The song Crosses, from Crosses EP and the later Veneer, appeared on the finale of the second season of the popular American television comedy-drama The O.C.. His cover of Heartbeats (also from Veneer) was used in a popular Sony BRAVIA TV commercial featuring coloured bouncing balls in San Francisco and an episode of Zach Braff's Scrubs
His song Far Away was also prominently featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption.
His trademark sound is solo acoustic guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of great hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Born in the U.S.A., and Teardrop.
González also appears in the Zero 7 album The Garden, in which he sings on three tracks and on a re-worked version of Crosses.
What Will
José González Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lazy acceptance of the norm
What will it be? if our will is free
Silent acceptance of the form
Vestiges and claws
Fight for a common cause
Faith in dogma or reasoning
What will it be? if our will is free
Refine our tools and use our wings
Vestiges and claws
Fight for a common cause
Refining without pause
Fight for a common cause
What will
What will will it be?
Petty thievery tribal rivalry
Envy or generosity
Wishful thinking or reality?
What will
What will will it be?
Vestiges and claws
Fight for a common cause
Free your mind
To leave dogma behind
Vestiges and claws
Fight for a common cause
Free your mind
To leave dogma behind
Vestiges and claws
Vestiges and claws
Free your mind
To leave dogma behind
In José González's song "What Will," the lyrics are a philosophical reflection on the choices and paths that individuals and societies take. The song poses several questions about the legacy we will leave behind, the will that we have, the acceptance of norms and forms, and the dogma or reasoning that guides us. The lyrics suggest that there is a need for individuals and societies to refine their tools and use their wings, urging them to fight for a common cause.
The song's title and refrain - "What will it be?" - highlights the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with choices and actions. It invites listeners to reflect on the legacy they want to leave behind, whether it is one marked by lazy acceptance of norms, dogma, and tribal rivalries or one guided by free will and reasoning. The lyrics suggest that society must shake itself free from dogma and leave behind petty thievery, envy, and wishful thinking in favor of generosity and reality.
Line by Line Meaning
What will it be? her legacy
Questioning what kind of impact she will leave in the world
Lazy acceptance of the norm
People blindly accepting and following societal norms without critically thinking about it
What will it be? if our will is free
Wondering what could be achieved if people were free to make their own choices
Silent acceptance of the form
People staying quiet and not questioning the way things are
Vestiges and claws
Remnants of the past and fighting spirits
Fight for a common cause
Working together towards a shared goal
What will it be? our legacy
Questioning what kind of impact we will leave in the world
Faith in dogma or reasoning
Choosing to believe in traditions or using critical thinking to make decisions
Refine our tools and use our wings
Improving our abilities and using them to their full potential
Petty thievery tribal rivalry
Small-scale theft and conflicts between groups
Envy or generosity
Feeling jealous or being kind to others
Wishful thinking or reality?
Questioning whether hopes and dreams will come true or not
Free your mind to leave dogma behind
Letting go of rigid beliefs and opening yourself up to new perspectives
Vestiges and claws
Remnants of the past and fighting spirits
Refining without pause
Continuously improving without stopping
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSE GONZALEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@82uros
Just came back from the Belgrade concert...absolutely amazing! Such fresh sound, understanding with the audience...thank you for allowing us all to be a part of this fantastic evening 👏👏
@DanLn1
Jose is the greatest ever ♥️
@pilarjaenes
Qué bonito tema y relajante video, parece que las hojas estén respirando con pulmones.. saludos desde España
@guevaramartin093
Siempre un placer 💚
@IonathanGepner
Gracias Josesito... Amo este tema. Te mando un profundo abrazo.
Segui componiendo asi, que me llena el alma.
@tarrahgraves9692
Beautiful :) Your new album is amazing. I saw you in Atlanta, Georgia back in 2007. I hope that you make another trip back to Georgia for this album!
@meteaboca5388
Há muito não ouvia algo tão sublime, parece CSN (Crosby, Stills and Nash).👏👏👏👏👏
@jrose1229
Love this. And so relevant at this dark time in our country.
@Wwcnwo3n498cn
Still relevant here in Greenland
@michaelgarfinkel9784
Absolutely beautiful..