Tablescraps and nothing else
The lyrics to Stolen Babies' "Tablescrap" explores themes of loss, regret, and the struggle to understand oneself. The opening lines, "Notebook, scrapbook, somehow I've misplaced you," depict the singer as feeling lost and unmoored after losing touch with something important. The lines, "You were a scratch on a paper, ink and a voice, not meant to look back at me," suggests that whatever the singer has lost was not meant to be revisited or examined closely. Instead, it was something fleeting that they didn't fully appreciate until it was gone.
The lyrics go on to suggest that the loss the singer is lamenting was, in part, their own fault. The lines "My nature is and always has been that of a pill-bug when someone gets too close" imply that the singer is prone to withdrawing or hiding when relationships or situations become too intense. When they say "I don't think that I really wanted any of it," they suggest that perhaps they didn't fully embrace or appreciate what they had until it was gone.
Overall, "Tablescrap" is a hauntingly introspective song that begs the listener to reflect on the ways we can unwittingly contribute to our own losses and the importance of cherishing what we have before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Notebook
A book used for notes or writing down information.
Scrapbook
A book filled with pictures, clippings, and memories.
Somehow I've misplaced you
I have lost you and don't know how it happened.
You were a scratch on a paper, ink and a voice
You were once just a simple note or message, but with time and interaction, you became more than that.
Not meant to look back at me
You were never supposed to be important or meaningful to me in the first place.
The something or someone played a joke
A force or person caused a mischievous or cruel trick to be played on us.
Put on a twisted show
They created a strange or bizarre scenario for us to experience.
And there we were
In that strange scenario, we were both there.
I remember just listening,
I recall just hearing, paying attention, or being present for something.
Looking up to a fantasy
I was living in a dream-like state and looking forward to an unrealistic ideal or scenario.
Til the day it was right in front of me
Until that ideal was actually present or occurred in reality.
Now it's ruined, now it looks like tablescraps and nothing else
Now the ideal or scenario has been destroyed or lost and all that remains are worthless scraps.
It kills me to think about all the things
It hurts me to even consider all the actions, words, or thoughts I had during that time.
I threw around while hiding
I acted without thinking or deliberately while trying to conceal my true self or emotions.
My nature is and always has been that of a pill-bug
My inherent disposition or behavior is to curl up and become defensive under stress or in difficult situations.
When someone gets too close
When someone tries to get too near or too involved with me.
I now can see how you saw me when I couldn't see myself
I can now understand how you perceived me when I was unable to perceive myself accurately.
But there we were
Despite the situation or the way we were, we were both there together.
I don't think that I really wanted any of it
I don't believe I truly desired or valued any of those experiences or feelings.
But before I could understand anything that was happening
Before I could comprehend or analyze the situation or my emotions fully.
So quickly, the bottle, the squinting
Everything happened rapidly or in a blur, alcohol or substances were involved, and I struggled to see or understand what was happening.
I could not undo the knots of an undeveloped mouth
I was incapable of speaking or articulating my thoughts or feelings effectively or maturely.
...On the way back from the island,
During the return journey from an unspecified location, likely a vacation or getaway.
The turbulence hinted at no end
The turbulence during the trip intensified or persisted, with no apparent end in sight.
All I got, I barely saw...
I received something or had an experience, but it passed by me quickly, without being fully understood or appreciated.
Now I've finally tied it up with no regrets
I have now concluded or resolved the situation with no feelings of remorse or disappointment.
Now it looks like tablescraps
Now the situation appears to be worthless or lacking in value, like scraps from a table.
All that's left are tablescraps
All that remains after the experience is over or concluded are worthless bits and pieces.
Tablescraps and nothing else
Nothing of value or meaning is left, only the scraps or remnants remain.
Contributed by Thomas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.