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.
Swimming Pool
Toy Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now it's all a part of history
Lost the thread and lost its head
Well, I dunno, it seems OK to me
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix
Lying at the bottom of
Your swimming pool
Rip It Up, New Musical Express
Call you a fool
Because I really care
I can't believe that you believe
That everything's a part of yesterday
I'm mystified that suicide
Should kill the things I really need to say
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix etc...
Everybody knows
That you got new clothes
But aren't they the same old
Trash you used to wear
Look in my direction
Can't you see my reflection
Well, baby, don't you think
That it ain't fair
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones etc...
The lyrics to Toy Love's song "Swimming Pool" are a commentary on the state of rock music at the time, which is suggested to be 'dead' and a part of history. The line "lost the thread and lost its head" implies that rock music has lost its direction and become too self-absorbed. However, the singer insists that despite this, rock music still seems okay to him. The lyrics then explicitly mention the names of several deceased rock stars who drowned in swimming pools (Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix), indicating a deeper metaphorical meaning behind the title of the song.
The second verse seems to criticize the music press for labeling certain bands as fools, while the singer insists that he cares about rock music and its legacy. The line "I'm mystified that suicide should kill the things I really need to say" is particularly poignant and suggests that suicide is not just affecting musicians but also affecting the expression and creation of music itself. The final stanza starts by seemingly mocking someone who has recently changed their fashion, but it quickly becomes apparent that the singer is frustrated that this person doesn't see or acknowledge him, despite his feelings and contributions to music. The lyrics conclude by reiterating the earlier mentions of the deceased rock stars.
Overall, "Swimming Pool" is a lamentation of the state of rock music and the negative impact of death on its legacy. The use of drowned rock stars as a central metaphor is haunting and poignant, suggesting that despite the many larger-than-life personas that rock music produces, it is ultimately fragile and vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock is dead or so it's said
According to popular belief, rock music has perished
And now it's all a part of history
Rock has become a thing of the past
Lost the thread and lost its head
Rock music has lost its direction and identity
Well, I dunno, it seems OK to me
But I do not agree and think rock is still fine as it is
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Famous rock musicians who are no longer alive
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix
Similar to the above, other famous rock musicians who have died
Lying at the bottom of
Their dead bodies found submerged at the base of
Your swimming pool
A metaphorical representation of how the ironical death of these musicians is now a part of someone's ordinary life
Don't let Creem, Crawdaddy
Two defunct rock magazines that no longer exist
Rip It Up, New Musical Express
Two contemporary music journals
Call you a fool
Do not let others ridicule or embarrass you
Because I really care
I am concerned about you and want you to be happy and feel safe from judgemental attitudes
I can't believe that you believe
I am unable to comprehend your thoughts and opinions
That everything's a part of yesterday
That everything old and in the past is no longer important or relevant
I'm mystified that suicide
I am surprised and confused that people's fears, doubts and worries can lead to self-destruction
Should kill the things I really need to say
Because of their death, things that they could have said and made stronger points about are now left unsaid
Everybody knows
It is a well-known fact that
That you got new clothes
It is easily seen that you have new things and attitudes
But aren't they the same old
But are they not just repetitive and recycled
Trash you used to wear
Just like the things you once threw away as rubbish
Look in my direction
Pay attention to what I have to say
Can't you see my reflection
Understand me by observing my thoughts and actions
Well, baby, don't you think
And so my question to you is
That it ain't fair
Is it not unjust?
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones etc...
Similar to above listings of famous rock musicians who have died
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Neil Marshall
[Lyrics]
Rock is dead or so it's said
And now it's all a part of history
Lost the thread and lost its head
Well, I dunno, it seems OK to me
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix
Lying at the bottom of
Your swimming pool
Don't let Creem, Crawdaddy
Rip It Up, New Musical Express
Call you a fool
Because I really care
I can't believe that you believe
That everything's a part of yesterday
I'm mystified that suicide
Should kill the things I really need to say
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix etc...
Everybody knows
That you got new clothes
But aren't they the same old
Trash you used to wear
Look in my direction
Can't you see my reflection
Well, baby, don't you think
That it ain't fair
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones etc...
Abe
It’s really an insult for me that there isn’t their song named The Church on this platform. Their debut is their best album. Also cuts is also a brilliant gem.
BadReligionTina
Holy god do I LOVE Toy Love! Chris Knox is a right legend!
Martina BadReligionTina Brito
+Jordan Cochrane That earned you a follow on here sir. Thank you. I'm trying my hardest to save and raise money to create NZ my indie music doco. NZ On Air Music sent me a lovely care package. Shout out to you all. I look forward to making my way over to say hello to all my mates/bloody legends in NZ music industry. Chur Jordan.
Neil Marshall
[Lyrics]
Rock is dead or so it's said
And now it's all a part of history
Lost the thread and lost its head
Well, I dunno, it seems OK to me
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix
Lying at the bottom of
Your swimming pool
Don't let Creem, Crawdaddy
Rip It Up, New Musical Express
Call you a fool
Because I really care
I can't believe that you believe
That everything's a part of yesterday
I'm mystified that suicide
Should kill the things I really need to say
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones
Marc Bolan, Jimi Hendrix etc...
Everybody knows
That you got new clothes
But aren't they the same old
Trash you used to wear
Look in my direction
Can't you see my reflection
Well, baby, don't you think
That it ain't fair
Jim Morrison, Brian Jones etc...
mjmatteo
🙏😊
Mark Brooks
I remember the Enemy coming up to Christchurch to play Mollet St and perform this song on a Telethon, I stayed up all night to relish the moment the Enemy made their TVNZ debut. They eventually appeared at 6:30am and it was all over in a flash. I wish video recorders had been invented, but alas, it'll have to live on in my murky memory.
Flying Nun Records
telethon was a big things back then!
Keir Mac Donald
Toy Love played at my older brothers high school formal in Christchurch. My best friend's mum had a "Love Toy Love" bumper sticker on her Anglia. I still have a mint condition Toy Love LP.
They were so cool.
There was always rumors of a legendary gig somewhere in Christchurch when No Idea played before Toy Love at a community hall and the riot squad had to be called. Can anybody confim ?
Funkussionist
Cool song and video.
Steve Percival
Bless you Chris Knox