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.
Vomit
Bumblefoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taught my hands to speak my mind - the inside of a fist is soft
Had 6 strings to take my mind off of things - to ventilate hostility with positivity
And control my aggressive tendencies - cause what I am is what you hear
It's a piece of me to outlive my flesh - and continue my bloodline
Like a child, yet complete in it's form - like a child, but you can't mold it wrong
And the pendulum swings like a thinking mind
The pendulum swings and it passes time
Like a mood it swings me wide
Until I've lost my balance and fallen to it
Like a mindquake it puts me through it
Like a hand shake it greets me
As it cheats me of a content life
And in the end we bend to make amends
Before your own angst eats ya
And to those that made winter so cold
I hope your food repeats ya
And in my darkest room I feel my way through - guided by a short leash
Made of sound to keep down - the part of me I fear
It's a piece of me that puts my flesh to the test - gives it power
And devours my awareness - of what's waiting under my skin
It's a piece of me to outlive my flesh - and continue my bloodline
Like a child, yet complete in it's form - like a child, but you can't mold it wrong
An angry kid becomes an angry man
And the pendulum swings like a thinking mind
The pendulum swings and it passes time
Like a mood it swings me wide
Until I've lost my balance and fallen to it
Like a mindquake it puts me through it
Like a hand shake it greets me
As it cheats me of a content life
...And in the end we bend to make amends
'Cause any one of us can blow up
And so I'm not covered in your food before ya do
I really hope ya throw up
An angry kid becomes an angry man
And the pendulum swings like a thinking mind
The pendulum swings and it passes time
Like a mood it swings me wide
Until I've lost my balance and fallen to it
Like a mindquake it puts me through it
Like a hand shake it greets me
As it cheats me of a content life
...And in the end we bend to make amends
'Cause any one of us can blow up
Since I'll be there to collect my share
I'd like to see ya throw up
In Bumblefoot's song "Vomit", the lyrics delve into themes of anger management, self-control, and mental health. The first verse speaks of the realization that one's mind can be a source of madness and that sometimes it's better to simply control our thoughts. Through playing his guitar and making music, Bumblefoot is able to channel his aggression and take a positive outlet for it. The second verse highlights the importance of creating something that can outlive oneself, like a child or a piece of artwork. The chorus repeats the idea that an angry kid can turn into an angry man, but with self-awareness and self-control, one can become something greater than their anger. The lyrics also acknowledge the struggle of managing one's anger and fears, and the internal battle that can often leave one feeling lost and unbalanced.
Overall, "Vomit" is a powerful statement about mental health, self-control, and the importance of finding healthy outlets for rage and frustration. The chorus also touches on the idea that everyone has the potential to "blow up", but by making amends and being accountable for our own actions, we can create a better world for ourselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to think my thoughts made me mad
At first, I believed that my innermost thoughts drove me to insanity
then I realized I was just mad, with thoughts
Later, I realized that it was madness itself that simmered beneath my thoughts, influencing them
Taught my hands to speak my mind
I learned how to use my hands as an extension of my thoughts and feelings
the inside of a fist is soft
Fists may be used as symbols of strength and power, but their inner parts are fragile
Had 6 strings to take my mind off of things
I had a guitar with six strings to distract me from life's difficulties
to ventilate hostility with positivity
I used music as a means to channel any aggression or animosity into something positive
And control my aggressive tendencies
Playing music helped me to rein in my impulses to lash out
cause what I am is what you hear
The sound of my music represents who I am as an individual
It's a piece of me to outlive my flesh
My music is a part of me that will endure beyond my physical existence
and continue my bloodline
My art will carry on my legacy and influence future generations
Like a child, yet complete in it's form
Despite its simplicity, my music is a fully realized expression of myself
like a child, but you can't mold it wrong
Although my music may be deemed immature or naive, it cannot be made incorrectly as it is a pure representation of my creativity
An angry kid becomes an angry man
Someone who was angry as a child often carries that anger into adulthood
And the pendulum swings like a thinking mind
The back and forth nature of the pendulum represents the cyclical nature of one's thoughts and emotions
The pendulum swings and it passes time
The swinging of the pendulum is a metaphor for the passage of time and how we move beyond difficult moments
Like a mood it swings me wide
The pendulum's movements mimic the ebb and flow of my emotional state
Until I've lost my balance and fallen to it
Like when someone falls off balance, I too am susceptible to being thrown off course by my emotions
Like a mindquake it puts me through it
The sudden onset of intense emotions can shake me to my core, like an earthquake
Like a hand shake it greets me
Like a cordial greeting, the sudden rush of emotions can be unexpected and disarming
As it cheats me of a content life
The weight of my emotions can prevent me from finding satisfaction and contentment in my life
And in the end we bend to make amends
Ultimately, to find peace, we must be willing to make amends and forgive those who have wronged us
Before your own angst eats ya
Holding onto our anger and resentment can consume us and drastically change who we are
And to those that made winter so cold
This line could be interpreted as a reference to the people who brought hardship and suffering into our lives
I hope your food repeats ya
Here, the artist wishes ill on those who have wronged them, suggesting that they will suffer the consequences of their actions
And in my darkest room I feel my way through
The singer is alluding to a difficult time in their past, which they have difficulty talking about
guided by a short leash
The singer does not have the freedom to fully express themselves or act on their emotions
Made of sound to keep down
Music is a coping mechanism that helps the singer to suppress their inner turmoil
the part of me I fear
The artist is referring to the darkest parts of their psyche that they are terrified to reveal
It's a piece of me that puts my flesh to the test
Music is a part of their identity that challenges them and pushes them to their limits
gives it power
The music gives the singer inner strength and fortitude
And devours my awareness
Their music, while empowering, causes them to become completely absorbed in it to the point of losing touch with their surroundings
of what's waiting under my skin
The artist is afraid of the secrets and unexplored parts of themselves beneath the surface
...And so I'm not covered in your food before ya do
The artist holds a grudge against someone who has done them wrong and is wishing misfortune upon them
Since I'll be there to collect my share
The artist fully intends to seek revenge, and will take satisfaction in seeing their enemy suffer
I'd like to see ya throw up
The final line of the song is intentionally provocative and implies that the singer wants to see their enemy suffer and feel physically ill as a result of their actions
Contributed by Liliana Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.