The band's deliberate focus likely affected its appeal to wider audiences. The overall result was that the Babys seemed to live in the shadow of other Chrysalis artists such as Blondie and Pat Benatar. The cover of 'Broken Heart', with the Babys' members in glossy make-up, may have been part of the aforementioned marketing ploy.
The Baby's classic early line-up, existing from 1976 to 1978, consisted of vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby, and guitarist Wally Stocker. From 1979 to 1981, the band's line-up changed as Corby exited with Ricky Phillips and Jonathan Cain came on board. 'Broken Heart' produced a top 20 U.S. hit, "Isn't it Time", and they toured the U.S. successfully. The album also spent two weeks at number one in Australia, though it did not produce another top 40 single anywhere.
Early in 1979, "Every Time I think of You" from the band's third album, 'Head First', again reached the top 20 in the U.S. It did even better in Australia, breaking into the top 10. Whilst recording the album Mike Corby left the group. In a recent radio interview posted on his website, John Waite said that after the Babys Corby left the music scene altogether. The band's fourth album, 'Union Jacks', featured a more aggressive, punchy rock sound similar to label-mate Benatar, with single "Back On My Feet Again" hitting the top 40.
Flagging commercial success dogged the band, with their fifth album, 'On the Edge', proving to be their last. Wally Stocker and Tony Brock have not worked with John Waite since the breakup and there have never been any signs of the original 1976 line-up reforming.
According to the notes included in the compilation album 'The Essential John Waite', the band's touring came to an end when Waite tore a ligament on stage during a concert in Akron, Ohio in December 1980, within a day of the assassination of John Lennon. Waite, Ricky Phillips, and Jonathan Cain later played together in the supergroup Bad English. Cain also enjoyed great success with arena rock band Journey while Brock spent many years post-Babys drumming for Rod Stewart.
2. The Babys was a Japanese indie rock band. The members are Shunsuke - vocals/guitar, Rie - drums, and Haruna - bass. The Babys are on Japan's Infinity Records label. Their sound is heavily inspired by 1970s and 80s U.S.A. and British punk rock. The Babys' style, though, is more melodic and influenced by rockabilly and contemporary pop music.
Their most recent release is an EP ('mini album' in Japan) entitled "My Name is Future" (2006). Aside from that, they have released another EP, "Shounen Knife" (2005) and two singles, "The Babys" (2004) and "Alien" (2005). Their only full-length release at this time is "Star Luster" (2005).
The Babys lent much of their music to a Japanese animation TV soundtrack entitled "Paradise Kiss."
If You
The Babys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This bitch, this bitch got me a lil' fucked up right now
But, you know, we just gotta keep it going
I bet you told your friends all about me
They've been watching my story, how they find me?
All this fucking new fame kinda drown me,
Cause I don't know who got it out for me
And I don't know who's really down for me
When I'm down on my luck, who will still be there?
Call, if you call
I swear I'll pick up, girl, I promise
Wrong, girl I'm wrong
You know I always had trouble being honest
Finally got my heart broken, I needed that
I'm fucking bitch after bitch, girl, I miss you so bad
I don't know how we got this way,
Said you wouldn't get attached no way
We know I knocked that pussy out it's place, you know it's my bae
She post a story and I said take it down
If I'm really be honest, girl, girl I get around
Shit, I'm still in my twenties, girl, I'm too young
Said you fuck that rapper, shit, you too dumb
Pillow talking conversations, I let you in
And that'll be the last time, never again
I open up to someone, or let them in
You done really broke my heart bae
And I pray that you learn the fucking hard way
And your actions are the reasons that we part ways
I hope you have a couple months of fucking hard days
And every man that you with will never come close
I know I hit that pussy best, I made it cum most
I tried to open up your eyes to your potential
I know you really felt that peace in my presence
Said I remind you of your brother who's in heaven
If you call
I swear I'll pick up, girl, I promise
Wrong, girl I'm wrong
You know I always had trouble being honest
Finally got my heart broken, I needed that
I'm fucking bitch after bitch, girl, I miss you so bad
I don't know how we got this way
Said you wouldn't get attached no way
We know I knocked that pussy out it's place, you know it's my bae
She post a story and I said take it down
If I'm really be honest, girl, girl I get around
Shit, I'm still in my twenties, girl, I'm too young
Said you fuck that rapper, shit, you too dumb
The Babys's song "If You" is a rap song about the journey to fame and success. The lyrics talk about fighting the odds and making it big in a world where everyone is trying to use you. The first verse talks about the struggles of success and how it is not easy to keep up with something unusual like fame. The verse also brings up the idea of turning up and feeling like a god, but at the same time, questioning what Jesus would do. The verse ends with the artist explaining that he has given a part of himself to someone and cannot leave them, but also cannot go back to his old life.
The second verse talks about the struggles of being booked, and not being able to sleep without holding a gun due to fear for his safety. The verse then details how the artist bonds with certain individuals and how he has to be careful about who he associates with. The artist discusses feeling like he is above certain situations that involve people who are not successful like him, and how he has grown to be more important than those who were around before his career took off. The last verse talks about being able to do whatever you want if you have the money, and how he is trying to help others around him be successful as well. The artist talks about having a headlining performance and how he may jump into the crowd, as he is now the one who others look up to.
Line by Line Meaning
What's happenin', Chi Chi?
Opening greeting
Section 8 just straight cooked that muhfucker up
Acknowledgement that the song was produced well
Ain't nobody bigger than this here
An assertion that they are currently at the top of their game
That shit be script
Acknowledgment that their life and success are predetermined by a script
Ayy, Baby, I told you, bruh, do you hear me?
Asking if the listener understands all of the success that has come their way
Doin' four hundred first week, nigga
Proudly sharing their numbers from the first week of their latest project
We beat the odds, got it poppin', this shit ain't usual
Acknowledgement of the fact that they have achieved great success despite the odds being against them
When everybody want somethin', feel like they usin' you
Feeling like people only want something from them when they can benefit from it
I wanna turn up some more, but for what? I keep it cool
Desire to continue to succeed, but wary of getting caught up in the lifestyle and losing sight of what's important
I'm startin' to feel like a god, I'm like, "What would Jesus do?"
Feeling powerful, and questioning how to handle it responsibly
You got a piece of me forever, I can't never leave you
Acknowledging the influence that their past has had on their current success
Can't go back and forth with no one, I know what that lead to
Awareness that arguing with others isn't productive and can lead to negative outcomes
Told me you wanted some space for shit, I wanna breathe too
Desire for space and personal freedom
I can't go back to my neighborhood no more, I breeze through
Feeling disconnected from their past and no longer feeling like they belong in their old neighborhood
I had to sleep with my gun when I was booked, I wanted to sleep with my son
Fear for personal safety, and the desire to protect their family
Parole board had a grip on my bond, I couldn't dip
Restrictions imposed by the justice system that they had to abide by
She was broke, but the hood knew her well, she couldn't strip
Acknowledgement of the struggles faced by a woman who they know
Plus ain't no type of scam in this world she couldn't flip
Recognition that this woman had a talent for getting ahead despite difficult circumstances
Ain't no type of lean in this world I couldn't sip
Claiming to be experienced in all types of drugs
I beef with my cousin, we catch him, it's fuck him
Trouble in their family relationships
He fuck with the other side, he gettin' killed
Warning to anyone who sides against them
I'ma speak for everybody who ain't gotta wait, get 'em
Voicing their support for those who aren't able to speak for themselves
And if I say a number, and you ain't got a way, cashier
If they mention a specific amount of money, the listener better be able to come up with the cash to back it up
I done got bigger and richer than last year
Proudly acknowledging their growth and success
I don't fuck with too many niggas from last year
Recognition that success changes social circles
Bond him out for fifty thousand cash, I use a cashier
Describing how they handle bail/bond payments
And I wasn't, said he got the time, I got mad tears
Emotional reaction to someone who said they had time for them, but then didn't follow through
Whatever go up must come down, Ferris wheel
Acknowledgement that success and failure are cyclical, like a Ferris wheel ride
He ain't buy 'em guns, but he'd rather buy Chanel heels
Comparison of priorities between them and someone else
Police get behind me, then I better not stop
Fear of getting pulled over by the police
Binary trigger on the AR, not stock
Weaponry that they have on hand for self-defense/protection
We don't ever post, but we be makin' TikToks
Acknowledging their social media presence, but noting that they keep some things private
Why you don't be in the hood no more? That shit hot, yeah
Being questioned about why they don't spend time in their old neighborhood anymore
Niggas really thinkin' they can catch up with me
Feeling invincible and like no one can compete with them
That is not my bitch if she ain't rockin' Richard Milles
Having high standards for the women they associate with
Just because you got the same kind of car, we not the same kind
Recognition that material possessions don't make two people equal, and that they themselves are unique
I just had two best friends tryna suck me at the same time
Suggestive lyric about an encounter with two people
Damn, I miss them houses in the hood, we used to trap 'em out
Nostalgia for their past, despite the hardships they faced
The only reason we ain't on your ass 'cause you was tappin' out
Acknowledgement that someone avoided confrontation with them
My opps just went to jail, I paid the bros to go and pap 'em out
Acknowledgment of their loyalty to their friends
Four hundred a show, ain't nothin' less, I bet I pack it out
Confident in their ability to draw a big crowd
Catch him out in traffic, gotta ask him what them captions 'bout
Intending to confront someone about something they posted on social media
Internet gangstas, y'all just actin' out
Calling out people who act tough online
They made jokes when I was broke, look at who laughin' now
Proudly acknowledging that they've gone from being laughed at to being successful
I'm gettin' too big for all these chains, I gotta pass 'em down
Acknowledging that their success has come with material possessions, but feeling like they must share it with others
I'm tryna turn up all the killers, ain't tryna crash 'em out
Wanting to keep their associates motivated and successful, rather than causing them to fail
Ain't got no credit, I need to get some, I be cashin' out
Acknowledging a need to start building credit
You with the bitch because she lit, she gettin' passed around
Describing a woman who is sought after and shared among their social circle
I know some niggas who look rich but buyin' a couple pounds
Acknowledging that some people who appear rich are actually drug dealers
Stop all that huffin' and that puffin' 'fore we blow you down
Warning others to stop talking tough before they face consequences
I got six pipes on this G-Wagon, this bitch super loud
Describing an expensive car that is loud and impressive
Turks & Caicos scuba divin', vacation three hundred thousand
Describing a luxurious vacation they recently took
I'm the headliner now, I might jump off in the crowd
Feeling like the main attraction wherever they go
You can be the voice if you want to
Encouraging others to speak up and be heard
You can be the hero if you want to
Encouraging others to strive for greatness and be a positive influence
You can have millions if you want to
Encouraging others to work hard and achieve financial success
And you can do what you want to
Encouraging freedom of choice and personal empowerment
And we be them niggas who they lookin' up to
Proudly acknowledging their status and influence over their fans and peers
And we be them niggas who they lookin' up
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
And we be them niggas who they lookin' up to
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
And we be them niggas who they lookin' up to
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Dawson Pastion-Bear
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crankjazz
A band that deserved far more success than they achieved.
@mhitson7483
Just watched the new JW doc They got absolutely screwed by the record company
@MARCD-tj8bw
They got caught up in a time where hard rock bands were on the outs, and hair bands, disco, new wave and The Ramones were catching fire. Had they come out with Journey version II with Steve Perry, I feel they would have been a lot more successful.
@shawnmann9491
This particular recording should have about 15 million views IMHO👆🏽😎
@jfo3000
One of the best riffs ever written.
@dollyroncone7778
Love Michael Corby. They all were great, but Michael is my favorite. Never can be replaced. Hope you have more videos of the original band members.
@venusproductions234
amazing song
@gloriadignazio2515
My first band that I always loved and still do was the Bay City Rollers, and I don't mean they're early teeny bopper stuff ... I don't like their early stuff (Shang A Lang etc), but their later music, especially their album It's a Game was really adult stuff. After that, my next group was The Babys! I still listen to them ..my original vinyl to this day, awesome band! And easy on the eyes too!
@lucast03
Great age of music
@loupblanc99
1:38 That "Yeaaah" is just insane and killer.