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.
In My Head...Or Something
Desert Sessions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so high I run in place
Only a line we separate
So
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
You're the only thing I've got
I can't seem to get enough
We collide for one embrace
So...
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
(instrumental bridge)
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I keep on playing our favorite song
I turn it up while you're gone
It's all I've got when you're in my head
When you're in my head, so I need it
I need it
I need it
I need it now
The lyrics of "In My Head...Or Something" by Desert Sessions describe a person who is high and waiting for someone. The person feels separated from them by only a line, and it's a cruel joke to wait. They repeatedly play their favorite song while their loved one is gone, and it's all they have when they are in their head. The person feels that their loved one is the only thing they have, and they can't seem to get enough. The two collide for one embrace, and the person needs them desperately.
The lyrics suggest that the person is using music to cope with the absence of their loved one. They keep playing their favorite song while they wait because it's the only thing that brings them comfort. They are so high that they run in place, which could be a metaphor for their mind racing with thoughts and anxieties. The repetition of the line "I need it" suggests that the person is craving the presence of their loved one and the comfort that they bring.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and desperation. The person is using music as a way to soothe their pain, but they ultimately need their loved one to be with them to feel truly fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the cruelest joke to wait
Waiting is cruel and feels like a joke.
I'm so high I run in place
I feel high or disconnected and not making progress.
Only a line we separate
We are separated by a thin line or barrier.
So
Therefore or as a result of the previous line.
I keep on playing our favorite song
I repeatedly play our favorite song as a way to cope.
I turn it up while you're gone
I play the song louder when you are not around.
It's all I've got when you're in my head
The song is all I have when I am thinking of you.
When you're in my head, so I need it
I need the song when I am thinking of you.
You're the only thing I've got
You are the only thing I have left in my life.
I can't seem to get enough
I desire more of you in my life.
We collide for one embrace
We come together for a hug or physical connection.
I need it
I need the song to cope with my feelings.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN JOHANNES, JOSH HOMME, JOSH FREESE, TROY VAN LEEUEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Uthaman Roschke
The slightly slower beat makes this much more of a groove
Dude
this version has better production/instrumentation but the final song is obviously more developed and has better progressions. Still, this is very refreshing
Giorgi Ostatishvili
Trust me the Album version is way better..
Acolyte Alfbrand
For me they both are excelent, just each one has a different mood. :)
я но не я
I've found this version of this song literally listening to a podcast called "Queens of the Stone Age Sucks", and I want to say that they don't.
Enrique X MirrorJoe
It's a "cool" podcast to see some good and bad facts about any band you like or dislike but some bad facts are overreacting, so kinda listen carefully.
Nigel Byrum
good stuff
Jay T. Crosby
i love this song if i could i would give you 100 likes (:
Maryjane Lafford
why does this song sound familiar
Augusto Pecile
Need For Speed!