Rufio released their debut recording in 2001 on The Militia Group label, Perhaps, I Suppose. The band returned in June 2003 with MCMLXXXV (released on the Nitro label), which was recorded with the aid of producer Nick Rasculinecz who has also recorded with Foo Fighters and Rancid. Rufio went on to play on the Warped Tour that summer following the release of their second album. Their third album The Comfort of Home was released in July 2005. Again, the band went on to join tour that fall with MxPx and Relient K after the "The Comfort of Home" release.
In late January, 2006 bassist Jon Berry and drummer Mike Jimenez left the ban due to creative differences. Following the loss of these two members the band pulled out of their tour with No Use For A Name in early 2006. While no official statement had then been made regarding a breakup, in a 2006 interview, No Use for a Name acknowledged as much.
On Thursday 5th April 2007 the band announced on their MySpace page that they were to have an official farewell show on June 1st 2007 at The Glass House, Pomona CA followed by a South American tour. The statement in full reads: "Farewell show and South American tour. well... its been a while friends... and we've finally decided that its time to do an official farewell show with all the members of Rufio on June 1st. We thought it would be a good way to show our appreciation to all our hometown friends and fans who have supported us from the very beginning. We figured the Glasshouse would be a very appropriate venue to host the show and we hope to see ALLLL of you there! we'll be playing a variety of songs, and even oldies we rarely play! Its going to be a sad night but it also means the birth of new projects and new music! We're also going down to South America in june for one last hoorah. we're very excited about this. there are some shows posted right now, and more will be posted later. we cant wait to party with you crazy south americans! come party with us one last time! Love, Rufio."
On Tuesday, August 4th 2009, Rufio posted a myspace blog announcing that they were already in the midst of a new C.D.
Rufio released their newest EP on January 19, 2010. It is titled, "The Loneliest EP," and it features four brand new tracks. Released through The Militia Group, the tracks include "All That Lasts," and "The Loneliest." The other tracks are acoustic versions of the previous two songs. New members of Rufio include Taylor Albaugh (bass) and Terry Stirling (drums).
On July 27, 2010, Rufio released their 4th album, Anybody Out There. This was followed by worldwide touring. In October 2010, Clark Domae announced that he was leaving the band to pursue other projects. In April 2011, Terry Stirling Jr. left Rufio to pursue other endeavors.
In July 2012, Rufio officially broke up. The band played a one-off reunion show on June 18, 2015, at the Montebello Amnesia Rockfest.
Band members:
2000-2007:
Scott Sellers
Mike Jimenez
Clark Domae
Jon Berry
2009-2010:
Scott Sellers
Clark Domae
Terry Stirling Jr.
Taylor Albaugh
Mental Games
Rufio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do they feel anything when they step to the edge?
And look down to the rocks that they'll met
If they fall from their ground
See how they walk unaware of the steps
That they take in a dance on a line as the dead lose control
You will find what it means to have fallen in love
Maybe only just enough so you can breathe
Just another anchor in your life
Drowning over my life
I am afraid love is blind in a way
I do not want to drag you along to a grave meant for me
Underneath every tree at the bottom of the lake
I will never hold you underneath for me
Maybe only just enough so you can breathe
Just another anchor in your life
Drowning over my life
You're gasping for a taste of air
With a hand I hold you down
You're crying out won't save you now
Everything will end with me
I won't hold you underneath for me
Maybe just enough so you can breathe
Take a breath to save your life
Drowning over my…
I will never hold you underneath for me
Maybe only just enough so you can breathe
Just another anchor in your life
Drowning over my life
I won't hold you underneath for me
(I will just bring you down)
Maybe just enough so you can breathe
(Nothing can sink me down)
Just an anchor in your life
Drowning over my life
The lyrics to Rufio's song "Mental Games" touch on the theme of love and its inherent complexities. The lyrics suggest that love can be confusing and difficult to understand, and that sometimes people are unaware of the dangers involved when they fall in love. The singer questions how people know what is love and what is real, wondering if they truly feel anything when they are on the edge and faced with the possibility of falling. The idea of falling in love is compared to a dance on a line where the dead lose control, suggesting that love can be both exhilarating and dangerous.
The second part of the song focuses more on the singer's personal experience with love. The singer acknowledges that their love for someone else is not always healthy, and that they are afraid that love is blind, leading them down a path that may not be the best one for them or for the person they care about. The singer acknowledges their own shortcomings and the fact that they may be a burden, or an anchor, on the other person's life. However, there is still a sense of possessiveness, as the singer talks about holding the other person underneath them, even if only just enough for them to breathe. The final lines of the song suggest a toxic relationship, with the singer holding the other person down even as they gasp for air.
Overall, "Mental Games" is a song that explores the darker side of love and relationships. The lyrics suggest that love can be both exhilarating and dangerous, and that it can be difficult to know what is real and what is not. The song also touches on themes of possessiveness, control, and the potential for toxic relationships between lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
How do they know what is love what is real?
Wondering how other people can differentiate between true love and momentary infatuation
Do they feel anything when they step to the edge?
Questioning if others are aware of the risks of love and if they feel any fear or caution
And look down to the rocks that they'll met
Imagining others similarly contemplating the consequences of falling in love and potentially reaching rock bottom
If they fall from their ground
Speculating what will happen if others lose their footing or fall out of love
See how they walk unaware of the steps
Observing how some individuals may not be mindful of their actions and decisions when it comes to love
That they take in a dance on a line as the dead lose control
Comparing love to a dance on a tightrope, where one wrong step can lead to losing control and potential devastation
You will find what it means to have fallen in love
Offering insight that one can only truly understand the complexities and emotions of love by experiencing it firsthand
I will never hold you underneath for me
Promising to never intentionally harm or limit someone's freedom for personal gain
Maybe only just enough so you can breathe
Admitting that there may be moments of possessiveness or desire for control, but also acknowledging the importance of mutual breathing space
Just another anchor in your life
Recognizing that being in a relationship comes with certain responsibilities and obligations
Drowning over my life
Conveying the experience of being consumed or overwhelmed by one's own emotions and the impact of a relationship
You're gasping for a taste of air
Describing the feeling of being suffocated or overwhelmed in a relationship
With a hand I hold you down
Acknowledging the desire to maintain control or hold onto someone, even if it is not healthy or beneficial for them
You're crying out won't save you now
Implying that ignoring warning signs or dismissing concerns may eventually lead to negative consequences
Everything will end with me
Expressing the belief that the relationship or situation will come to an end eventually
Take a breath to save your life
Encouraging someone to take a step back and prioritize their own well-being in a relationship
I won't hold you underneath for me (I will just bring you down)
Admitting that there may be moments of selfishness or possessiveness that could harm a partner and cause the relationship to fail
Nothing can sink me down
Asserting a sense of resilience or strength despite the challenges and struggles of love and relationships
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLARK DOMAE, JON BERRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH GREEN, MIKE JIMENEZ, SCOTT SELLERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind