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.
Thought I Could Fly
Bumblefoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I break like a gun
We both lie as one
And ships wreck on the sand
Broken the man
Her head in his hands
In my dream I'm falling
I thought I could fly
She comes long with me
Breaking 'till free
Awakening
At once feel the collapse
We both relax
Our bodies breathe
In my dream I'm falling
Wake me before I die
I thought I could fly
She warms inside
Softens my breathe
Tightens my eyes
We reshaped into
Pieces unglued
Thought I could fly
In my dream I'm falling
Wake me when I die
Empty for a moment
Yet complete at the same time
I thought I could fly
The lyrics to Bumblefoot's Thought I Could Fly are somewhat cryptic, but the overall theme seems to be the experience of falling in love, feeling complete and whole in the moment, and then ultimately experiencing heartbreak when the relationship falls apart. The first verse paints a picture of two people who are entwined with each other but also caught in a cycle of destruction. The image of ships wrecking on the sand suggests that their relationship is doomed to fail, no matter how hard they try to make it work. The singer of the song seems to be aware of this but still believes that he can overcome it - hence the line "I thought I could fly."
The chorus repeats this sentiment, with the singer describing the feeling of falling in his dream and then asking to be woken up before he dies. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for his fear of getting too caught up in the relationship and losing himself in the process. The second verse seems to offer a glimmer of hope, with the mention of "breaking till free" and "awakening," suggesting that the singer and his partner have found a way to navigate their troubles and momentarily find happiness. However, this is short-lived, and the song ends on a bittersweet note with the lines "Empty for a moment/Yet complete at the same time/I thought I could fly."
Line by Line Meaning
Like daylight drains the sun
Just as daylight gradually fades as the sun goes down, something is taking away the singer's vitality and energy.
I break like a gun
The singer has reached a breaking point where they feel they might explode or snap like a loaded gun.
We both lie as one
The singer and someone else are lying together, perhaps in bed, feeling a deep connection and intimacy.
And ships wreck on the sand
There is a sense of mortality and fragility in the world, where even large ships can be wrecked on the smallest of shores.
Broken the man
The man is shattered or damaged in some way, either physically or emotionally.
Her head in his hands
The man is holding someone dear to him, perhaps in a moment of comfort or distress.
In my dream I'm falling
The singer is experiencing a sensation of falling in a dream, which can symbolize a lack of control or fear of losing something.
Wake me before I die
The artist wants to be woken up before they reach a point of no return, whether it be death or some other kind of irrevocable loss.
I thought I could fly
The artist had an illusion of grandeur or freedom, believing that they could do anything they set their mind to.
She comes long with me
The artist is accompanied by someone, most likely a romantic partner, on their journey through life.
Breaking 'till free
Together, the singer and their partner are breaking free from whatever has been holding them back or keeping them down.
Awakening
The artist and their partner are undergoing a transformation, becoming more alive and aware of their surroundings.
At once feel the collapse
Despite their newfound vitality, there is a sense of danger or instability that threatens to bring everything crashing down.
We both relax
Despite the potential danger, the singer and their partner let go and allow themselves to relax.
Our bodies breathe
The singer and their partner are in touch with their physical selves, experiencing a deep and satisfying sensation of breathing and living.
She warms inside
The artist's partner is a source of comfort and warmth, both emotionally and physically.
Softens my breathe
The artist's partner has a calming effect on them, helping them to breathe easier and relax.
Tightens my eyes
The singer's partner has a captivating effect on them, drawing them in and making them feel more focused and alert.
We reshaped into
The singer and their partner have undergone a transformation or metamorphosis, becoming something new and different.
Pieces unglued
The artist and their partner have left behind old ways of being and thinking, breaking apart and coming back together in a new configuration.
Wake me when I die
The artist is surrendering to the idea of death and wants to be allowed to pass gently into the next stage of their existence.
Empty for a moment
The artist's experience of death or near-death leaves them feeling hollow and bereft of emotion for a time.
Yet complete at the same time
Despite the emptiness or darkness they feel, the singer also experiences a sense of wholeness or fullness as they move into the afterlife or a new phase of existence.
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.