In 1997, former Blanks member Pat Lillard ("Spider") (Bass), formed The Riverboat Gamblers with Fadi el-Assad ("Freddy Castro") (Lead Guitar), and Mike Wiebe ("Teko Buller" or "Rookie Sensation") (Vocals). Lillard's original intention was to emulate Virginia punk-rockers The Candy Snatchers. In direct contrast to the popular emo music at the time, The Riverboat Gamblers' premiere show featured over-the-top songs relating to drinking and of course, gambling. Tongue planted firmly in cheek, The Riverboat Gamblers continued to play house parties and shows throughout Denton and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Gamblers burst out of the Denton college scene in September of 2001 on the back of their self-released 7" single "Jenna Is A No Show." Both 2001's self-titled release and 2003's "Something to Crow About" were produced by Texas punk rocker Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Lord High Fixers).
After the warm reception of "Something to Crow About", the band soon relocated from Denton, Texas to Austin, Texas. The band first received attention from major record labels after their energetic and rowdy showcase at the 2003 South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas, but the band ultimately signed with indie label Gearhead Records. In 2005 they were signed to Volcom Entertainment and performed a stint on the 2005 Warped Tour, where the band was often noticed for its deranged live shows. The silliness of some of the earlier material has given way to a more complex breadth of material about America's maligned.
The band released their most recent album, "To the Confusion of Our Enemies", in April 2006.
They have also appeared on the soundtracks to the videogames "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland", "Madden NFL 07" and "FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage," and "Sega GT Online 2".
Bite My Tongue
The Riverboat Gamblers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
G.A.L.L. Now that's some gall.
I can't get you stalled in the rain.
Your expert quest is right there in the mail,
it's been head on head.
and every word,
every sentence that you ever said,
is pointing back at you,
So I bite, my tongue,
swallow, my blood.
And all I want,
is you to shut... up.
Do you care to give us your opinion,
that girl says the dumbest things.
You repeat, repeat,
you're repetition.
I did it wrong recurve the day you never heard,
a comment someone said.
Do you get it wrong,
While trying to come off as smart.
I'm looking for,
an escape route,
before you're mouth,
makes words come out.
I bite, my tongue,
swallow, my blood,
I bite, my tongue,
swallow, my blood
I bite, my tongue,
swallow, my blood,
I bite, my tongue,
swallow, my blood,
my blood,
my blood.
The Riverboat Gamblers's song "Bite My Tongue" is a fiery takedown of people who talk too much and say too little. The opening lyrics "Do you own the teeth to really say that, G.A.L.L. Now that's some gall," suggest that the song is a response to someone who has said something insensitive or hurtful, and is now being called out for it. However, the song is less concerned with the specifics of what was said, and more interested in the singer's tendency to prattle on without regard for others.
The second verse, which begins with "Do you care to give us your opinion," is particularly cutting in its critique of people who repeat themselves and try to sound smart while getting things wrong. The refrain, "I bite my tongue, swallow my blood," suggests that the singer is exercising restraint and staying silent in the face of this onslaught of verbal nonsense. The repeated line "all I want is you to shut up" drives home the point that sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all.
Overall, "Bite My Tongue" is a cathartic and relatable anthem for anyone who has ever had to deal with someone who talks too much. It's a reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you own the teeth to really say that,
Do you really have the courage to say what you just said?
G.A.L.L. Now that's some gall.
Wow, you really have a lot of nerve.
I can't get you stalled in the rain.
I can't seem to stop you from talking no matter how hard I try.
Your expert quest is right there in the mail, it's been head on head.
You think you're an expert on this topic, but so am I.
and every word, every sentence that you ever said, is pointing back at you, like an arrow in neon blue.
Everything you say only makes you look foolish.
So I bite, my tongue, swallow, my blood.
I am trying to hold back my true feelings and not say anything hurtful to you.
And all I want, is you to shut... up.
I really wish you would just stop talking.
Do you care to give us your opinion, that girl says the dumbest things.
Do you really think your opinion is important when you say things that are so silly?
You repeat, repeat, you're repetition.
You keep repeating yourself and it's getting annoying.
I did it wrong recurve the day you never heard, a comment someone said.
I messed up the day the comment was made and you weren't even there to hear it.
Do you get it wrong, While trying to come off as smart.
You often say things that are incorrect while trying to sound intelligent.
I'm looking for, an escape route, before you're mouth, makes words come out.
I am trying to find a way to leave before you say something that will make me lose my temper.
my blood, my blood.
I am so frustrated with you that I feel like I might explode.
Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.