The song "Bite Marks" by John Hiatt portrays a tumultuous and intense romantic relationship. The lyrics depict the speaker's lover as someone who enjoys rough and aggressive behavior, symbolized by bite marks. The bite marks are a metaphor for the emotional wounds inflicted by the partner, causing the speaker to feel drained and damaged ("take a chunk of my soul"). The partner's idea of fun involves drawing blood and tearing the essence out of things, leaving nothing worth remembering. This implies that their actions and behavior in the relationship are destructive, leaving the speaker feeling hurt and broken. The lyrics suggest that the partner's intensity goes beyond physical encounters and affects the mental state as well, with their presence lingering in the speaker's mind. The partner's actions are likened to a predator, going for the jugular vein and showing signs of insanity. The speaker even compares themselves to needing protection with chain mail gloves, emphasizing the danger and harm caused by the lover. With the repeated chorus, the speaker acknowledges that the lover has had a significant impact on them. The biting motif serves as a reminder of the intensity and pain experienced in the relationship. Despite the damage inflicted, the speaker admits being enamored and unable to escape the destructive love they share. Overall, "Bite Marks" tells the story of a dysfunctional and damaging romantic relationship, where the partner's aggressive actions and behavior leave lasting scars on the speaker's soul.
