Veruca Salt was formed alongside the friendship of Louise Post and Nina Gordon. Introduced by Gordon's good friend, actress Lili Taylor, Gordon and Post quickly bonded and formed what is now known as Veruca Salt. Originally, the band was an Indigo Girls-inspired acoustic act, but the women quickly realized this wasn't their sound. They quickly enlisted bass player Steve Lack and eventually Gordon's brother Jim Shapiro joined as a drummer, even though he originally was just drumming as a favor to his sister.
Veruca Salt released a self-funded demo tape and shopped it to labels, and began to play a handful of small club shows. The buzz around the band grew furiously, and after only a few live gigs, the band was signed to Minty Fresh Records and began recording with producer Brad Wood. At the time Brad was popular due to having recently produced Liz Phair's critically acclaimed Exile in Guyville.
The band released an orange 7" single for the song "Seether" to radio. "Seether" was a bratty, distorted alt-rocker about an angry and misunderstood woman. Compared to the rest of Veruca Salt's material, "Seether" was very pop, so much so that Gordon said that when she wrote it, she didn't think the rest of the band would like it. They sent "Seether" to radio, as it was the most radio-friendly song they had written and the reaction was unexpectedly positive. Unfortunately, the album wasn't complete and they found themselves rushing to complete the album, before "Seether" lost its radio momentum. It ended up peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts.
Geffen Records signed the band after an intense label bidding war and American Thighs was released October 25, 1994. It peaked on the Billboard Top 100 at 69 and was certified Gold. The follow-up single "All Hail Me" failed to chart Top 40 on Modern Rock, and the last single from the album, "Number One Blind", written by Gordon, did better than the previous single at 20 on Modern Rock chart, but nowhere near as well as "Seether". Gordon and Post were unhappy with the song's video, and it was pulled after airing fewer than five times on MTV.
To support this album, Veruca Salt opened for such acts as Hole, Live and PJ Harvey, as well as their own headlining club tour.
The band released an EP in 1996 titled Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt to tide fans over until their next album.
After touring for American Thighs, Gordon and Post entered the studio with Bob Rock to record their second album. They were inspired to work with Bob after hearing Metallica's "Enter Sandman" on the loud-system before a Veruca Salt concert at an outdoor music festival.
Eight Arms to Hold You, which was released February 11, 1997 on Geffen Records, proved to be a difficult and dividing album. Some fans of American Thighs were disappointed by the polished, hard-rock and distinctively Bob Rock production, in comparison to the laidback indie buzz-bin vibe of American Thighs. The new album garnered mixed reviews from music critics as well. Band members have since admitted that this album was difficult for the band, and the recording process was extremely tense. However, Eight Arms to Hold You sold well due to the success of the first single "Volcano Girls", written by Gordon. It was a catchy, power-pop tantrum that matched "Seether"'s success, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts. This album, however, didn't have longevity, and despite peaking higher (Billboard Top 100 at 55) than American Thighs, sales dropped off drastically when the second single "Shutterbug" failed to chart despite a high budget video and Saturday Night Live performance, as well as other promotion. Three more singles were sent to radio ("The Morning Sad", "Straight" and "Benjamin") but none of them did well enough to warrant a video. However, the Gordon-penned "Benjamin" was released internationally as the third and last commercial single from the album despite having no video and no promotion. "Benjamin" also failed to chart. Shapiro left the band soon after the release of Eight Arms and was replaced by Stacy Jones (of Letters to Cleo and now American Hi-Fi). Jones toured with the band on the Eight Arms tour, but never recorded with them.
Veruca Salt toured extensively for Eight Arms to Hold You, opening for Bush as well as a lengthy international headlining club tour.
