After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
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Russian Roulette
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to show her all the pain you feel inside
Yeah and head all scrambled and the love is gone
And you don't know what went wrong
But I think I heard you hissing something about blue steel
But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
And five to one you're gonna lose
When you talk about something like Russian Roulette
Tears run down your sweet love's face
I say she's a mirror of your insides
And you can't scream loud enough to let it go
And you mouthful of pride you just can't swallow
Rips your soul like a hurricane tide
But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
And five to one you're gonna lose
When you talk about something like Russian Roulette
Pack up your ego and your tantrum
Put it back with your anger and your pride
Beating up on your girlfriend
Ain't gonna change anything inside
But when you talk about something like gun play
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
And five to one you're gonna lose
The song Russian Roulette by Edwin McCain explores the themes of pain, love, and the consequences of impulsive actions in romantic relationships. The lyrics describe a troubled young man who is trying to show his girlfriend the immense pain he is feeling inside. He appears to have lost control of his emotions, as his head is "scrambled" and he doesn't understand what went wrong in the relationship.
The young man talks about "blue steel" and "gunplay," suggesting that he may be considering violent actions to deal with his pain. The chorus warns him that these actions are a "losing bet" and that he is likely to lose everything if he goes down that path. As tears run down his girlfriend's face, the song suggests that she is a mirror of his own inner turmoil, and that he cannot escape his pain by lashing out at her.
The song concludes with a call for the young man to put aside his ego and his tantrums, and to stop beating up on his girlfriend. The lyrics suggest that he will never be able to find peace until he learns to control his impulses and deal with his pain in a healthy way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey boy pushin' on your girlfriend
Addressing a male individual who is forceful and trying to impose his pain on his partner
Trying to show her all the pain you feel inside
Attempting to display his inner suffering to his girlfriend
Yeah and head all scrambled and the love is gone
Feeling disoriented mentally, and having lost the love that was present earlier on in the relationship
And you don't know what went wrong
Feeling unsure about the reasons for the relationship deteriorating
But I think I heard you hissing something about blue steel
Inferring that the individual has been mentioning shooting someone with a gun
But when you talk about something like gun play
Warning against discussing any violent, gun-related behavior
Let me tell you it's a losing bet
It is not a wise thing to do
But when the hammer falls all bets are called
Once a decision is taken, there is no turning back
And five to one you're gonna lose
Chances of success are not favorable
When you talk about something like Russian Roulette
Expressing the dangers of playing a dangerous game like Russian Roulette
Tears run down your sweet love's face
His girlfriend's tears reflect the pain he's caused her
I say she's a mirror of your insides
His girlfriend's emotions are a reflection of his own
And you can't scream loud enough to let it go
The character is mentally trapped and screaming would not help him overcome his issues
And you mouthful of pride you just can't swallow
The individual finds it hard to accept and deal with his pride
Rips your soul like a hurricane tide
Hurricane-like waves of guilt and pain hit him at the core
Pack up your ego and your tantrum
Recommending that he lets go of his ego and toxic behavior
Put it back with your anger and your pride
Advice to go back to holding onto his anger and pride
Beating up on your girlfriend
Inferring that he's physically abusive towards his girlfriend
Ain't gonna change anything inside
Conveying that his abusive behavior towards his girlfriend won't help resolve the internal turmoil he's dealing with
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN COLE MC CAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind