The Sessions began in August 1997 at a place called Rancho de la Luna in Joshua Tree, California, when Homme brought together musicians from the bands Monster Magnet, Goatsnake, earthlings?, Kyuss and Soundgarden. The ranch is an old house filled to the brim with rare and unique recording equipment and instruments and is owned by Dave Catching and the late Fred Drake. Songs are written on the spot in matters of hours usually, and no place in the home is safe from the music. Legend after myth after story has grown around the Sessions, and most of them are most likely quite true. For example, the song "Creosote" from Volumes 9 & 10 was written by Dean Ween and Alain Johannes on the ranch's front porch immediately after meeting each other in four minutes. The first "session" was not actually a Desert Session per se, but Homme and his band at the time (The Acquitted Felons) playing for three days straight under the non-stop influence of mushrooms. Since then the ranch has grown legendary and the Sessions have only grown in intensity and artistic merit.
The Desert Sessions Volumes
1997 - The Desert Sessions Volume 1 and 2:
Vol. I: Instrumental Driving Music for Felons
Vol. II: Status: Ships Commander Butchered
1998 - The Desert Sessions Volume 3 and 4:
Vol. III: Set Co-Ordinates for the White Dwarf
Vol. IV: Hard Walls and Little Trips
1999 - The Desert Sessions Volume 5 and 6:
Vol. V: Poetry For The Masses (Sea Shed Shit Head By The She Sore)
Vol. VI: Poetry For The Masses (Black Anvil Ego)
2001 - The Desert Sessions Volume 7 and 8:
Vol. VII: Gypsy Marches
Vol. VIII: Can You See Under My Thumb?... There You Are
2003 - The Desert Sessions Volume 9 and 10:
Vol. IX: I See You Hearin' Me
Vol. X: I Heart Disco
Though not updated for a long time, the official website is located at http://www.desertsessions.com.
Cover Songs
The Desert Sessions have provided the Queens of the Stone Age with ample cover material, with songs being culled from all but the first two volumes.
From Volumes 3 & 4
Avon appears as Avon on Queens of the Stone Age. Avon, performed by Josh Homme, is the 'sister song' of the track Nova, which has different lyrics and is performed by Peter Stahl. Monster In The Parasol appears as Monsters In The Parasol on the critically acclaimed Rated R. Eccentric Man is a cover of The Groundhogs' 1960s Eccentric Man.
From Volumes 5 & 6
You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire appears on Songs for the Deaf as You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire with Nick Oliveri singing in place of Mario Lalli. Rickshaw is often performed by QOTSA live, and was played by QOTSA and Friends during the Natasha Shneider Benefit Show on August 16, 2008 in Los Angeles.
From Volumes 7 & 8
Hanging Tree appears as Hangin' Tree on Songs for the Deaf.
From Volumes 9 & 10
In My Head...Or Something appears on Lullabies to Paralyze as In My Head, and I Wanna Make It wit Chu finds double duty as Make It wit Chu on Era Vulgaris.
Crucifire
Desert Sessions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caught out in the light
Crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
Holy smoking in my bed
I bet she's going to my head
Crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
Explosions in my chest
Strange supplier
If you got something to confess
I'm your crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
I say burn, or put me out
I say burn, or put me out
The lyrics to Desert Sessions' "Crucifire" are intentionally abstract, but they convey a sense of being caught up in intense emotions and desire. The repeated refrain "Put me out, I say burn, or put me out" suggests a desire for release and escape, whether via indulging in the feelings or finding some way to shut them down. The image of "holy smoking in my bed" evokes the idea of being consumed by passion, while the line "If you got something to confess, I'm your crucifire" hints at a desire for intimacy and connection. Overall, the song feels like a raw, visceral expression of desire and the struggle to cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
F-f-f-feeling high and tight as a wire
Feeling stimulated while being under high pressure to perform.
Caught out in the light
Being exposed and vulnerable.
Crucifire
Intense emotional pain and distress.
Put me out
End this pain or distress.
Holy smoking in my bed
Overwhelmed by intense emotions, possibly related to a sexual experience.
As we conspire
Planning or scheming with someone (the subject), likely a partner in this torment.
I bet she's going to my head
Obsessively thinking about someone (the subject) to the point that it's affecting mental and emotional well-being.
Explosions in my chest
Strong physical sensations accompanying intense emotions.
Strange supplier
Unknown source or cause of the strong emotions.
If you got something to confess
Offering the opportunity for the subject to alleviate the intense emotions by revealing something they've been keeping secret.
I'm your crucifire
The subject is causing immense emotional pain and distress and the singer is the one suffering.
I say burn, or put me out
Emphasizing the urgent need to end the emotional torment and pain.
I say burn, or put me out
Repeating the urgent plea to end the emotional pain and distress.
I say burn, or put me out
Continuing to plead for an end to the emotional torment and pain.
Writer(s): Jake Shears, Matthew D Sweeney, Michael James Kerr, Joshua Home
Contributed by Connor P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kevinthekevin8518
Lyrics:
F-f-f-feeling high and tight,
as a wire
Caught out in the light
Crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
Holy smoking in my bed
As we conspire
I bet she's going to my head
Crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
Explosions in my chest
Strange supplier
If you got something to confess
I'm your crucifire
Put me out
I say burn, or put me out
I say burn, or put me out
I say burn, or put me out
(Not the lyrics) I’m starting a guitar lesson and cover channel and eventually will do some Desert Session content in the near future. Check me out.
Any DS song recommendations would be appreciated
Thx.
@alexsmith-rs6zq
He obviously deserves it but Mike Kerr really is living the dream. I mean he went from being inspired by QOTSA when he saw them at a festival and then later started Royal Blood to then supporting them on tour and becoming their mates and now collaborating with Homme himself on the new desert sessions album.
@juanangel2546
Wait, what?
Royal blood?!
@alexsmith-rs6zq
JuanAngel DeLaRosa Mike Kerr is the singer on this track and also the bass player and singer in the band Royal Blood.
@alexsmith-rs6zq
Edie Li I saw them live Nottingham England in 2017 and they were fantastic. Royal Blood are definitely inspired by more than just QOTSA (Muse, The Black Keys & Jack White come to mind) but yeah Mike mentioned that seeing QOTSA at Reading festival made him want to start a band.
@anthonyiacone7392
I think that every time I hear him doing anything with qotsa or homme
@alexsmith-rs6zq
Anthony Iacone There’s very few people who get to tour and work on an album with one of their favourite musicians.
@pancakemix77
I could see me getting a speeding ticket listening to this song
@user-zj8ze9ho6w
Sames
@seanwarren9357
Try it hauling a hundred thousand pounds strapped to your Ironman suit, slaloming grants pass.
Mighty fine memories are born every day.
💪😎👍
:P
@joegarcia9729
Its QOTSA millionaire all over again. Once that song starts my foot gets heavy.