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.
Shell
Bumblefoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My bone's been cleaned - still my body breathes
And everything goes
Sit on cracked walls - why I fall
Up and out, pain was noise - someone broke Sorrow's toy
Inside out pours the void from my wounds
The shell was destroyed
We all fall down
We all fall down
Hit the ground - emptied out
Kings horses and men put me here again
I'm back on the wall - should I stay or fall
And go through it all
I feel so well - empty shell
Up and out, pain was noise - someone broke Sorrow's toy
Inside out pours the void from my wounds
The shell was destroyed
We all fall down
We all fall down
Hit the ground - emptied out
Life and heart painted the ground
Know why I fall - sitting on cracked walls
We all fall down onto shaky ground
I can't stand at all
We all spin round - shaky ground
We all fall down
We all fall down
Hit the ground - emptied out
Threw the red blanket down
We all fall down
The first stanza of Bumblefoot's "Shell" describes the pain that the singer is feeling. The pain is described as being similar to a cancer that eats away at the singer's bones. However, despite this, the singer's body continues to breathe. The second half of the stanza describes the singer sitting on a cracked wall and questioning why they fall.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We all fall down," emphasizing the idea of falling and hitting rock bottom. The second stanza continues to describe the pain that the singer is experiencing, but also introduces the idea of someone breaking "Sorrow's toy." The phrase "Sorrow's toy" could refer to the singer's emotions, which were damaged or muted by whoever broke the toy. The line "the shell was destroyed" could refer to the singer's exterior facade being shattered, exposing their internal struggles.
The final stanza repeats the chorus, which makes a reference to the nursery rhyme of the same name. The singer also mentions being on shaky ground and not being able to stand at all. The last line of the song, "threw the red blanket down," likely represents the singer throwing away their emotional security blanket and exposing their vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
The cruel taste me like a cancer eats
I am consumed by a cruel and unrelenting pain that feels like a cancer eating away at my very being.
My bone's been cleaned - still my body breathes
The pain has stripped me bare and left me feeling exposed, yet I am still alive and exist as a mere shell of my former self.
And everything goes
Despite the chaos and upheaval that surrounds me, everything continues to move forward, leaving me feeling unsettled and lost in the wake of it all.
Sit on cracked walls - why I fall
I find myself perched upon unstable foundations, unable to understand why I continue to stumble and fall despite my best efforts.
Up and out, pain was noise - someone broke Sorrow's toy
The pain I once felt has turned into a deafening sound, as if someone has broken a toy that once brought me comfort and happiness.
Inside out pours the void from my wounds
My inner emptiness is now pouring out from the wounds that have been inflicted upon me, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
The shell was destroyed
The façade of strength and resilience that I once put up has been shattered, revealing my true fragile nature to the world.
Hit the ground - emptied out
I have fallen so low that I feel completely empty and drained of all life and energy.
Kings horses and men put me here again
Despite my best efforts to move on, I find myself back in the same place that has caused me so much pain and heartache before.
I'm back on the wall - should I stay or fall
Once again, I am perched on an unstable foundation, unsure of whether I should continue to cling to it or let go and fall.
And go through it all
Despite the uncertainty and pain that lies ahead, I know I must face it head-on and move forward.
I feel so well - empty shell
Despite appearing well on the outside, I am merely an empty shell of my former self, completely devoid of any real substance or meaning.
Life and heart painted the ground
My life and heart lay shattered on the ground before me, the remnants of my former self serving as a constant reminder of the pain and heartache I have endured.
Know why I fall - sitting on cracked walls
I am acutely aware of why I continue to stumble and fall, as I sit atop foundations that are unstable and uncertain.
We all fall down onto shaky ground
Just like me, we are all susceptible to tumbling down when we find ourselves on unstable foundations, unsure of where to turn or how to regain our footing.
I can't stand at all
The weight of my pain and heartache has become too much to bear, leaving me unable to stand and face the world before me.
We all spin round - shaky ground
The world continues to spin, even though we find ourselves on unsteady ground that threatens to upend us at every turn.
Threw the red blanket down
In a fit of rage and desperation, I have thrown down the metaphorical blanket that has offered me comfort and protection in the past, feeling as though it has lost its power to offer any real solace.
We all fall down
Despite our best efforts, we are all susceptible to falling down and stumbling, as we navigate the uncertain and chaotic world around us.
Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.