This seems to be about the failed relationship between two young men. The lover's mother didn't approve, so the "Toy Boy" was dumped.
Sort of a simplistic explanation, I know, but that's the basic meaning.
These are the slightly different lyrics from the new EP:
I'm a wind-up toy in an up-down world
If you leave me all alone I'll make a mess for sure
I've a heart of gold in the smallest size
leave me in the dark you'll never hear me cry
More than (an illustration)
Points of articulation
Come to life on a (brass spring)
Such a wonderful plaything
It's a cruel cross that I have to bear
If you come a little closer, going to pull your hair
More than just a toy in a patched blue suit
Hold me in your arms I'm just a boy like you
But your mama thought there was something wrong
Didn't want you sleeping with a boy too long
It's a serious thing in a grown-up world
Maybe you'd be better with a Barbie girl
You knew that I adored ya
But you left me in Georgia
Toys are not sentimental
How could I be for rental
She's the meanest hag that has ever been
Pulled out my insides with a (new) safety pin
I'm the sorest sight, now I feel like trash
Clothes are made of rags and they don't even match
So she dressed me up as the man she loved
Threw me in a box when she had had enough
Now the light of day I no longer see
She stuck her voodoo pins where my eyes used to be
Accidentally tragic
Victim of (her) black magic
Had a boy once who loved me
Now he's so afraid of me
On a long lost day when you're gray and old
You'll be there remembering your old Toy Boy
When your only son's wondering what to be
Tell him the story of a boy like me
This seems to be about the failed relationship between two young men. The lover's mother didn't approve, so the "Toy Boy" was dumped.
Sort of a simplistic explanation, I know, but that's the basic meaning.
These are the slightly different lyrics from the new EP: I'm a wind-up toy in an up-down world If you leave me all alone I'll make a mess for sure I've a heart of gold in the smallest size leave me in the dark you'll never hear me cry
More than (an illustration) Points of articulation Come to life on a (brass spring) Such a wonderful plaything
It's a cruel cross that I have to bear If you come a little closer, going to pull your hair More than just a toy in a patched blue suit Hold me in your arms I'm just a boy like you
But your mama thought there was something wrong Didn't want you sleeping with a boy too long It's a serious thing in a grown-up world Maybe you'd be better with a Barbie girl
You knew that I adored ya But you left me in Georgia Toys are not sentimental How could I be for rental
She's the meanest hag that has ever been Pulled out my insides with a (new) safety pin I'm the sorest sight, now I feel like trash Clothes are made of rags and they don't even match
So she dressed me up as the man she loved Threw me in a box when she had had enough Now the light of day I no longer see She stuck her voodoo pins where my eyes used to be
Accidentally tragic Victim of (her) black magic Had a boy once who loved me Now he's so afraid of me
On a long lost day when you're gray and old You'll be there remembering your old Toy Boy When your only son's wondering what to be Tell him the story of a boy like me
Mmm... (etc)