Their band name derives from a slang term amongst bikers for a desirable ("boss") motorcycle ("hog"). The band achieved some notoriety, not only due to their punk and blues influenced sound, but moreso because of Martinez's use of full nudity on the band's debut live performance and record sleeves. A music video was also made in the mid-'90s for the song "I Dig You." Their releases are relatively sporadic, but comprised three full length albums, a mini-album, an EP and a number of singles in an 11 year history.
Ruby
Boss Hog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been sleepin' all alone
Lord, I miss you
I've been hanging on the phone
I've been sleeping all alone
I want to kiss you sometime
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Well, I've been haunted in my sleep
You've been starrin' in my dreams
Lord, I miss you, child
I've been waitin' in the hall
Been waitin' on your call
Your phone rings
It's just some friends of mine that say
"Hey, what's the matter, man?
We're gonna come around at twelve
With some Puerto Rican girls that's just dyin' to meet you
We're gonna bring a case of wine
Hey, let's go mess and fool around
You know, like we used to"
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah...
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah...
Oh everybody waits so long
Oh baby, why you wait so long?
Won't you come on, come on
I've been walking Central Park
Singin' after dark
People think I'm crazy
Stumbling on my feet
Shuffling through the street
Asking people, "What's the matter with you, boy?"
Sometimes I want to say to,
To myself
Sometimes I say
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
I won't miss you, child
I guess I'm lying to myself
It's just you and no one else
Lord, I won't miss you, child
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah
Lord, I miss you, child
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah aah
Aah aah aah aah
The lyrics of Boss Hog's song "Ruby" seem to be about a person who has been holding out for a long time, sleeping alone and missing someone they deeply care about. They have been waiting for a call or a message from this person and have been haunted by dreams and thoughts of them. They have been walking the streets alone, singing and stumbling, feeling like they might be going crazy without this person. The chorus repeats the phrase "Lord, I miss you, child" several times, indicating the depth of the feeling of longing.
However, towards the end of the song, the tone changes. The singer says they won't miss the person anymore and that they are lying to themselves. They admit that it's just this one person they care about and that they will always miss them. The repetition of the phrase "Lord, I miss you, child" takes on a different meaning, one that is more resigned and accepting of the fact that they will always feel this way.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been holdin' out so long
I've been keeping my feelings to myself for a very long time
I've been sleepin' all alone
I've been sleeping alone without you
Lord, I miss you
I miss you very much
I've been hanging on the phone
I've been waiting for you to call me
I want to kiss you sometime
I want to kiss you whenever I get the chance to see you
Well, I've been haunted in my sleep
I've been waking up in the middle of the night with thoughts of you
You've been starrin' in my dreams
You've been appearing in my dreams
I've been waitin' in the hall
I've been waiting for you in the hallway
Been waitin' on your call
I've been waiting for you to call me back
Your phone rings
Your phone is ringing
It's just some friends of mine that say
It's just some of my friends calling
"Hey, what's the matter, man?
"Hey, what's going on?
We're gonna come around at twelve
We're going to come over at midnight
With some Puerto Rican girls that's just dyin' to meet you
We're bringing some Puerto Rican girls who really want to meet you
We're gonna bring a case of wine
We're bringing a case of wine to drink
Hey, let's go mess and fool around
Let's go have some fun and misbehave
You know, like we used to"
You know, like we used to do in the past
Oh everybody waits so long
Everyone waits for someone they miss for a long time
Oh baby, why you wait so long?
Oh baby, why have you been making me wait for so long?
Won't you come on, come on
I want you to come to me
I've been walking Central Park
I've been taking walks in Central Park
Singin' after dark
Singing to myself at night
People think I'm crazy
People think I'm insane
Stumbling on my feet
I've been tripping and falling
Shuffling through the street
I've been walking around aimlessly
Asking people, "What's the matter with you, boy?"
Asking people why they're acting strange
Sometimes I want to say to,
Sometimes I want to tell myself
To myself
To myself
Sometimes I say
Sometimes I think
I won't miss you, child
I won't miss you, even though I really do
I guess I'm lying to myself
I'm lying to myself about not missing you
It's just you and no one else
It's only you that I want, and no one else
Lord, I won't miss you, child
I won't miss you, even though I know that's not true
Lord, I miss you, child
I miss you very much
Writer(s): Hollis Queens, Jurgensen Jens Peter
Contributed by Leah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lindseycox-mcqueen5806
Great ep!