In late 2008, the three-piece added a fourth member and began writing for a full-length. The band and songs had evolved and taken on a new life to a point where a name-change seemed necessary. They decided on Spanish Gamble as their new chosen name and drew a line between their past and the future. Their influences are eclectic, yet their sound is cohesive. While the members are not all Gainesville natives, they fit in nicely with the scene of gruff and catchy music found in the southern punk mecca.
However, it is not to say that they are just another punk band from Gainesville. They have spent a considerable amount of time demoing new songs for their upcoming record with Roger from Less Than Jake and will be venturing out to Oakland, CA to record with Ryan Massey of American Steel in his Sharkbite Studios. The album is to be called “It’s All Coming Down” and much of the lyrical content has to do with finding a sense of purpose in the world. This time around the songs are tighter and more collaborative.
One might be hard-pressed to recognize these young men as the same Dirty Money that slept on your floor just a couple of short years ago. Well they’re not. They are Spanish Gamble, and they’re focused, they’re tight, and these new songs will surely blow you away. The bands ability to at once be catchy and stray away from formulas has created a dynamic combination of excellent sonic qualities. Expect the band to be on the road relentlessly once the album is released and get ready to sing along.
I Just Wanted To Know...
Spanish Gamble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Exactly what you're feeling
I can see inside but who am I?
I can't understand a thing about myself
And I just wanted know
What it felt like to be alive again
Just for a second, I need it, it's gone
When you get there it never tastes as good
Nothing is ever fair in either of our eyes
Until they are burning red
Our laughter quickly turns into tears
Our open arms to fists again
And I can't help but hear your words in a melody
When you rip and tear at me
She said I just wanted to know
What it felt like to be somebody else
Just for a minute come on I need this
I said trust me it's never as good as it sounds
I hold on as tight as I can
But my grip is slipping
I'll hold onto you
But these lights are fading
Oh please not tonight
(Oh please not tonight)
Oh please not tonight
(Oh please not tonight)
The song "I Just Wanted To Know" by Spanish Gamble is a reflection on relationships and the desire to connect with another person. The lyrics express the difficulty in understanding one's own emotions and motivations, as well as the challenges of trying to understand another person's feelings. The first verse is particularly introspective, suggesting that the singer can see inside someone else's heart but not their own. The chorus offers a glimpse of hope, as the singer seeks to experience the intensity of being alive again, albeit briefly. However, by the end of the song, the light has faded and the specter of regret looms.
The second verse shifts the focus to the other person in the relationship, who expresses a similar desire to escape themselves and become someone else for a moment. The chorus repeats with a slight variation, as the singer warns their partner that the grass is not always greener on the other side. The final lines of the song are a plea to hold on to each other despite the challenges, suggesting that even though the desire to escape may be strong, love and connection are worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look at you I can see
I have the ability to read your emotions and thoughts just by looking at you.
Exactly what you're feeling
I can decipher your exact emotions in any given moment.
I can see inside but who am I?
Even though I have the ability to read others, I am clueless about my own feelings and personality.
I can't understand a thing about myself
I am unable to comprehend my own thoughts, feelings and actions.
And I just wanted know
All I wanted was to understand myself better.
What it felt like to be alive again
I wanted to experience the feeling of being truly alive once again.
Just for a second, I need it, it's gone
However, the feeling was fleeting and disappeared just as quickly as it came.
When you get there it never tastes as good
The reality of the situation rarely measures up to the expectations we have in our heads.
Nothing is ever fair in either of our eyes
We both have our own perspectives and opinions, and it is rare that they align or feel fair to both parties.
Until they are burning red
Sometimes our disagreement and conflict can escalate to a point where emotions run high and tempers flare.
Our laughter quickly turns into tears
Our joy and happiness can easily be overshadowed by sadness, pain and despair.
Our open arms to fists again
The love and acceptance we have for each other can quickly turn into anger and violence.
And I can't help but hear your words in a melody
Your words have a musical quality to them, and they resonate with me on a deeper level.
When you rip and tear at me
Even though your words can hurt and wound me, I still find myself drawn to them.
She said I just wanted to know
The person I am speaking to expressed a similar desire to understand themselves and their place in the world.
What it felt like to be somebody else
They wanted to escape their own problems and issues by experiencing someone else's life for a short while.
Just for a minute come on I need this
They were desperate and needed a break from their own reality, if only for a few moments.
I said trust me it's never as good as it sounds
I warned them that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and that their idealized vision of another life might not live up to expectations.
I hold on as tight as I can
I try to cling onto the things that matter, but sometimes it feels like they are slipping away from me no matter how hard I try.
But my grip is slipping
Despite my efforts, I am losing control over things that used to be important to me.
I'll hold onto you
I will try to hold onto the person I am speaking to and maintain our connection despite these challenges.
But these lights are fading
The world around me is losing its sparkle and luster, and everything seems to be fading away.
Oh please not tonight
I am pleading for the pain and struggle to stop, even if only for a moment.
(Oh please not tonight)
I repeat this plea, emphasizing the desperation in my voice and the importance of this request.
Oh please not tonight
I continue begging for a reprieve from the difficulties of my life.
(Oh please not tonight)
Once again, I stress the urgency and importance of this plea.
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.