Go With The Flow

Album: Songs For The Deaf (2002)
Charted: 21
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Songfacts®:

  • In this rocker, Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme is dealing with a love interest who won't commit. He tells her he'll "go with the flow," meaning accept her terms and let it play out, but with a caveat: "Don't say it doesn't matter anymore," he asks.
  • Homme wrote the song with QOTSA bass player Nick Oliveri, his right-hand man on the Songs For The Deaf album. Oliveri tells Songfacts it was one of the first ones they wrote for the album, following "You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire."
  • Queens Of The Stone Age played an early version of this song on some dates (including the Reading Festival) in August 2001, a year before it was released. The band liked to road test songs before recording them, something that was possible in 2001 before songs were commonly recorded by the audience and inevitably stolen.
  • The video was directed by a group of UK filmmakers known as Shynola, and involved airbrushing the band members black and white, then setting them on a red animated background. Near the end, you'll see two bits of Queens Of The Stone Age iconography: a tuning fork and sperm.
  • Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters played drums on most of the album, but not on "Go With The Flow," which has drumming by Gene Trautmann, who was slated to be the main drummer before Grohl offered his services.

    Also on the track is Brendon McNichol who played the lap steel guitar.
  • Songs For The Deaf is loosely considered as a concept album, taking the listener on a drive from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree while tuning into radio stations from towns on the way. Said frontman Josh Homme to the now-defunct Blog.JR.com: "This record was supposed to sound bizarre - like lightning in a bottle. We also were extremely f--ked up. It even sounds that way to me, like a crazy person. The radio interludes are supposed to be like the drive from LA to Joshua Tree, a drive that makes you feel like you're letting go - more David Lynch with every mile."
  • When touring Songs For The Deaf in England, a group of deaf people turned up at one show expecting a special event for the hard of hearing. Josh Homme recalled to Q magazine: "I actually went down to speak with them but everybody had already dispersed. I think they got their money back. I distinctly remember there was one person at the show holding a balloon so they could feel the vibrations. Our soundman, Hutch, used to do deaf dances where they hold balloons and stand next to the sub-woofers."

Comments: 10

  • Serhat from Turkeydefinitely about sex and "sin". "Sin" may mean being free... "I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate" is the main idea I feel from this song. this made me think a lot, and ended up with doing what I want after all. I really think less about what people think, life is short and we are just spirits disapperaing.
  • Lee from Dallas, TxIf you see the music video, you notice the constant theme of Red, and Sex. I think that translate's to loving a girl any time of the month. And "Go with the Flow", it makes sense (I think that's one of the biggest meaning's of this song).
  • Ben from Scowtown, Id"It's so safe to play along-Little soldiers in a row-Falling in and out of love-Something sweet to throw away.-I want something good to die for-To make it beautiful to live.-I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate." I interpret this as commentary on the way society has become so pitiful. No one is actually living, but just floating along in this material world that has been created by external influences rather than being an individual and living through one's self. The last part talking "lose is more than hesitate" is to me a way of saying you aren't living if you're not willing to take a risk.
  • Charl from Amsterdam, NetherlandsI think its about this girl whos leaving him alone, beacause she wasnt really serious about this relation with him. But he doesnt want a easy, free-sex relationship anymore he wants real love ahhhh
  • Hunter from South West, MiI thought exactly what martin though
  • Joost from Eindhoven, NetherlandsI think its about the affaire too. I can't make you hang around. I can't wash you off my skin. those lines discribe it the best i think
  • Jess from London, EnglandI've always thought this was about Josh Homme's affair with Brody Dalle from the Distillers. Her husband Tim Armstrong found out because he saw pictures of them together (they're just photos after all) but I don't know.
  • Martin from Hamburg, GermanyI always thought it's about a guy whos girlfriend does erotic pictures (ie porn)and he now wonders whether he should leave her.
    I have to agree with Dave though - great song!
  • Laura from Wincanton, Englanda heavy reference to sex in this song i fink!
  • Dave from London, EnglandGreat song! Definately a song you'd drive your car to.... this site needs more QOTSA songs, they are the best!
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