Gambler
Riverboat Lyrics


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Atom bombs and foreign tongues.
Hold my breath until I'm blue.
Politics and talking shit,
Wrap it up and give back to you.
I said NO, NO! that ain't right.
I can't sleep tonight,
Stupid things, they have done for sure.
Exasperating..well you gotta know, know, know.
I'm sorry for harshing your buzz.

Lights out, Why are you so sore?
Bed time, like you, I'm poor.
If I say you win, will you go, go go?
You say you will, but do you gotta move so slow?

I'm sorry for harshing your buzz.

I don't get you people. Just leave me alone!
You say that you love me, but you hate my home!
I don't like him either, but he's just a clone!
Your acting like I put him there,




Took him to lunch and then paid, paid to watch you cry.
It's alright CALM DOWN!!!!

Overall Meaning

The Riverboat Gamblers' song, The Gamblers Try Their Hand at International Diplomacy, delves into the world of politics and talks about the frustration and confusion surrounding it. The opening lines of the song, "Atom bombs and foreign tongues. Hold my breath until I'm blue," creates a feeling of fear and dread that the singer experiences as he tries to make sense of the various foreign policies of countries around the world. He has to grapple with the concept of nuclear war and the ambiguity surrounding the intentions of other nations.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "I'm sorry for harshing your buzz," which seems to suggest that the singer is apologizing to the young and optimistic generation who have hopes for a better future in terms of international diplomacy. However, he is aware that his skepticism and cynicism about the political system and nations' relationships make him sound negative and discouraging. This frustration led him to question the effectiveness of international politics to solve global problems.


The song's final verse touches on the singer's relationship with his loved ones and the frustration he feels with their behavior towards him. He feels that they do not understand him, even though they say they love him. The ambiguity around the phrase "he's just a clone" is unclear, but the illusion is that people look at elected officials as unworthy of their positions.


Line by Line Meaning

Atom bombs and foreign tongues.
Weapons of mass destruction and unfamiliar languages.


Hold my breath until I'm blue.
Feeling suffocated or anxious.


Politics and talking shit, Wrap it up and give back to you.
Discussions about world affairs and insincere compliments.


I said NO, NO! that ain't right.
Disapproving of a situation or decision.


I can't sleep tonight, Stupid things, they have done for sure.
Experiencing guilt or regret for past actions.


Exasperating..well you gotta know, know, know.
Frustrating and difficult to handle.


I'm sorry for harshing your buzz.
Apologizing for ruining someone's mood or enjoyment.


Lights out, Why are you so sore?
Asking why someone is upset or in pain.


Bed time, like you, I'm poor.
Going to bed and feeling financially disadvantaged.


If I say you win, will you go, go go?
Offering a concession in hopes of getting someone to leave.


You say you will, but do you gotta move so slow?
Expressing impatience with someone's pace or work ethic.


I don't get you people. Just leave me alone!
Feeling confused or frustrated with others and wanting to be left alone.


You say that you love me, but you hate my home!
Expressing confusion or disbelief at conflicting emotions from others.


I don't like him either, but he's just a clone!
Agreeing that someone else is unlikable or untrustworthy, but not the same as another person.


Your acting like I put him there, Took him to lunch and then paid, paid to watch you cry.
Accusing someone else of falsely placing blame or being overly emotional.


It's alright CALM DOWN!!!!
Trying to reassure someone and get them to relax.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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