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.
Used To Know Her
Veruca Salt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to talk about her
Waiting for the day that she would listen
I used to know her
I used to stick up for her
Something in her smile was so bitchin'
I used to sing, I used to sing
I used to know her
Used to know all about her
I used to need her
There was something about her
I used to torch her
It's the best way around her
I used to know her
Now it just doesn't matter, oh yeah
Oh yeah...
I used to fuck him
I used to simplify him
Something in his walk was like jim morrison
I used to touch him
I used to justify him
Lying to my face with my permission.
I used to sing, I used to sing
I used to fuck him
Used to fucking love him
I used to need him
Now I read all about him
I used to touch him
Now I could never kiss him
I used to love him
Now I don't even miss him, oh yeah.
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah...
I used to know her.....
I used to terrify her, I used to terrify her, I used to terrify her
I used to terrify her, I used to terrify her
I used to sing, we used to sing!
I used to know her
I used to know all about her
I used to need her
There was something about her
I'm used to tortue
It's the best way around her
I used to know her
Now she just doesn't matter, oh yeah
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Veruca Salt's "Used to Know Her" is a song about a woman who used to know herself or at least thought she did. The lyrics indicate that she used to be confident and outspoken about herself and her beliefs. However, something happened, and she lost herself along the way. The first verse explains how the woman used to speak about herself, trying to be heard, but nobody listened to her. She felt like nobody cared about her identity. In the second verse, the song shifts to focus on a male figure that the woman used to love. She used to see the best in him until she realized that he had been lying to her and taking advantage of her. The chorus repeats the phrase "I used to know her," emphasizing how the woman lost her sense of self and became someone that no longer mattered.
The third verse is the most ominous, as it reveals that the woman used to terrify herself. She may have felt like she no longer recognized herself, and the fear of that loss obligated her to become anxious and fearful. However, the use of "we" in the final two lines suggests a glimmer of hope that the woman has found someone to sing with her, and together, they can regain her lost self.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to know her
I had a deep understanding of her in the past
I used to talk about her
I used to share my knowledge and admiration of her with others
Waiting for the day that she would listen
I hoped for her acknowledgement of my feelings and thoughts about her
I used to stick up for her
I used to defend and protect her from harm
Something in her smile was so bitchin'
I was enamored by the allure of her smile
I used to sing, I used to sing
I used to express my emotions and thoughts through song
I used to know all about her
I was knowledgeable about every aspect of her life
I used to need her
I used to rely on her for emotional support
There was something about her
She possessed a certain quality that drew me to her
I used to torch her
I used to mistreat and abuse her
It's the best way around her
I believed that mistreating her was the most effective way to interact with her
Now it just doesn't matter, oh yeah
She is no longer important to me
I used to fuck him
I used to have a sexual relationship with him
I used to simplify him
I used to downplay his complexities and nuances
Something in his walk was like Jim Morrison
His walking style reminded me of the iconic musician Jim Morrison
I used to touch him
I used to be physically intimate with him
I used to justify him
I used to rationalize his negative actions and behaviors
Lying to my face with my permission.
He used to blatantly deceive me knowing that I allowed it
Used to fucking love him
I used to love him passionately
Now I read all about him
I read about him in the media or from other sources
Now I could never kiss him
I would never physically touch him in any way
Now I don't even miss him, oh yeah.
I no longer feel any longing or yearning for him
I used to terrify her, I used to terrify her, I used to terrify her
I used to instill fear into her repeatedly
I used to sing, we used to sing!
We used to express ourselves through collaborative singing
I'm used to torture
I am accustomed to causing harm and pain to others
Now she just doesn't matter, oh yeah
She holds no importance or significance in my life anymore
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
She does not have any impact on my life
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
Her existence has no bearings on my life
She just doesn't matter..oh yeah
She has no relevancy or importance to my life
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating a cool, calm indifferent response to the idea of the person no longer being present in their life
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gaby M.
Gives me chills everytime I listen to it. The fun part is that I can interpret it in both ways by old friends and old crushes :)
Rachel Fourie
I interpret it as a girl’s point of view where her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend.
Christopher Mack
Gaby M. that's how I see it also
Arim G
Both Louise and Nina were and are good song writers, love both their songs. Although I go more for the harder, darker stuff like this here
Venus Axe
I love this song, I think it's pretty cool since it's blatant with it's point, well Louise's point. Definitely different, but the band isn't the same anymore so that's a given. I love the guitar, the riffs are really strong and cool, plus the beat is good.
Leslie Tucker
I saw them both at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA last summer. What stellar people they are. Great show!
miked4309
with charly bliss? epic show.
Stefan Bauernfeind
I love this band, love for first sight/listening❤❤❤
Steven Beasley
My favorite by Veruca Salt
MaGiK B34ST
wow..I am flying off of this. so amazing