Vicious was due to fly to New York and needed some funds, so after bumping into ex-Pistol Glen Matlock one day they decided to do a gig together. Matlock, whom Vicious had replaced in the Sex Pistols, saw it is an opportunity "to show there was no animosity" between them, he later commented. Matlock recruited his Rich Kid bandmate Steve New on guitar and The Damned's Rat Scabies completed the line up on drums. Nancy Spungen sang backing vocals but after hearing her at rehearsals, Matlock made sure her microphone wasn't plugged in on the night of the gig. The name of the band came from an amalgamation of Sid Vicious, The Rich Kids and Rat Scabies' part time outfit The White Cats.
Recordings of the concert, which included covers of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog",[4] have been released multiple times: in 1991 on DeLorean Records, in 1993 on Receiver Records, in 2002 on Castle Records, and in 2007 on Sanctuary Records. The 2007 release includes an interview with Matlock and Scabies.
The Belfast Telegraph, after the release of the 2007 album, called the music "raw and wonderfully chaotic".
Chatterbox
Vicious White Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said Chatterbox
I said ya squalk a lot
See'mon gimma some lips
Yeah Chatterbox
I call you up
Don't give me no line
On the chatterline
All dressed up
I got nowhere to go
Seems like fun night
On the telephone
Said Chatterbox
I said ya squalk a lot
See'mon gimma some lips
Yeah Chatterbox
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
I said Chatterbox
I said Chatterbox
I said ya squalk a lot
See'mon gimma some lips
Yeah Chatterbox
Call you up
Don't give me no line
I'm comin in your home
On the telephone
All dressed up
I got nowhere to go
Seems like fun night
On the telephone
I said Chatterbox
I said ya squalk a lot
See'mon gimma some lips
Yeah Chatterbox
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
I said Chatterbox
The lyrics to "Chatter Box" by the Vicious White Kids seem to be about the frustration of trying to communicate with someone who talks too much or talks without saying anything of substance. The vocalist calls out the person, referred to as the "Chatterbox," for squawking a lot and not giving any meaningful dialogue. He wants the Chatterbox to give him some lips, suggesting that he wants some genuine conversation or physical affection, but the Chatterbox continues to talk without listening.
The second half of the song describes the vocalist attempting to connect with the Chatterbox over the phone, expressing that they're all dressed up with nowhere to go and hoping for a fun night on the telephone. However, the Chatterbox still isn't providing any valuable interaction, and the song ends with the repetition of the chorus and the frustrated plea to "gimme some lips."
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the superficiality and frustration of modern communication, particularly in the age of technology where people may talk without truly connecting with one another.
Line by Line Meaning
I said Chatterbox
The singer is addressing someone by the nickname 'Chatterbox'.
I said ya squalk a lot
The singer is commenting on how much the person talks and possibly complains.
See'mon gimma some lips
The singer is requesting the person to kiss them or speak with more emotion.
Call you up
Don't give me no line
I'm comin in your home
On the chatterline
The artist is calling the person on the phone and wants them to speak authentically without any excuses. They want to have a conversation with them over the phone.
All dressed up
I got nowhere to go
Seems like fun night
On the telephone
The artist is dressed up and has nothing to do, so they plan on having a good time by talking on the phone.
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
See'mon see'mon see'mon
Yeah Chatterbox
The singer is urging the person to speak more or to give them attention.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY THUNDERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind