In 2005 guitarist Dave Miller left the band and was replaced by Heath Saraceno, formerly of Midtown. The band's second full-length album, Still Searching, was released in 2006. They joined Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos in support of the album. Mike Glita then left the band the following year and Jason Black, also a member of Hot Water Music, joined initially as a temporary replacement but ended up remaining in the band. Their third album, Life Is Not a Waiting Room, was released in 2008. Heath Saraceno then left the band after their appearance at the 2009 Warped Tour and was replaced by Zack Roach, also guitarist of post-rock band Spirit of the Stairs.
Senses Fail's fourth album The Fire was released October 25, 2010 through UK label Hassle Records and elsewhere through Vagrant the following day. In February 2011, Garrett Zablocki left the band to attend college and was replaced by Matt Smith, also guitarist for Strike Anywhere.
Choke On This
Senses Fail Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't make a wife out of a whore, don't want your skin on me
And you're, you're addicted to the drug of lust
A detox in the cold sweat of shame
And I love your pain
I gave you these roses now but I left in the thorns
I'd rather hurt someone than hurt myself
I'll lose you somewhere on a dusty shelf
So this love's been worn down, like songs on the tape
The sex has lost all of its fun, like gum loses taste
And you're, and you're addicted to the drug of lust
A detox in the cold sweat of shame
And I love your pain
I gave you these roses now but I left in the thorns
I'd rather hurt someone than hurt myself
I'll dispose of you like a lighter out of fuel
I'll lose you somewhere on the shelf
I'm here back in your bed babe
Remember what you said to me
"You can be my James Dean, I'll be your sweet queen"
I said that you were my first, but you weren't even close now
Like a frame in a movie, you're just one of many
Can you grant me one last wish
Play Russian roulette as we kiss
I'll be your cheap novelty
Blow your brains out on me
I gave you these roses now but I left in the thorns
I'd rather hurt someone than hurt myself
I'll dispose of you like a lighter out of fuel
I'll lose you somewhere on the shelf
Senses Fail's song "Choke on This" is a brutal and honest look at a toxic relationship. The lyrics speak to a person who is addicted to lust, the high of feeling desired, even if it means being treated poorly. The singer of the song acknowledges that the relationship has lost its spark, but they continue to use each other for temporary pleasure rather than working on building something more substantial. The singer expresses disgust for their partner and views them as disposable, comparing them to a used-up cigarette lighter that will be thrown away once it runs out of fuel.
The chorus speaks to the addictiveness of lust, with the line "And you're addicted to the drug of lust, a detox in the cold sweat of shame/And I love your pain." The singer recognizes the shame that comes with the desire for instant gratification and the thrill of pursuing someone who may not be good for them. Yet, they confess that they are still drawn to it all, even if it causes pain.
The final verse is the most violent and unsettling, as it speaks of playing Russian roulette with a lover and literally blowing their brains out. It's unclear if this is a metaphor or a proposed act of violence, but either way, it speaks to a level of psychological distress and detachment that is deeply troubling.
Overall, "Choke on This" is a raw and intense exploration of a destructive relationship that is fueled by lust, shame, and a desire for pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Half smoked cigarettes and you're the trash that infests my sheets
You’re a distasteful and detested presence in my life, much like remnants of cigarette that has already been smoked
Can't make a wife out of a whore, don't want your skin on me
You’re frivolous, and I don’t want to be associated with you; you're not the type of person I would marry
And you're, you're addicted to the drug of lust
You’re addicted to lustful activities
A detox in the cold sweat of shame
Trying to cleanse yourself of the shame you feel after the lustful activities
And I love your pain
I derive pleasure from seeing you suffer and feeling ashamed
I gave you these roses now but I left in the thorns
I gave you an ornamental gift, but I made sure to incorporate pain into it
I'd rather hurt someone than hurt myself
I'm not interested in inflicting pain to myself, but I'm okay with doing it to someone else
I'll dispose of you like a lighter out of fuel
I'll get rid of you as if you were an empty lighter, an object without value
I'll lose you somewhere on a dusty shelf
You'll be forgotten and neglected over the long term, like some clutter left on a forgotten shelf
So this love's been worn down, like songs on the tape
This love we share was once strong and new, but is now outdated, like a used-out song tape
The sex has lost all of its fun, like gum loses taste
The sexual affair is not pleasurable anymore, like gum that has lost taste
I'm here back in your bed babe
I'm back to being intimate with you again
Remember what you said to me, "You can be my James Dean, I'll be your sweet queen"
You once made a romantic promise to me that were lies in retrospect
I said that you were my first, but you weren't even close now, like a frame in a movie, you're just one of many
I lied to you, you’re not the one I lost my virginity to and you’re just one of the many people I’ve been with
Can you grant me one last wish, Play Russian roulette as we kiss
I want to take part in a potentially life-threatening game, while we have our last kiss
I'll be your cheap novelty, Blow your brains out on me
I'll be available to serve as a mediocre sexual object, ending with a gunshot
I gave you these roses now but I left in the thorns
I gave you an ornamental gift, but I included a painful element into it
I'd rather hurt someone than hurt myself
I'm more willing to inflict pain on others rather than on myself
I'll dispose of you like a lighter out of fuel
You’re disposable and have no worth in my life
I'll lose you somewhere on the shelf
You’ll be neglected and made unimportant in my life
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Daniel Gerard Trapp, David Michael Miller, Garrett Michael Zablocki, James Anthony Buddy Nielsen, Michael John Glita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@derekgrugan6378
Buddy wherever you are, I have this album tattooed on my arm. 15 years later, still my forever favourite album.
@JD-rx2kh
He's not here
@AmyJoSays
2023 and I'm still here.This shit makes me feel young again because this shit never gets old. (EVEN ON REPEAT)
@bribulkley1876
I agree. I'm sitting here blasting this album just like I did in the early 00s getting ready for HS. 🖤🩶💚
@MarcussJay
Wow... where has the time gone.
@Yerinjibbang
gone... reduce to atoms
@joeylittle6738
My best friend and I loved this band and saw them in Nashville before. We bonded HEAVILY over music and even started a band briefly together. When we first started I had him record vocals over this song just so I could hear how it would sound on recording. And to be honest it gave us something to do. I'm missing him a lot today and I come back and listen to this song when I need to be comforted. I'm crying while typing this because I miss you so much brother. I hope wherever you are you are at least at peace with your demons now. I will forever love you Andy. May you forever rest in power.
@diegokasady
2024 album changed my life a bit in 2006
@gluemonster300
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!
@screamo9
this song is great