Nina Gordon left Veruca Salt in early 1998 amid rumors of stolen boyfriends and physical altercations with bandmate Louise Post. Post, now the only original band member, recruited a new band, consisting of Stephen Fitzpatrick (guitar), Suzanne Sokol (bass) and Jimmy Madla (drums), and continued to record and perform under the Veruca Salt moniker. The new band signed with Beyond Records. The first album with the new lineup was 2000's Resolver.
December 2002 saw the release of both Resolver and lead single "Born Entertainer", in Australia through Embryo Records / MGM. Following the release of "Born Entertainer" Embryo Records / MGM released the single "Officially Dead" which contained newly recorded tracks as well as a remix of 'the Same Person. The band toured Australia, including the "Splendour in the Grass" festival alongside bands such as Placebo and Coldplay. 'Yeah Man' was released as a radio only single.
After planning to take some time to step away from the music industry the band once again toured and performed at some festival shows in Australia. The tour took in the capital cities as well as performances at both the "Falls Festival" and the newly created Southbound festival in Perth. The band completed the 2 week tour and upon arrival back in the United States performed a show at the iconic "Viper Room". The band debuted the tracks 'Blissful Queen' and 'Circular Trend' live, both would end up on the album "IV"
2005 saw another couple of line-up changes with Sokol and Madla leaving, being replaced by Solomon Snyder on bass and Michael Miley on drums for the recording of the EP Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things (LOSALT). The band then went on tour as Post, Fitzpatrick, drummer Kellii Scott and bassist Nicole Fiorentino. LOSALT was released and sold independently at the bands shows and via the website and included six new songs. The title of the EP is an extract from Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. This preluded the full length album, "IV", released September 2006 and accompanied by a US tour. The lead single "So Weird" was released to radio at the end of October 2006.
They recorded a cover of Neil Young's song "Burned" for a 2007 Breast Cancer Benefit album due for release in October 2007. The band became inactive sometime after that, announcing in 2012 that they had entered an indefinite hiatus.
In 2013, the original lineup of the band reunited. In 2014, the band released the single "The Museum of Broken Relationships." and went on a tour of the United States and Australia. The band's first album in nine years, "Ghost Notes", was released in July 2015.
My Sharona
Veruca Salt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you gonna give me some time sharona?
Ooo you make my motor run, my motor run
Gun it comin' off of the line sharona
Never gonna stop
Give it up
Such a dirty mind
From the touch of the younger kind
My my my my my
Whoa
M m m my sharona
Come a little closer huh
Will ya huh?
Close enough to look in my eyes sharona
Keepin' it a mystery, gets to me
Running down the length of my thighs sharona
Never gonna stop
Give it up
Such a dirty mind
Always get it up
From the touch of the younger kind
My my my my my
Whoa
M m m my sharona
When you gonna get to me, get to me?
Is it just a matter of time sharona?
Is it d-d-destiny? d-destiny? or is it just a game in my mind sharona?
Never gonna stop
Give it up
Such a dirty mind
Always get it up
From the touch of the younger kind
My my my my my
Whoa
M m m my sharona
My my my my my
Whoa
M m m my sharona
M m m my sharona
M m m my sharona
M m m my sharona
Oooooohhh aahhhh my sharona
Oooooshhh aahhhh my sharona
Oooooshhh aahhhh my sharona
The lyrics of Veruca Salt's song "My Sharona" contain sexually suggestive language that revolves around the singer's obsession with a woman named Sharona. The song is about a man who is infatuated with Sharona and is begging her to give him a chance. The lyrics describe his physical attraction to Sharona, as he claims that she makes his "motor run" and gets him excited.
The lyrics also contain language suggestive of a relationship between a younger man and an older woman, with references to the "touch of the younger kind" and a possible power dynamic. The line "Keeping it a mystery, gets to me, running down the length of my thighs Sharona" suggests that the singer is turned on by Sharona's elusive and mysterious nature.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "never gonna stop, give it up," indicating the singer's persistence in pursuing Sharona despite her resistance. The final lines of the song, "Oooooohhh aahhhh my Sharona," suggest that the singer believes that Sharona is truly special and is worth pursuing.
