While in high school, Homme got together with locals Brant Bjork, Chris Cockrell (later replaced by Nick Oliveri) and John Garcia resulting in the formation of Kyuss (firstly known as "Sons of Kyuss"). Queens of the Stone Age formed in 1997, rising from the ashes of Kyuss and began playing together during the now legendary Desert Sessions. Homme has drawn all of the members from that diverse group of musicians for Queens of the Stone Age. The band originally formed under the name Gamma Ray, but almost faced a lawsuit from the European metal band of the same name.
Queens of the Stone Age have gone through many line-up changes since first breaking into the hard rock scene. Their most recent line-up includes: Josh Homme (guitar, vocals), Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, lap steel, keyboards, backing vocals), Jon Theodore (drums, percussion), Michael Shuman (bass, backing vocals), and Dean Fertita (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals).
Former core members include Joey Castillo, Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider, Mark Lanegan, and Nick Oliveri, among other members and contributors. In 2002, regarding the band line-up, Homme said: "It really is more of a musical experiment… It keeps moving and reinventing itself. That way we never get painted into a corner."
Dave Grohl recorded drums, percussion and backing vocals on Songs for the Deaf and toured in support of the album in 2002 before returning to the Foo Fighters. Grohl also made a live appearance in 2007, to play Make It wit Chu, and recorded tracks on …Like Clockwork, following Joey Castillo's departure.
Mark Lanegan has long been an on/off vocalist for the band, toured from 2001 to 2005 and made live appearances in 2007 and 2010. He has recorded with the band on all albums except for their self-titled debut album. Lanegan has also played keyboards in live performances during the tour preceding the release of Lullabies to Paralyze, before Natasha Shneider joined the band.
Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri were seen as the only two consistent Queens of the Stone Age members. Oliveri had previously played alongside Homme in the band Kyuss and joined Queens of the Stone Age as its permanent bass guitarist and co-lead vocalist, in 1998, upon the release of its debut album, Queens of the Stone Age. Being friends since childhood, the two meshed well together. Oliveri's punk background brought an element of danger and attitude to the Queens' live shows. As the band's two core members, the duo recorded the breakthrough albums, Rated R and Songs for the Deaf, together. Oliveri's unique "howling" singing style made him easily distinguishable on songs such as Six Shooter from the album Songs for the Deaf; he also displays a more melodic singing style in Rated R songs such as Auto Pilot.
However, Homme fired Oliveri in 2004 for excessive partying and an alleged incident of domestic abuse (an accusation which Oliveri strongly denies). The duo repaired their friendship shortly afterwards. Oliveri, however, did not return to the band. In 2013, upon hearing that former contributor Dave Grohl was recording drums for the band's sixth studio album, …Like Clockwork, Oliveri asked Homme if he too could return on bass guitar. Homme ultimately did not grant Oliveri's request. He does, however, appear on backing vocals on the album track, If I Had a Tail.
Diskographie:
1997 - Kyuss / Queens of the Stone Age
1998 - Queens of the Stone Age / Beaver Split
1998 - Queens of the Stone Age
2000 - Rated R
2002 - Songs for the Deaf
2002 - Sample This School Boy
2002 - 2002-10-29: Rock City, Nottingham, UK
2002 - 2002-11-06: Stockholm, Sweden
2003 - Songs For The Deaf Tour Edition
2004 - Stone Age Complication
2005 - Lullabies to Paralyze
2005 - Lullabies To Paralize Tour Edition
2005 - MTV Unplugged (Berlin 2005-06-10)
2005 - Over the Years and Through the Woods
2006 - 2005-12-20: Los Angeles, CA, USA
2006 - Over The Years And Through The Woods
2007 - The Definitive Collection Of B-sides & Rarities
2007 - Era Vulgaris
2008 - Era Vulgaris Tour Edition
2013 - ...Like Clockwork
2017 - Villains
2023 - In Times New Roman...
Song For The Deaf
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody's coming down the hall
Nobody echoes in my head
Broken reflection, outta luck
Nobody ever needed it
I got what was
I want to take what's left
(Ready now)
Beautiful senses are gone
Canary in a gilded cage
Singin'
Sweet, soft and low
I will poison you all
Come closer, racin' to your tongue
I got what was
Want to take what's left
No talk will cure
What's lost, or save what's left
(For the deaf)
The blind can go get fucked
Lie beside the ditch
This halo 'round my neck
Has torn out every stitch
Who are you hiding? Is it safe for the deaf?
Beautiful cancer, infiltrate then forget
Yeah, I saw you coming and I heard not a thing
A mistake not to listen
When I knew where you'd been
And I got what was
I want to take what's left
No talk will cure
What's lost, or save what's left
(For the deaf)
You're listening to W.A.n.t.
The high desert wonder valley favorite radio station
S'been a good night
Dave Catching here
Not saying goodnight
Just saying
Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaa
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaa
Ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, hah hah haaah
Ha ha ha ha ha
The lyrics of Queens of the Stone Age's "Song For The Deaf" convey a sense of isolation, brokenness, and an urge to take what's left. The opening lines suggest that the singer is alone and dealing with echoes in their head, which could be interpreted as mental distress or an existential crisis. The broken reflection could be a metaphor for a shattered sense of self or the futility of trying to make sense of oneself in a society that doesn't value individuality. The mention of nobody needing her could signify a lack of connection or purpose.
The chorus introduces the image of a canary in a gilded cage singing sweetly but also planning to "poison you all." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who appears attractive and desirable but is actually toxic and dangerous. The line "come closer, racing to your turn" suggests that the singer is drawing people in closer to inflict harm.
The last verse suggests that the singer has seen someone coming, but didn't listen to the warning signs. The repetition of the line "I got what was, I want to take what's left" suggests a primal urge to survive and take what one can from life, even if it's not sustainable. The final line "for the deaf" could be interpreted in multiple ways, but perhaps it's intended as a message for those who are not listening or paying attention to the world's brokenness.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody's coming down the hall
There is no one around or coming towards me
Nobody echoes in my head
There are no thoughts or ideas echoing in my mind
Broken reflection had a look
The reflection I saw was broken and had a certain expression
Nobody ever needed her
No one ever required her presence or help
I got what was
I obtained what was rightfully mine
I want to take what's left
I desire to have what is remaining
Ready now
I am prepared and ready to take action
Beautiful senses are gone
The beautiful sensations have disappeared
Canary in a gilded cage
Someone trapped in a luxurious but confining situation
Singin'
Singing a tune
Sweet, soft, and low
Melodic, gentle, and quiet
I will poison you all
I will harm everyone with my actions or words
Come closer, racing to your turn
Approach me quickly, eager for your chance
No talk will cure
Speaking will not fix or heal
What's lost, or save what's left
Recovering what is gone or preserving what remains
For the deaf
This is for those who cannot hear
I can go get fucked
I can go away and face the consequences
Lie beside the ditch
Lie down near the roadside gutter
So low round my neck
Feeling miserable and depressed
Strung out every stitch
Physically and mentally exhausted
Who are you hiding
Who are you not revealing or concealing
Is it safe for the deaf
Is it secure for those who cannot hear
Beautiful cancer
A disease that causes destruction but has an attractive quality
Infiltrate and forget
Enter and erase from memory
And I saw you coming
I noticed you approaching
And I heard not a thing
But I did not hear anything
A mistake not to listen
A blunder to not pay attention
When I knew where you'd been
Although I knew where you had previously been
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Josh Homme, Mark William Lanegan, Nick Oliveri
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind