Since the early 90's Ron has released over 200 songs through solo CDs and DVDs, and digital releases. He's had numerous appearances on compilation CDs and as a guest performer for other artists, appeared on magazine covers, and as a soloist toured internationally headlining venues and guitar festivals. In 2008 Ron released the "Abnormal" album, described as "Sex Pistols meets Queen, with innovative guitar and a quirky Zappa-esque twist..." In 2011 he released a song a month that included transcriptions, alternate mixes and recording stems, as an innovative way to release singles.
As a child, Ron would play Bach pieces with his feet. Today, his guitar-work can be heard on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy album, the theme of VH1's "That Metal Show", the Latin acoustic guitar on Jessica Simpson's "Irresistible" dance mix, and CNN-Turkey station IDs to name a few. Live, he's just as diverse, whether touring the world with GNR or at local fundraisers (notably performing with Nancy Sinatra, Cyndi Lauper, composer Fahir Atakoglu, and jazz legend Allen Toussaint.)
A record producer and songwriter for artists and publishing companies often working out of his own studio in Princeton NJ, Ron has written theme songs and background music for shows that include So You Think You Can Dance, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, Anthony Bourdan, MTV, VH1, MuchMusic, FuseTV, CW, SpikeTV, Oxygen, E!, A&E, ESPN, UFC, WWE, NFL, MLB, NBC, PBS, and SEGA, SSI and Atari videogames.
Ron is a Professor at SUNY Purchase College teaching music production, does guitar clinics around the world, and writes articles for music magazines. He is a volunteer for many charities such as Musicians On Call visiting sick children in hospitals and the MS Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that donates funds directly to Multiple Sclerosis research.
Bagged a Big 1
Bumblefoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah so what - it takes a hippie from point A to point B
Till they'd tailin' my plate fresh outta BK
On Saturday at 1AM on the Xway to my girl
And my new box in Jerz - ya know I didn't see em
They didn't give me a sign but they said I did flee 'em
And they pull me to the side - said my needle was to high
Then they ran me through the Pentium and said "Surprise, surprise...
And then took a long blind look into my eyes and read me my right
Then they took my freedom and my money and they frisk me and they 'cuff me
And they took my face and fingers and they through me in a cage
Yeah, ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me
Ya bagged a big 1, ya cleaned the streets
Yeah, ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me
Ya met ya quota, now go home free
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Sittin' in the cell while I listen to ya joke about your superior
Who said ya got to collar more theives
Well thank you for restructurin' my 'pinion of the law
Over someone else's error at the DMV
Ya let me call a friend to get me out at 4AM
So I can see my name and address printed Monday page 3
Yeah, ya made the world a safer place by hikin' my insurance rate
And tellin' my employers that they shouldn't hire me
Thank you...
Yeah, ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me
Ya bagged a big 1, ya cleaned the streets
Yeah, ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me
Ya met ya quota, now go home free
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground
Don't make a move, don't make a sound
The lyrics to Bumblefoot's song "Bagged a Big 1" tell a story of being pulled over by the police while driving a car that may attract their attention. The singer details their experience of being accused and charged with a crime they did not commit. They sarcastically thank the police for making the world a safer place and for changing their opinion of the law. The chorus repeats the phrase "ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me" to emphasize the irony of being falsely accused and charged.
The line "till they'd tailin' my plate fresh outta BK" refers to police officers following the singer's license plate after getting food at a Burger King. The line "and my new box in Jerz - ya know I didn't see em" refers to the singer not seeing the police officers who were following them as they drove to their girlfriend's house in New Jersey.
The line "Then they ran me through the Pentium and said 'Surprise, surprise... You're gonna fry'" refers to the police officers inputting the singer's information into a database, potentially including criminal records, and threatening to prosecute them. The phrase "take 'em down to the hole in the ground, don't make a move, don't make a sound" may refer to being taken to a holding cell or jail.
Overall, the song critiques the criminal justice system and the power dynamics between citizens and law enforcement. It highlights the experiences of those wrongly accused of crimes and the effects that having a criminal record can have on a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I love my old wheel but it's got police appeal
I enjoy driving my car, but it catches the attention of law enforcement
Yeah so what - it takes a hippie from point A to point B
My car may not be fancy, but it gets me where I need to go
Till they'd tailin' my plate fresh outta BK
Until the police began following me after I left Burger King
On Saturday at 1AM on the Xway to my girl
It was early morning on a weekend and I was driving to see my girlfriend
And my new box in Jerz - ya know I didn't see em
I didn't notice the police cars behind me because of my new car stereo system
They didn't give me a sign but they said I did flee 'em
The police did not signal me to pull over, but they accused me of trying to escape
And they pull me to the side - said my needle was too high
The officer claimed that my speed was too fast
Then they ran me through the Pentium and said "Surprise, surprise... You're gonna fry"
They ran a background check and found something incriminating
- I said WHY? They said "Ya lie"
I asked the officer for an explanation, but they accused me of lying
And then took a long blind look into my eyes and read me my right
They recited my Miranda rights after a prolonged stare
Then they took my freedom and my money and they frisk me and they 'cuff me And they took my face and fingers and they through me in a cage
They arrested me, confiscated my belongings, and put me in jail
Yeah, ya bagged a big 1, a big 1 like me
The officer arrested someone who was insignificant, like myself
Ya bagged a big 1, ya cleaned the streets
They made an arrest to fulfill a quota and give the impression of keeping the streets safe
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground Don't make a move, don't make a sound
The officers bring the suspect to a cell and order them to remain quiet and still
Sittin' in the cell while I listen to ya joke about your superior Who said ya got to collar more theives
I overheard the officers joking about their superiors who encourage them to arrest more people
Well thank you for restructurin' my 'pinion of the law Over someone else's error at the DMV
The experience has made me view the justice system in a negative light because of someone else's mistake at the DMV
Ya let me call a friend to get me out at 4AM So I can see my name and address printed Monday page 3
The officers allowed me to make a phone call to a friend at an inconvenient time and my arrest was published in the newspaper
Yeah, ya made the world a safer place by hikin' my insurance rate And tellin' my employers that they shouldn't hire me Thank you...
Sarcasm: The officer's actions did not improve safety, but instead negatively impacted my future job and insurance prospects
Take 'em down to the hole in the ground Don't make a move, don't make a sound
Refrain/chorus repeating the order to the suspect to remain still and quiet in the cell
Contributed by Dylan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.