After hiring C.C. DeVille, they changed their name to the more edgy ''Poison'' and started working their way up the L.A. Club scene. In 1986 they recorded their debut album ''Look What the Cat Dragged In'', which was made successful by their massive hit ''Talk Dirty to Me'', whose video was played on a constant rotation on MTV. Poison's next album, the fan favorite ''Open Up and Say... Ahh!'' was carried on the shoulders of the chart topping ballad ''Every Rose Has Its Thorn'', written by Bret Michaels about his girlfriend cheating on him with Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow. Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood, showed Poison's more mainstream side. After Flesh & Blood came out, Poison started going downhill. C.C. DeVille was in a constant drug binge and couldn't be found. When Poison was slated to play Unskinny Bop for the MTV Movie Awards, C.C. forgot what song to play and ripped into Talk Dirty To Me on live television. He was fired on the spot.
Guitarist Ritchie Kotzen was brought in to record the album Native Tongue, which showed a new creative turn for the band. Ritchie was a good guitarist, but was thrown out of the band for sleeping with drummer Rikki Rocketts fiance. Poison then brought in Blues Saraceno as guitarist, with whom they recorded ''Crack A Smile...And More!'', one of Poison's lost gems.
After years of disconnection, C.C. DeVille came back to Poison for a full reunion. They have since toured with many acts, including KISS. They are currently planning a summer tour with fellow hair metal elite Cinderella and have just released a new 20th anniversary greatest hits cd.
In the 2007 game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the track "Talk Dirty to Me" is featured.
There are other artists with the same name:
2) Poison is a German Death/Thrash Metal band, formed in 1982.
Named "Poison (ger)" on Last FM
3) Poison was a Japanese hardcore punk band formed in 1982. Their sound is a mix of traditional Japanese hardcore and metal. The band later changed their name to Poison Arts.
4) Poison is an American Heavy/Speed Metal band, formed in 1983.
5) Poison is an American funk group formed in the '70s
6) Poison was a Finnish band formed by Albert Järvinen
7) For the Garage punk/blues rock band formed in 1984 in Austin, Texas. Originally active from 1984 to 1987, the band played a reunion show in 2000. See Poison 13
Ball And Chain
Poison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get on your dress and put on a smile
Lets lose this place
and get out awhile, awhile, awhile
You don't need nothin' fancy
Just a whole lot of attitude
I'll be your man now baby
I keep on tellin' ya
[Chorus]
She's my ball and chain
My lock and key
And I'm liking it baby
She's my ball and chain
My lock and key
And I'm liking it good
I'll t-t-t-tell ya
Momma always said
There was plenty of fish in the sea
So I baited my hook but good
And caught one for me, just for me
She'll set you up with her body
And then knock you out with charm
She's just a little too nasty baby
But that never did me no harm, no
I keep on telling ya
[Chorus]
And she'll always be wrapped tight around me
I t-t-t-tell ya
Poison's song "Ball and Chain" is about a particular woman who has become the singer's everything. The song is a tribute of love, though it's not without its defects. The song uses a metaphor, ball, and chain, as the singer compares his relationship to being confined and his partner's permanent attachment. However, he enjoys it because he ultimately loves her. Throughout the song, there are indications of his love for her, "She'll set you up with her body, and then knock you out with charm." Therefore, the ball and chain theme is not meant to interpret the relationship as toxic, but more as a playful metaphor for the woman's hold on the singer, that he is not opposed to.
The singer of "Ball and Chain" insists that their love will remain strong even though his partner can be overwhelming- "And she'll always be wrapped tight around me." This line implies a perfect ending to the ball and chain theme, where the singer wants to be constrained by his partner. The singer, in essence, is expressing his devotion to his love. He understands that he enjoys his partner so much that he cannot escape her if he wants to.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, come on
Let's leave this place and have some fun
Get on your dress and put on a smile
Get dressed and look happy, we are going out
Lets lose this place and get out awhile, awhile, awhile
Let's escape this place and enjoy ourselves for a while
You don't need nothin' fancy
You don't need expensive things to please me
Just a whole lot of attitude
Just show me your confidence and personality
I'll be your man now baby
I'll be your partner for tonight
If you're doing what I want you to do
If you please me in the way I want you to
I keep on tellin' ya
I keep repeating myself to make sure you understand
She's my ball and chain
She's my partner, my anchor
My lock and key
My secret, my love
And I'm liking it baby
I enjoy the relationship we have
She'll set you up with her body
She'll seduce you with her physical appearance
And then knock you out with charm
And then fascinate you with her charisma
She's just a little too nasty baby
She's a bit wild, but I don't mind
But that never did me no harm, no
But it never caused me any negative consequences
And she'll always be wrapped tight around me
We'll always be close to each other
I t-t-t-tell ya
I keep saying it, but it's true
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOBBY DALL, BRET MICHAELS, BRUCE ANTHONY JOHANNESSON, RIKKI ROCKET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind