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.
Girl Like Me
Desert Sessions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the hour when the animals are born
And crimes of passion are committed
Take me to the morning light
Take me to your leader
It took a girl like me
To bring you to your knees
You are my heart
You are my only heart
But this cold air is killing me
And as we make love
The silence, the silence
Trying to find the thread
Of failed romance
It took a girl like me
To bring you to your knees
You take a girl like me
I swing my face towards the sky
You put your hand over my mouth
Oh, take me, take me
To the frozen north
Skating, falling
Falling down, down, down
Into icy water
I'll be what you want me to be
To bring you to your knees
Your lover, your daughter
We'll move in slow motion
Falling down, down, down
Into icy water
You took a girl like me
I might never leave this room again
Shut myself inside the old photographs
The faded light of the young girl
Patterns, shadows on the walls
Painted ladies
They look a lot like me
It took a girl like me
To bring you to your knees
You took a girl like me
The lyrics to Desert Sessions' A Girl Like Me are full of imagery and emotion, weaving a tale of passion that becomes destructive. The song begins with the singer describing herself as "hot skin in the night," a sensuous image that sets the tone for what is to come. The next line "in the hour when the animals are born" suggests that this is a time of wildness and abandon, a time when our primal impulses take over. The reference to "crimes of passion" further emphasizes the danger and intensity of what is happening.
The singer then pleads for someone to "take me to the morning light" and "take me to your leader." These lines suggest a desire for both physical and emotional guidance, for someone to lead her out of the darkness both literally and metaphorically. The next verse seems to imply that there is some friction in the relationship, with the singer describing the "failed romance" and "silence" that tries to keep them apart. But despite this, she still wants to be what he wants her to be, even if it means falling into dangerous and icy waters.
The chorus repeats the line "it took a girl like me to bring you to your knees," which suggests that the singer is a powerful force that has the ability to break this man down. The final verse is haunting, as the singer contemplates her fate, wondering if she will be trapped forever in this cycle of destructive love.
Overall, A Girl Like Me is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the intense emotions that love can bring out in us.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot skin in the night
The heat of passion, intimacy and desire are in the air during the night.
In the hour when the animals are born
The time of night is compared to the moment of when animals are procreating or birthing new life.
And crimes of passion are committed
The intensity of the moment can often lead to rash decisions, some of which may be regretted later on.
Take me to the morning light
The artist yearns for the dawn of a new day, where they can start afresh.
Take me to your leader
A playful line referencing science fiction movies and the artist requesting to be taken to the person in charge, likely their lover.
It took a girl like me
The singer is self-assured that their unique qualities are what captured their lover's heart.
To bring you to your knees
The singer had a profound effect on their lover's emotions causing them to be vulnerable in their presence.
You took a girl like me
The artist acknowledges that their lover chose them specifically, recognizing their worth.
You are my heart
The artist establishes the significance of their lover in their life, as the core of their being.
You are my only heart
The artist further emphasizes the importance of their lover as the sole source of their emotional fulfillment.
But this cold air is killing me
The emotional distance between the couple is causing distress to the singer, creating a sense of dying inside.
And as we make love
The intimacy between the couple is meant to alleviate the aforementioned emotional distance.
The silence, the silence
The lack of communication between the couple during this intimate moment is deafening.
Trying to find the thread
The couple is attempting to rekindle the passion and connection that they once had.
Of failed romance
The hope of finding that connection appears bleak as previous attempts have not been successful.
I swing my face towards the sky
The artist is metaphorically reaching for something greater, a higher power or a higher understanding.
You put your hand over my mouth
The lover is attempting to stifle the artist from expressing themselves freely.
Oh, take me, take me
The singer pleads to be taken away from their current situation.
To the frozen north
The singer desires to be taken to a distant and remote place, where they can start anew.
Skating, falling
The cold environment is treacherous but playful, as the couple navigates through it together.
Falling down, down, down
The couple is falling deeper into their emotional state and towards rock bottom.
Into icy water
Symbolic of the emptiness and harsh reality of their lives, which they must face head-on.
I'll be what you want me to be
The singer is willing to change themselves for their lover's sake, in order to preserve their relationship.
To bring you to your knees
The artist recognizes that their subservience is what makes their lover feel desired and loved.
Your lover, your daughter
The singer is willing to transgress societal boundaries, in order to sustain their relationship with their lover.
We'll move in slow motion
The singer is cherishing the time they have with their lover, and they want it to last as long as possible.
Falling down, down, down
The couple is still in a state of freefall, despite attempts at mitigation.
Into icy water
Symbolic of the harsh reality the couple must face, regardless of the effort made to keep their relationship afloat.
You took a girl like me
The artist once again acknowledges their lover's choice in choosing them as their partner.
I might never leave this room again
The singer is feeling trapped and isolated, and may remain in regret of their past mistakes.
Shut myself inside the old photographs
The singer finds solace in the past, choosing to live in nostalgia rather than deal with the present.
The faded light of the young girl
The artist reflects on their youthful days, with the implication that they were much brighter and happier than the present.
Patterns, shadows on the walls
The artist has lost their sense of self and identity, and sees only shapeless remnants of what was once them.
Painted ladies
Metaphorically, the artist compares themselves to an antique or a relic, a reminder of past glories.
They look a lot like me
The singer sees themselves mirrored in these relics, and uses it as a coping mechanism for their present life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl Sturken, Emma Bunton, Evan Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roberthansen2008
I'm so obsessed with the way this guitar is played this tone is so mesmerizing. PJ Harvey just keeps me coming back for more and more and more!
@levicarvalho4389
this is one of my all-time favorite songs, I've been listening to it for more than 14 years
@jaquecax3887
Todo lo que venga de las Desert Sessions es una obra de arte.
@levicarvalho4389
+Guadalupe Lucero They probably have the perfect setting for any perfect album
@sergeoperu
Verdad
@jamiec5111
I am obsessed with the guitar tone on this song! sounds like lots of reverb and delay played through a nice warm analog amp. awesome song as a whole as well. anyone have any idea what rig josh is using for this song?
@muaar
check out SIB! echodrive and an ampeg vt-22 or vt-40. not sure what phaser it is. also maybe a dunlop q-zone? not sure
@levicarvalho4389
josh is the drummer in this one
@happyjessus
She has a talent or simply a capacity to look different in every single picture!
@TOPHERHARPER
Pj makes my birds wake up and sing. thats awesome! nice viddy!