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".
Wasting Time
The Riverboat Gamblers Lyrics
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Leave the bassinet lying so the snakes on the ground,
They can come and find them?
Is there really a mongoose around here?
Immune to venom vites and serpent strikes and such.
Cause I don't mind if you stay away from me.
Being spurned is fine if it means that I can eat.
Drown em in, cause I had enough of them.
Well you've been force-fed and I know why.
Gotta shed shed shed shed shed shed you skin, for street clothes.
Gotta get real soft and smooth, till you skip the groove
And you get your milking. Can we get Riki Tiki Tavi here?
Lemme see if I get it right, then we sleep tonight on beds.
Cause I don't mind if you stay away from me.
Being spurned is fine if it means that I can eat.
Check this out: well I chew em' out and then spit em up again.
Drown em in, cause I had enough of them.
Well you've been force-fed and I know why.
You're wasting your time.
The Riverboat Gamblers's song "The Song We Used to Call "Wasting Time"" is a fast-paced and energetic track that explores themes of isolation and the struggle to define oneself in the face of societal pressure. The song opens with a series of enigmatic questions, questioning whether children really have ears, if there are mongeese nearby, and if bassinets can be left lying around for snakes to get into. These questions are somewhat nonsensical, although they do evoke a sense of unease and confusion in the listener, perhaps reflecting the disorientation and confusion that the singer feels in their own life.
The chorus of the song offers some clarity, with the singer declaring that they don't mind if others stay away from them, as this rejection allows them to focus on their own needs and desires. The singer is empowered by their isolation and by their ability to reject the expectations of others, declaring that they will "chew em' out and then spit em up again." This emphasis on independence and self-determination is underscored by the repeated phrase "you're wasting your time," a powerful statement of defiance and individuality.
Overall, "The Song We Used to Call "Wasting Time"" is a complex and thought-provoking track that offers a unique perspective on the challenges of modern life. By exploring ideas of isolation and the struggle to define oneself in the face of societal pressure, the song offers a powerful message of empowerment and self-discovery that will resonate with listeners from all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
No kidding? Do the children really have no ears?
Are you serious? Are kids really that oblivious?
Leave the bassinet lying so the snakes on the ground,
Leave the baby unattended so that danger can find them?
They can come and find them?
Is it really that easy for danger to find them?
Is there really a mongoose around here?
Is there really a solution to this problem?
Immune to venom vites and serpent strikes and such.
Capable of overcoming and surviving danger?
Cause I don't mind if you stay away from me.
I'm okay with you not being around me.
Being spurned is fine if it means that I can eat.
If being rejected means I can focus on my own needs, then that's okay.
Check this out: well I chew em' out and then spit em up again.
I'll tear apart my enemies and then discard them without a second thought.
Drown em in, cause I had enough of them.
I'm done with these people and I want to move on completely.
Well you've been force-fed and I know why.
You've been told what to think and believe, and I understand why that is.
Gotta shed shed shed shed shed shed you skin, for street clothes.
You have to completely transform yourself to fit in with society's norms.
Gotta get real soft and smooth, till you skip the groove
You have to become a more polished version of yourself.
And you get your milking. Can we get Riki Tiki Tavi here?
And then you reap the rewards. Can we find a solution to this problem?
Lemme see if I get it right, then we sleep tonight on beds.
Let me make sure I understand this, then I can rest easy tonight.
You're wasting your time.
You're putting in effort for no reason or result.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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