The prototype was Dunedin punk rock band The Enemy. Then there was Toy Love, formed late '78, first gig early '79, they played 500 plus gigs in 19 months, then they were gone. They made an indelible impression on the New Zealand music scene though, upping the theatrics and giving the punters something to dance about. High hopes of making the big time, via Australia, gave way to tougher times ... Toy Love's dissolution soon followed.
Chris Knox, Toy Love's vocalist, was a key player in the foundation of iconic New Zealand record label Flying Nun, mastering some of the first recordings for the likes of The Clean. Knox has been a persistent figure in the NZ music scene and worked alone and on various projects such as Tall Dwarfs and Chris Knox & The Nothing, or simply The Nothing. He also ran his own label, cunningly called Major Label.
The members of Toy Love are said to have hated the sound of the Toy Love LP ("all tops, no bass"). The passage of twenty five years saw the release of Cuts (Flying Nun, 2005) - two discs of reconditioned tracks drawn mostly from previously unknown master tapes along with mixes from 45 singles, the AK79 compilation (Ripper Records, 1980), and demo versions.
Toy Love was:
Mike Dooley - Drums and Cymbals
Paul Christopher Kean - Stereo original with Di Marzio through Holden Graphic (and JBL K145) and Fender Jazz pickup through Jansen Combo.
Chris Knox - A throat, a body and a mind beyond repair.
Jane Walker - Hohner Clavinet, DG-EKO organ, bits of foam plastic, bits of 4x2, Holden graphic amp, speakers, phaser, electricity.
Alec Bathgate - Ibanez 59'er and Rockit 130
After Toy Love broke up, Bathgate and Knox remained together as the Tall Dwarfs. Kean was later a member of The Bats.
In 2012, Toy Love was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame and given the Legacy Award at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.
Squeeze
Toy Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you realise the raving's
Not for you or anything
You do or say or try to be
You want to burst out crying
When you see how they've been lying
What's the use
Nobody's gunna see
You tell yourself
That's what I am
And wallow in the guilt and shame
Absorbing all the soothing blame
The loving finger points at you
As you whip your back with thorns
It's such a crazy squeeze
It's got me on my knees
Begging pleaseThe quilt you feel you're feeling
As the skin is slowly peeling
From your back
With tender loving care, oh yeah
Is why I stand here grinning
You atoning for your sinning's
Such a joke
I wonder how you dare
Cos I'm a fraud and I'm a sham
But I accept that's what I am
And welcome it with open arms
Embracing all its subtle charms
Cos it's a part of me
And me is all I've got
The song "Squeeze" by Toy Love speaks about the feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt that arises when somebody realizes that they just don't belong. The opening line "It's really so degrading," sets the tone for the whole song. The singer is feeling disillusioned as they come across people who have been saying things behind their back or people who are completely different from themselves. They lament the fact that they are not able to fit in or be able to be like the people that they admire. The chorus, "It's such a crazy squeeze, It's got me on my knees, Begging please," encapsulates the desperation and hopelessness that the singer feels.
The second verse provides a contrast to the first; it speaks about the pleasure that the singer derives from the pain that they feel. They enjoy the experience of being put down because it makes them feel as if they are atoning for their sins. They accept that they are a fraud and a sham and don't mind being punished for it. In the end, the singer realizes that their flaws are a part of who they are and learns to embrace them. They accept that they are not perfect and accept themselves for who they are.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of alienation and the loneliness that comes with it. The singer is trying to understand why they don't fit in and what they can do to change it. However, in the end, they come to terms with their own limitations and learn to accept themselves for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
It's really so degrading
The feeling of being left out and unappreciated is extremely demeaning.
When you realise the raving's
When you become aware of the admiration and excitement of others.
Not for you or anything
However, it is not directed towards you or anything you have done.
You do or say or try to be
Regardless of what you do or say, you cannot change the situation.
You want to burst out crying
The sense of helplessness and disappointment may make you want to cry.
When you see how they've been lying
After discovering the reality of the situation, it becomes apparent that there have been falsehoods and deceit.
What's the use
At this point, it seems futile to try to rectify the situation.
Nobody's gunna see
No one else will understand the situation or realise what is happening.
Cos I'm a fraud and I'm a sham
The feeling of being a fake or fraud.
You tell yourself
You attempt to reassure yourself by saying.
That's what I am
That you are truly a fraud and not worthy of recognition.
And wallow in the guilt and shame
You drown in the feelings of guilt and embarrassment.
Absorbing all the soothing blame
Holding onto any form of justification or reasoning to relieve the guilt.
The loving finger points at you
In spite of the soothing of the guilt, the blame is still pinned on you.
As you whip your back with thorns
The metaphor of you physically harming yourself as a form of punishment or self-loathing.
It's such a crazy squeeze
The situation is highly pressure-filled and overwhelming.
It's got me on my knees
The situation has brought you to your lowest point, making you feel powerless.
Begging please
Desperately pleading for relief or a way out of the situation.
The quilt you feel you're feeling
The metaphor of a physical feeling of heavy burden and responsibility.
As the skin is slowly peeling
Another physical metaphor, likening the peeling of skin to the gradual removal of pride and dignity.
From your back
From the part of you holding the strong feelings of guilt and shame.
With tender loving care, oh yeah
Ironically, the guilt and shame are being cared for and nurtured.
Is why I stand here grinning
The situation is bizarre and contradictory, leaving you feeling unsure of how to react.