Overall, the lyrics of "My Sharona" are provocative and suggest that the singer is obsessed with Sharona and is willing to do whatever it takes to win her over.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooo my little pretty one, my pretty one
The singer is referencing her desire towards someone she finds attractive.
When you gonna give me some time sharona?
The singer is asking when her desired individual will dedicate more time to her.
Ooo you make my motor run, my motor run
The singer is stating that the person she desires excites her.
Gun it comin' off of the line sharona
The singer is expressing how fast the excitement she feels towards her desired individual is building up.
Never gonna stop
The singer is suggesting that she will not give up on pursuing the person she desires.
Give it up
The singer is indicating that she will continue to put in effort to win over her desired individual.
Such a dirty mind
The singer refers to her sexual thoughts towards the individual she desires.
Always get it up
The singer is implying that she is constantly aroused.
From the touch of the younger kind
The singer suggests that she is turned on by the youthfulness of her desired individual.
Come a little closer huh
The singer is inviting her desired individual closer to her.
Will ya huh?
The singer is asking her desired individual to approach her more closely.
Close enough to look in my eyes sharona
The singer wishes for her desired individual to be close enough to gaze into her eyes.
Keepin' it a mystery, gets to me
The singer finds the mystery surrounding her desired individual intriguing.
Running down the length of my thighs sharona
The singer is describing a physical reaction to her desired individual that causes her body to tingle.
When you gonna get to me, get to me?
The singer is questioning when her desired individual will show their interest in her.
Is it just a matter of time sharona?
The singer is pondering if it is inevitable for her to end up with her desired individual.
Is it d-d-destiny? d-destiny? or is it just a game in my mind sharona?
The singer is debating if her feelings towards her desired individual are predetermined fate or just a figment of her imagination.
M m m my sharona
The singer is exclaiming her excitement towards her desired individual.
M m m my sharona
The singer reiterates her attraction towards her desired individual.
M m m my sharona
The singer repeats her feelings of excitement towards her desired individual.
M m m my sharona
The singer continues to express her attraction to her desired individual.
Oooooohhh aahhhh my sharona
The singer expresses her desire and affection for her desired individual.
Oooooshhh aahhhh my sharona
The singer continues to emphasize her attraction and affection towards her desired individual.
Oooooshhh aahhhh my sharona
The singer reiterates her passionate feelings towards her desired individual.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: BURTON AVERRE, DOUG FIEGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Calbenmike
I had no idea they covered this. They made it their own, that's for sure.
Highly underrated band.
M o R
@Rob W Not "babies" but "Bodies". Good cover, more accessible I guess as Sex Pistols is not to everybodies liking.
Rob W
Calbenmike their cover of "babies" by the sex pistols is worth checking out
David Drew
Love the original but this version is pure class! Love it!!
Kevin Fahey
Only just discovered this. Wonderful version that’s got it all over the original!
Riprock xxx
I used to listen to these guys back in the 90s, I liked them, but never really got into them that much. 25 years later I am getting into them. These two are a perfect pair. They have great vocal harmonies, and compliment each other very well with their playing and their song writing, Very cool music!
Scott Berton
Nice man I love it!
I always liked the original too, great tune growing up in the 70's.
Call me a wack job if you want but I still think the guitar solo from the original is among the best ever!
Jeff R
The original was crazy popular. But this version is way smokin' hot! I can't believe that I haven't heard it until now and that it wasn't played on the air when it first came out.
laroccacounty1
I just found this now?! Yup, it's 2016. PS for all the haters... Times were different in the 90s and these cats rock a song that I always though was kinda stupid. Awesome.
ModMokkaMatti
A totally fitting vibe for the Gen X apathy that was arguably at its zenith in the 90s - and as a Gen Xer myself, I can't say that it's ever really subsided, much like my adoration for Louise and Nina.