In this case liking Barb_D's posts is insufficient. I must add that I also have never heard "toys in the attic" spoken, or read it except in the album title. I am a native speaker of AmE aged 68. I also think that the COCA has zero occurrences of "toys in the attic", but I may be mistaken because I am not an expert user of the Corpus.
I saw an interview (not viewable on YT unfortunately) with Steve Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith talking about TITA, the song, the title and it's meaning. The Aerosmith are considered a true American band and one of the most English-speaking rock bands around (being from Boston!).
Quote:
It's another way of saying that one is crazy, or nuts. Check out wikipedia, for example:
"Toys in the Attic has been the title of several artistic works. It has a similar meaning to bats in the belfry."
The Aerosmith album (and song) referenced above, "Toys in the Attic," is about a guy losing his mind:
IN THE ATTIC
LIGHTS
VOICES SCREAM
NOTHIN' SEEN
REAL'S A DREAM
LEAVIN' THE THINGS THAT ARE REAL BEHIND
LEAVIN' THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE REMIND
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU LEARN FOR FEARS
NOTHIN' IS LEFT FOR THE YEARS
VOICES SCREAM
NOTHIN'S SEEN
REAL'S A DREAM
(chorus of "Toys Toys Toys/Are in the Attic")
etc.
-s-
[h=3]Source:[/h]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toys_in_the_Attic