Comments: 25

• Pyro from Scranton Pa UsaThis also fits perfectly with alcoholism. I had begun drinking at age 14 and has quit in 2016, in my 40s. This drug has nearly destroyed everything I had in my life and nearly caused me to lose my family. I do not drink anymore (as a rule, tho I have fallen off the Wagon a few times) and I do not regret it one little bit.
• Andrew from CanadaFor me this song is about
  
  Leading people astray.
  
  When giving advice or drugs or even an opportunity.
  
  “Won’t you come out and play with me”
  Like a child, not knowing consequence. Not knowing how what you say or do can affect someone for years.
  “Step by step, we all fall down.”
  Leading them step by step through the same mistakes you do.
  
  “Heart to heart”
  Even with best intention and trust you can hurt someone.
  
  “We all fall down.”
  Cascading consequences of your actions can hurt many more than you’ll ever meet.
  
  “Like you soldiers”
  Maybe even you were led astray and controlled by an immature person, you are a toy soldier, knocking down other toy soldiers.
  
  Whether drugs, terrorism or bad advice it applies to these things
• Paul from No. CaliforniaWell, this is all very interesting in the comments... First off, I love this song, the melody and composition are outstanding, deserving of it's once #1 status. And Martika soars as both vocalist and artist for obvious reasons. While I know she gave an interview way back when to talk about why she wrote it and it's true meaning, many songs are ambiguous and this is my alternate take.
  
  My interpretation of the song before I ever knew, or looked at the lyrics (only listening to the song), and not clearly understanding each and every word, was that it was about infidelity and an illicit affair.
  Stay with me here on this theme, the song begins with the writer knowing it's not the right thing to do, but extends an invitation anyways, not knowing how long it may last, because our hearts have a way of leading us astray at times through temptation and thus, taking the fall. Certainly in our minds, even if we don't act on it, which by the way, is the precursor "to" acting on it. (Won't you come out and play with me?) So in this respect, we, and our hearts, are like toy soldiers, we should always do our best to do the right thing, but because our flesh is weak and our hearts cry out for attention, some of us make mistakes, big, life altering mistakes. So like toy soldiers, we fall down. Hopefully, we can get back up again, but it's a battle that can tear us apart. Depending on how long the affair may last, it gets harder to wake up in the morning and face life with a true sense of self worth. For some, this type of behavior can turn into an addiction, thus continuing a spiral downward. In the end, something needs to replace the pain, which ends up being emptiness and a hollow heart, because it's not true love. And only true love from above can bring us a fulfilling sense of satisfaction within our hearts.
  
  So, intentionally or not, this song can evoke different feelings for different people, usually brought on by different life experiences.
  And once again, in the end, I believe this is what a successful artist strives for and wants, for their work to touch others lives in a positive way, no matter how any individual may interpret it! Just my two cents....
• Don Cherry from Dekalb IlNo its about drug addiction she did a interview about it a friend was dealing drug addiction and eventually lost him to it
• “who Knew” from Nowhere...Amanda you ARE NOT wrong “it is about War and Children.”
  
  In this relation “correct me if I’m wrong” the War is about “the child in War against her parents and herself as an adult and ”trying to understanding their lack of humanity considering she is a product of them“
  
  Hence why she is doing drugs (not to excuse anything) but as “the empty ness remains” she’s making it..
• Ricky Meade from TxDerek from Moorestown , NJ
  I've seen a post that said Fergie was also a background vocalist also...
  You named 4 ,, I recall seeing only 3 other ladies on the video I believe. There's 5 name's now that I've heard. Could someone correct this?
• Zane from Hollywood,flAnyone seeing this really needs to hear Phoenix/Nebulins cover of this song. Its just as beautiful and deeply personal as are alot of the bands original songs.
• Steven from New ZealandGreat song from a beautifull lady. Bless you.
• Jess from Hollywood California It clearly tells you that fergie sang back up not any other from kid incorp.
• Jeremy from Spokane, WaAlways liked this song. Even as a metal fan. I always thought of my old girlfriend when I heard this song. Especially in the verses. Just being so f*cking crushed after a bad breakup..Never knew it as about drugs? Interesting....I still feel like it can be interpreted in many ways. Such a beautiful song the way she does it. Love it.
• Susan from Airdrie, AbThis was a great song - really deep in an era when deep, well, wasn't allowed... :)
• Bo from Cincinnati, Ohwould anyone know who directed the music video for "Toy Soldiers" by Martika?
• Gary from Austin Tx, TxThis was a freaking awesome song that has became part of my own recovery...for 30 years i was one of those soiders living in my addiction...iseen many of my friends take the fall...God Bless you Martika! Gary-Austin Texas
• Amanda from Gretna, Vtgod i always thought this was about war and how it affected children. god im stupid. great song!
• Frank from Los Angeles, CaThis is a really strong song with a powerful, hooky chorus and overall lyric. Very few songs have successfully taken on very serious issues with seriousness themselves without lacking insight or being preachy. This song does neither, like other excellent topical songs like "Running To Stand Still" by U2, and "99 Red Balloons" by Nena. Very good job. The overall sound is haunting as well. Empathetic, classy, and singable in the shower! What more could you want from a synth-rock-pop song?
• Stephen from League City, TxKimberly Anne McCullough, aka Robin Scorpio from General Hospital, also sang backup on this song.
• Derek from Moorestown, NjMartika's the lead singer of a goth pop group called Oppera now. the other kids singing background vocals in Toy Soldiers are Rashan Peterson, Renee Sandstrom, Alitzah Wiener, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. All Kids Incorporated alumni.
• Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandJesse, Haddam. You are obviously judging the meaning of this song from how the corus sonds. Look at and Listen to the lyrics. It is so about drugs.
• Jesse from Haddam, Ct And how does this have anything to do with drugs? I thought it was like a little kiddies anthem of Santa's workshop! YEAH RIGHTTTTTT
• Annabelle from Eugene, OrWhen I first heard this song, I seriously thought Martika was singing it with a group of children.
• Ana from Lokev, Europereally good song. i find myself in it.
• Dee from Indianapolis, InI use to drive for a living when this was big. I always liked this tune. It stood out from the music of "NKOTB", Debbie Gibson etc. that was so popular at the time.
• Peter from Howard Beach, NyI like her version of the song better and at least you can understand her meaning of it
• Marlow from Perth, Australiadoes anybody know where and what martika is doing these days..? im just curious
• Leon from Waterbury, CtSupposingly, Martika dated Prince for some time in the early 90's.

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