Next to being the singer, organist and songwriter of The Slackers, he is/was involved in various projects like The SKAndalous All-Stars or The Stubborn Allstars.
For many years, Vic has also nurtured a dusty alt country/blues/rock solo project.
He's recorded a slew of solo albums on which he mainly plays the guitar, harmonica and percussion.
Albums are: Living in Sin/Understanding New Jersey, Alive at the Ladybug House, Hamburguru (2007), Something In My Blindspot (2008), On the Rag Time (+ 7" from 2009 of piano driven rag style vic/slackers songs), Songs For Clandestine Lovers (2009), split discs with ZOOT 16 G.B. (Meatball and Sushi Party, 2009) and Kepi Ghoulie (The Dark Ages, 2009) and Don't Feed The Cats in Iraq (2010). Over the years, various unofficial CD-Rs and bootlegs of his work have been made available through Vic and his website.
Ruggiero is pretty much shaping up to be "the man" when it comes to finding someone to play keyboard instruments in the north American punk scene. His guest appearances include famous artists like Rancid, The Transplants or Roger Miret And The Disasters. He was also involved in a side project going by the name of "The Silencers" with Tim Armstrong of Rancid and others. The Silencers have oficially released one song ("Policeman") on the Hellcat label sampler "Give 'em The Boot I". Ruggiero has writing credit, does backing vocals and plays the organ on this song. Other songs of the Silencer sessions are to be found on Rancid's Life Won't Wait Demos which have leaked to the internet.
Vic is also a member of Reggae Workers of The World, a supergroup composed of Vic Ruggiero, Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites and Nico Leonard of The Moon Invaders and The Caroloregians.
List of bands that he played/plays in (not exhaustive)
- The Nods
- The Slackers
- SKAndalous All-Stars
- Stubborn All-Stars
- The Silencers
- Da Whole Thing
- David Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7
- Victor Rice Octet
- Sic & Mad
- tremoflex9000
- Vic & Phil
- Chris Murray
- Reggae Workers of The World
Official Site: http://www.vicruggiero.com
Lies
Vic Ruggiero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if what you want from me, she seem like a lot
But i'm sure you won't get what you want from me
Cause what you want from me, i'm sure that ain't got
I don't know exactly what you get from me
Whatever it is i'm sure we'll both be surprised
But if you should say that you got what she want
Lies here they come
Lies everyone
So that you imagine life beyond the bar
With champagne and caviar would be supplied
No i couldn't tell you why you came this far
Out here to where we are just to run and hide
Hide here they come
Hide from everyone
And now i can't believe
The feeling when you leave
Forever i'll explain
The feeling that remains
So if you should tell me that your love is real
And all of the things you feel just can't be denied
Well at least i'll have your pretty words of gold
And history will unfold and show if you lie
Lies here they come
Lies everyone
I said lies baby here they come
Baby here they come
Baby here they come...
The song "Lies" by Vic Ruggiero speaks about someone who is unsure of what another person wants and expects from them, and how they themselves are unsure of what they can offer in response. The opening lines of the song set the tone for this uncertainty: "I don't know exactly what you want from me/ And if what you want from me, she seem like a lot/ But I'm sure you won't get what you want from me/ 'Cause what you want from me, I'm sure that ain't got." The singer is acknowledging that they may not be able to fulfill the other person's desires or expectations, and that this realization may lead to disappointment or rejection.
Despite this uncertainty, the singer seems to be aware of the other person's tendency to deceive or mislead, as they warn: "But if you should say that you got what she want/ Then I – no watch you look like when you lie/ Lies here they come/ Lies everyone." The repetition of the phrase "lies here they come" emphasizes the singer's cynicism and suggests that they have a jaded view of relationships and human interactions more generally.
The second half of the song veers into more abstract territory, with lyrics that seem to describe a yearning for a better life that is ultimately unattainable: "So that you imagine life beyond the bar/ With champagne and caviar would be supplied/ No I couldn't tell you why you came this far/ Out here to where we are just to run and hide/ Hide here they come/ Hide from everyone." Here, the singer seems to be addressing someone who dreams of a more glamorous or sophisticated existence but has ended up "out here" with them, in a more mundane or gritty reality.
Ultimately, the song seems to be about the difficulty of connecting with others and finding a sense of meaning or purpose in life, even as we struggle with our own limitations and the ways in which we deceive ourselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know exactly what you want from me
I am uncertain about your expectations from me
And if what you want from me, she seem like a lot
If what you ask of me is significant, it's hard enough for someone else to fulfill it
But i'm sure you won't get what you want from me
I am positive that I cannot offer you what you desire
Cause what you want from me, i'm sure that ain't got
I am confident that I do not possess what you seek
Whatever it is i'm sure we'll both be surprised
We may get something beyond our expectation
But if you should say that you got what she want
However, if you claim to have found what you were looking for
Then i --- no watch you look like when you lie
I cannot bear to see you when you tell a lie
Lies here they come
Falsehoods are inbound
So that you imagine life beyond the bar
Assuming that you envision a life outside of the bar
With champagne and caviar would be supplied
Where you'll be served premium champagne and caviar
No i couldn't tell you why you came this far
I have no idea why you've traveled this far
Out here to where we are just to run and hide
To this place where we are, just to escape and conceal
Hide here they come
Cover-ups are inbound
Hide from everyone
Avoiding everybody
And now i can't believe
Now, I find it hard to believe
The feeling when you leave
Sensation when you part from me
Forever i'll explain
I will keep justifying it forever
The feeling that remains
The emotion that endures
So if you should tell me that your love is real
So, if you profess your love as genuine
And all of the things you feel just can't be denied
If the emotions you feel are undeniable
Well at least i'll have your pretty words of gold
If nothing, I can have memory of your beautiful compliments
And history will unfold and show if you lie
And time will eventually disclose whether you have been truthful or not
I said lies baby here they come
I warned you, baby, falsehoods are inbound
Baby here they come
Here they come, baby
Baby here they come...
They are almost here, baby
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.