3 Classic Rock Songs About Your Favorite Toys

Often, the genre of classic rock is very serious. Someone’s heart is broken. A war is breaking out overseas and needs to be protested. Wrongs are happening here at home and we need to voice our displeasure. Or someone just needs to get the proverbial lead out and rush down the highway with buzzy speakers on full blast.

But sometimes the style can take a breath and enjoy itself. Sometimes it can include silly songs or songs about, well, toys. Here below, we wanted to explore three songs that do just that. A trio of tracks that highlight things you might get for your birthday or the holidays. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs about toys.

[RELATED: No Skips: 4 Classic Rock Albums You’ll Never Have to Fast-Forward]

“Brand New Key” by Melanie from Gather Me (1971)

One of the catchiest songs of all time, this subversive track is also a double entendre. As so many hit pop songs can be, this (flirtatious) song is not about any roller skates or bicycles. It’s about sexual attraction—though the songwriter has denied that was the actual meaning of the tune, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Whether intentional or not, that was certainly the idea when the song was featured in the movie Boogie Nights in 1997. On the track, Melanie sings,

I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller-skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you’re avoiding me
I’m okay alone, but you’ve got something I need

Well, I’ve got a brand-new pair of roller skates
You’ve got a brand-new key
I think that we should get together
And try them on to see
I’ve been looking around a while
You’ve got something for me
Oh, I’ve got a brand-new pair of roller skates
You’ve got a brand-new key

“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” by Elvis Presley from Loving You (1957)

Another cute, flirtatious song, this track by Elvis is about wanting to be a soft, cuddly object of affection for another. On the song, Elvis sings about being unabashedly submissive and available to the owner of the teddy bear. She can put a chain around his neck and leave him anywhere. How could anyone resist? On the track, the man known as the King sings,

Oh, baby let me be, your lovin’ teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck, and lead me anywhere
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be)
Your teddy bear

I don’t want to be your tiger
‘Cause tigers play too rough
I don’t want to be your lion
‘Cause lions ain’t the kind you love enough

I just want to be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be)
Your teddy bear

“Toy Soldiers” by Martika from Martika (1988)

This signature 1980s song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is not one that blows any sort of kiss at anyone. Nor is it about army figures. Instead, this song is about drugs and, more specifically, drug addiction. It makes sense that, later, a former drug user named Eminem would sample the track for his song “Like Toy Soldiers” to create a haunting rap offering. But the 1988 track took a big leap and talked about the devastating effects of cocaine at a time when the white powder was everywhere. Sings Martika,

Step by step, heart to heart
Left, right, left, we all fall down
Like toy soldiers

It wasn’t my intention to mislead you
It never should have been this way
What can I say?
It’s true, I did extend the invitation
I never knew how long you’d stay

When you hear temptation call
It’s your heart that takes
Takes the fall
(Won’t you come out and play with me?)

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