The band consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Ted Leo, guitarist James Canty, bassist Marty 'Violence' Key, and drummer Chris Wilson. After his previous band, Chisel, broke up in the late 1990s, Ted recorded the Tej Leo(?) Rx Pharmacists [sic] album in 1999, followed by the Treble in Trouble EP in 2000.
His next album, 2001's The Tyranny of Distance, quickly gained him a cult following and critical praise. Dave Lerner and Chris Wilson became permanent members of the band during the tour that year, as did keyboard player Dorien Garry. James Canty (ex-Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, etc.) also played with the band during this time.
The album Hearts of Oak followed in 2003, which also saw the release of the concert film Dirty Old Town and the Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead EP. Garry left the band before the recording of 2004's Shake the Sheets, which has led them into their current setup as a power trio. The new record featured fewer obscure references and more overt political content than his previous releases did, though his music has always been known for its engagement with politics.
The band tours extensively around North America. Leo is a strict vegan. His brother Chris Leo is also a singer/songwriter and a member of The Lapse. Ted Leo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1994 with a degree in English.
Come Baby Come
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Lyrics
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Come baby come, it's so easy when you're used to it.
Dum baby dum, if it's on your tongue then you're chewin it.
Toes baby toes, it had baby toes when it was born.
Nose baby nose, every baby knows the same sad song.
So come baby come, it gets easy when you're used to it. Numb baby numb, cause all your life you're chewin it. Stunned baby stunned, right between her eyes theres two in here. Done baby done, in the arbituars they're doing it.
Once in your life you got sick but it did not change your mind. Twice you didn't like it but your momma told you it was maulky. You came down cause you thought it was funny. Momma told you that it was maulky. But baby it's not funny any more. So come baby come, take my hand and we are through with it.
The lyrics of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists' song "Come Baby Come" seem to be about addiction and how it can start as something innocent, but eventually become all-consuming. The repetition of the phrase "it's so easy when you're used to it" implies that the singer is talking about a habit that they have become accustomed to, even if it's not necessarily healthy. The use of words like "numb," "stunned," and "done" suggest that the habit has left the singer feeling disconnected or even defeated.
The lines "once in your life you got sick but it did not change your mind / twice you didn't like it but your momma told you it was maulky" could be interpreted in a few different ways. It's possible that the singer is reflecting on a time when they tried the habit and didn't enjoy it, but kept doing it because they were convinced it was harmless. Alternatively, the lines could refer to a time when the singer had a negative experience with the habit but didn't let it deter them from continuing to use it. The repetition of the phrase "momma told you it was maulky" could suggest that the singer was raised in an environment where substance abuse was normalized or even encouraged.
In the final lines of the song, the singer seems to be urging someone else to break free from their addiction. The phrase "take my hand and we are through with it" implies that the singer has already overcome their own habit and is offering to help someone else do the same. Overall, the lyrics of "Come Baby Come" are a commentary on the dangers of addiction and the difficulty of breaking free from its grip.
Line by Line Meaning
Come baby come, it's so easy when you're used to it.
It becomes effortless once you're accustomed to it.
Come baby come, it's so easy when you're used to it.
It becomes effortless once you're accustomed to it.
Dum baby dum, if it's on your tongue then you're chewin it.
If it's on your mind, you can't help but think about it.
Toes baby toes, it had baby toes when it was born.
It's a form of acceptance that everything has a beginning.
Nose baby nose, every baby knows the same sad song.
Every newly-born soul is aware of the tragedy that is life.
So come baby come, it gets easy when you're used to it.
With time, the task at hand is no longer a struggle.
Numb baby numb, cause all your life you're chewin it.
You're not really feeling anything, you're just going through the motions of living.
Stunned baby stunned, right between her eyes theres two in here.
There are two sides to every story, and both are equally valid.
Done baby done, in the arbituars they're doing it.
People are giving up more often now because of how difficult it is to have your voice be heard.
So come baby come, it goes down easy when you're used to it.
It all becomes simpler once you've become familiar with it.
None baby none, I have found not one thing true with it.
There's nothing inherently honest about the situation you find yourself in.
Once in your life you got sick but it did not change your mind.
You've experienced a difficult time before, but it didn't alter your perspective.
Twice you didn't like it but your momma told you it was maulky.
You weren't fond of it the first or second time, but you were still told it was necessary.
You came down cause you thought it was funny. Momma told you that it was maulky.
You engaged in something that was supposed to be amusing, but your parent told you otherwise.
But baby it's not funny any more. So come baby come, take my hand and we are through with it.
What once may have been comical is now troubling, so let's move on together.
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.