You atoning for your sinning's
You are attempting to make up for something you feel you have done wrong.
Such a joke
The situation is absurd and ridiculous.
I wonder how you dare
Other people may see your actions as foolish or senseless.
But I accept that's what I am
You slowly come to terms with the fact that the situation has defined you as a 'fraud and sham'.
And welcome it with open arms
You learn to embrace the feelings of guilt and shame, accepting them as a part of who you are.
Embracing all its subtle charms
You acknowledge the negative feelings, but remain open to their existence and continue to hold onto them.
Cos it's a part of me
You see the guilt and shame as an integral part of who you are.
And me is all I've got
Without these feelings, you would be left with nothing, as they define who you are as a person.
Writer(s): Michael Francis Dawson, Christopher Alexander Knox, Mike Dooley, Jane Frances Walker, Alexander Charles Bathgate, Paul Christopher Kean
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sound Gardener
OrangePurple isn't a thing. Don't check out the Bride of Frankenstein video to confirm.
BlackRed isn't a thing either.
Wonder what the guilt / atonement theme is all about...
Ends with Chris being denched in goo...him smiling knowingly / sardonically.
Why green, Chris?
SSSSSSHHHHH, quiet my little Toy Love.
Radsk8r Bigollies
I didn't discover this band until about 4 years ago and they immediately became a favorite. This song is wonderful. Such a cool band.
MothraBlues
Even better live!!! I'm lucky enuff to have caught one of their very last gigs - in Christchurch, out by the airport. Though they were a bit shit compared to their glory days, tbh - as there were a lot of obvious band tensions, & unsurprisingly they split a month or so later. But even shit Toy Love were INFINITELY better than any other local bands on offer at the time (well, with the possible hexceptions of 5 or 6 groups that you'll know the names of..!), & I'm still WELL PLEASED I saw 'em!
Btw - you probly already know this, but czech out the 'Ceiling With Knives' disc included with the remastered version of their sadly tepid only LP, for all the truly KICK-ARSE versions (esp. Squeeze & Toy Love Song, which they shoulda released instead of the emasculated 45rpm versions, imho - not the fault of the songs, or the band's plerformance thereon - just their LP was mixed as if they were gonna be played on the radio in some Californian c*nt's car bowling down Hollywood Boulevard...bah!!!) 😀
Radsk8r Bigollies
@MothraBlues Thanks for the reply and recommendation my friend, however I cannot find this "ceiling w knives" disc. If you find a link please share as I am interested. Cool you got to see Toy Love play live! I'm in southern USA and nobody seems to know them but everyone loves them after I introduce them. There were some great bands around that time in NZ I am finding! The clean, Blam x3 and screaming meemees. I came across a comp album called its bigger than the both of us that intro'd me to this awesome movement happening in NZ in the late 70s apparently. Wish I had a time machine bc that is where I'd go party! Cool shitz.
Abdullah Drury
A much under rated band. Excellent music for a curious era.
Pena.
UnderRated..in a pigs ass..its the musicial.(&,Lets face it😇!*The best band by a c0ntree` mile》..@'that time on this (our funny lil'world')So much cred has to those whom wnt on from Dn..to start there own Origniul thang..As they Introjuiced me(&-many others..)With a great deal of Reverance..et al.To Hey yeah those o'see's Bands are cool..But you need to hear these bands too..&,Just watching sm live'-T/lve(@'Simon Griggs Y/tube channel)&"Squeeze'-the prmo/Vid..It reminds me this is as great as any Black Keys..Etxc.Track..&,more ova its in my Muzicial Dna(Of bands that always sound timless-Great..etc.)That also extends to A lot of other bands/Sounds from a lil bit after T-Lve.So the fact that Piper Johnson'(&,many others)Of WOODEN SHIJPS/&'MOON DUO)(Ex'btw)Has covered Snappers 'Buddy'&,Released it(&yup Peter Was aware/around whn they cvered Buddy')Is 1-xample of there will always be Good Bands Seeking Out Other Good Bands..always!!
Mike S
@Pena. i used ti see them live around auck .. mainstreet .. university think .. brought the album and the single .. dont ask me .. other side .. sheep ... plus was lucky enough to have brough ak79 new ... but to be pinched much later off me ... (think its worth big $ now ) the music was more important to me . marching girls ? .. toy love song .. squeeze ..terrorways .. spelling mistakes with theur song to rena owen (u know the one?) still have my toy love album and single ... single i swapped for ...??? ... think first .. xtc .. album . We only making plans for nigel ... perhaps ... long time ago and great NZ music .. was 6th form about ... and radio hauraki and crunchie bar lunch time concerts at colleges .. any one remember them .. end 70s . Remember crocodiles (jenny morris and drummer ? actor .) Citizen band .. shur lux .. flight x7 .. these school concerts .. .. plus bands every where every night .. auck city even nrth shore .. most pubs had bands ...
pbaylis1
Classic. Love it! That final chord hits the spot.
DT Mac
This song is amazing, more people all over should have heard of Chris Knox because they're missing out.
Hondo Turbulence
Chris Knox is a treasure
Mike S
@Hondo Turbulence i second that ..... just as good now as it was in the 70s .. was my fav band in the main street days ... brought album new .. like ak 79 and toy love single .. dont ask me and other side ... sheep .... memmory days .... remember .. spelling mistakes was it .. and .. once were warriors rena owens sing ..? Renas ....... are the biggest in the land .... you remember that song ?