Album: Rated R (2000)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Songs about being high up in a plane tend to be interpreted as being about drugs (just ask The Byrds). Drugs are certainly a common topic in Queens Of The Stone Age songs, but this one could be about a lady. Nick Oliveri, who sings lead on the track, has said in concert it's for "the girls in the house."
  • Josh Homme is the usual singer for Queens Of The Stone Age, but bass player Nick Oliveri took the lead on this one, which they wrote together. They had trouble completing the song for the Rated R album, so they went into "late night mode," trying lots of crazy ideas until they found something that worked.

    Instead of playing bass, Oliveri played guitar, and their producer Chris Goss handled bass. Homme ended up playing drums, but not the usual way.

    "Josh, we took the drums and he turned them upside down and turned the kick drum on its side so he could hit it with a stick," Oliveri explained in a Songfacts interview. "And the drummer, Nick Lucero, was playing some percussion instrument. We did it live with this really cool, dark-lit setting. I remember it being a magical, cool feeling, and the song wound up making it on to the record."
  • According to Oliveri, this song started out sounding very different. "I have some crazy, happy version of it, very uptempo and it wouldn't have made it to the record," he told Songfacts. "Very candy pop-ish. Not bad, but not what we were going for sound-wise."
  • Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees sang background vocals. Josh Homme called him in to the sessions to work on the song "In The Fade," which he ended up singing lead on. Lanegan ended up singing backup on "Auto Pilot" and "I Think I Lost My Headache" as well.

Comments: 1

  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandYou're right but thwt this is doing under "queen" I don't know
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.