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.
Sick As Your Secrets
Veruca Salt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick of the night
Sick of the day
Sick of the sun that burns you
White
Knuckling it
Wasting away
Color yourself back in again
You're as sick as your secrets
You're as sick as your secrets
You're as sick as your secrets
Slip
Into the bath
Into the grey
Hating yourself so much it hurts
Wake
Up from a nap
Wish you were brave
But you're not that kind of person
You're as sick as your secrets
You're sick of it
You're as sick as your secrets
You're sick of it
You're as sick as your secrets
You're sick of it all
I'll take you back
I'll take you on
I want you to crack
I want you to crawl
I'll take your mistakes
I want you to break
I'll bring you home
Scared
Scared of yourself
And what you might say
So you just let the phone ring
Hey
You could come back
Back to L.A.
You used to like the summer
The lyrics of Veruca Salt's "Sick As Your Secrets" paint a picture of someone who is struggling with their own demons and secrets. The repetition of the words "sick" and "you're as sick as your secrets" reinforce the idea that these secrets are keeping the person in a state of sickness or distress. The first verse talks about being sick of everything - the night, the day, and even the sun. The line "color yourself back in again" suggests that the person has lost their vibrancy or color due to the weight of their secrets.
The second verse mentions the person slipping into a bath, perhaps trying to find solace or escape, but ultimately hating themselves. The line "wish you were brave, but you're not that kind of person" speaks to the fear and shame the person feels about their secrets. The chorus repeats the idea that the person is as sick as their secrets, and that they are sick of it all.
The bridge is a bit different from the rest of the song. The singer offers to "take you back" and "bring you home," suggesting that they want to help the person through their struggles. The final verse mentions the person being scared of themselves and their own words, so they let the phone ring. The line "you used to like the summer" feels nostalgic and perhaps speaks to a time when things were easier for the person.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sick As Your Secrets" deal with heavy themes of shame, secrecy, and self-hatred. The repetition of the word "sick" gives the song a sense of unease and urgency. The singer in the song wants to help the person, but it's up to them to take the first step and reveal their secrets.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick
Tired, exhausted
Sick of the night
Tired of the darkness, depression
Sick of the day
Tired of living, mundane days
Sick of the sun that burns you White
Tired of the heat, discomfort
Knuckling it
Holding on, enduring
Wasting away
Slowly deteriorating or losing oneself
Color yourself back in again
Find happiness and vitality once more
You're as sick as your secrets
Your hidden thoughts and deeds can make or break you
Slip
Succumb to pain or anguish
Into the bath
Seek solace in water or cleansing
Into the grey
Embrace the dullness of existence
Hating yourself so much it hurts
Unable to bear your own flaws and weaknesses
Wake
Open your eyes to reality
Up from a nap
Rise from a state of unconsciousness
Wish you were brave
Long to be more courageous
But you're not that kind of person
Yet too timid or weak to act
You're sick of it
You've had enough
You're sick of it all
Tired of everything
I'll take you back
I will forgive and accept you
I'll take you on
I will support and walk with you
I want you to crack
I want you to open up
I want you to crawl
I want you to face your fears and insecurities
I'll take your mistakes
I will embrace your flaws and errors
I want you to break
I want you to let go and be yourself
I'll bring you home
I will help you find your way back to happiness and contentment
Scared
Fearful of the unknown
Scared of yourself
Afraid of facing your true self
And what you might say
Worried about revealing your thoughts and feelings
So you just let the phone ring
Avoiding contact with the outside world
Hey
Listen up
You could come back
You have the choice to start anew
Back to L.A.
Back to a place of happiness and fond memories
You used to like the summer
You used to enjoy life and embrace the better things
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Gamson, Stephen Becker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alfredo tirado
Louise Post she's amazing composer this is such a perfect
Julio Gutierrez
Beautiful song. So much energy!!
Isadorian Oficial
Amo su música!!!
Bri W
This is what rock is. Timeless.
Bruce Gorney
What a great song. Epic!
Mark Jones
This song is timeless! :)
duskbringer7
I love Louise. I love this song. And everyone who hears me listening to it, thinks it's about the wrong person.
Jules Blaire
Love this song <3
Crabby Cal
Excellent work!
MaGiK B34ST
this song is so perfect veruca salt