Go with the Flow
"Go with the Flow" is a song by the American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released as the second single from their third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, on April 7, 2003.[1] The track was written by band leader Josh Homme, bassist Nick Oliveri, and collaborator Mark Lanegan, with Homme providing lead vocals and guitar, Oliveri on bass and backing vocals, and Dave Grohl on drums.[2] Lanegan contributed additional songwriting and backing vocals to the recording.[2] The song features a propulsive, riff-driven structure typical of the band's stoner rock style, blending heavy guitar work with an anthemic chorus that explores themes of fleeting relationships and emotional detachment.[3] Produced by Eric Valentine and the band at studios in California, it exemplifies the collaborative spirit of Songs for the Deaf, which included guest appearances from artists like Grohl and Lanegan. Upon release, "Go with the Flow" garnered significant radio airplay and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, spending 10 weeks in the top 20.[4] In the United Kingdom, it reached number 21 on the Official Singles Chart, contributing to the album's commercial breakthrough.[5] The single's success helped propel Songs for the Deaf to platinum status in multiple countries and earned the song a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004.[6] Its music video, directed by the British animation collective Shynola, depicts a surreal, dreamlike journey through a volcanic landscape with the band members encountering bizarre creatures and transformations, blending live-action and CGI elements for a visually striking narrative.[7] The video was nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video in 2003 and remains one of Queens of the Stone Age's most iconic promotions.[8] As a cornerstone of the band's early 2000s rise, "Go with the Flow" solidified Queens of the Stone Age's reputation for crafting accessible yet intense rock anthems, influencing subsequent albums and live performances where it continues to be a fan favorite and setlist staple.[3]Background and recording
Development and writing
"Go with the Flow" was written primarily by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and bassist Nick Oliveri during the pre-production phase for the band's third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, spanning late 2001 into early 2002.[9] An early version of the song was already performed live by the band at the Reading Festival in August 2001, allowing them to refine its structure through performances before entering the studio.[9] Homme and Oliveri handled the core songwriting, with Homme later recalling that the track arrived fully formed in his mind, encompassing the complete lyrics, melody, and even drum parts in a single burst of inspiration.[10] The song emerged from the band's collaborative sessions in Joshua Tree, California, which informed the album's conceptual framework of a fictional road trip through the desert, complete with simulated radio station interludes mimicking broadcasts from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree.[9] This broader creative environment, drawing from Homme's Desert Sessions gatherings in the area, emphasized experimental and communal jamming that shaped multiple tracks on Songs for the Deaf, including "Go with the Flow" as one of its key singles.[11] The pre-production timeline aligned with the overall album development, which began in earnest after the 2000 release of Rated R and incorporated evolving band dynamics.[12] Homme intended the song to evoke themes of transition and release, drawing from personal experiences in relationships marked by uncertainty and non-commitment, where one partner urges the other to simply follow the moment without resistance.[9] He specifically aimed to capture the exhilarating yet tentative emotion of early romantic pursuit, likening it to the "butterflies" felt on a first date, which infused the track with a sense of emotional surrender amid the band's internal shifts in lineup and creative direction during this period.[10] This personal influence aligned with the album's surreal, Lynchian atmosphere of letting go, as Homme described the project as a "bizarre" capture of fleeting energy.[9]Recording and production
The recording sessions for "Go with the Flow" occurred as part of the broader production for Queens of the Stone Age's album Songs for the Deaf, spanning from October 2001 to June 2002 across multiple studios. Basic tracks were initially developed at Rancho de la Luna in Joshua Tree, California, before the band relocated for overdubs and final takes. The song itself was re-recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, to refine its sound, with additional work at The Site Studios in San Rafael, California.[13][14][15] The track was produced primarily by Josh Homme and Eric Valentine, who handled about 80% of the album's production, with additional contributions from Adam Kasper to complete certain elements. Unlike many tracks on Songs for the Deaf that featured guest drummer Dave Grohl, "Go with the Flow" utilized the band's core lineup: Homme on guitar and vocals, Nick Oliveri on bass, and Gene Trautmann on drums. This choice preserved the band's established dynamic, capturing Trautmann's live-tested performance—the song had been played at festivals like Reading prior to studio work.[13][15][9] Production emphasized raw, energetic performances to align with the album's stoner rock intensity and its conceptual framework as a simulated desert radio broadcast. The band focused on live-feel takes during sessions, minimizing overdubs to retain immediacy, while post-production mixing at Conway highlighted the driving guitar riffs and tight rhythm section. This approach contributed to the song's concise 3:07 runtime, optimized for radio play within the album's thematic structure.[15][13]Composition
Music and structure
"Go with the Flow" exemplifies the hard rock and stoner rock style characteristic of Queens of the Stone Age's sound on Songs for the Deaf, employing a straightforward verse-chorus form that drives its energetic momentum.[16] The song is composed in the key of E minor, with a driving tempo of 159 beats per minute that contributes to its propulsive feel.[17][18] The instrumentation centers on Josh Homme's prominent guitar riff, which opens the track and anchors the verses, supported by Nick Oliveri's aggressive bass lines, Gene Trautmann's dynamic drumming—marking this as the only single from the album without Dave Grohl on drums—and Brendan McNichol's lap steel guitar.[9] Layered guitar arrangements, tracked live alongside bass and drums, create a thick, riff-driven texture that blends raw aggression with melodic hooks.[14] Homme's clean, soaring vocals further enhance the accessibility, contrasting the instrumental intensity while maintaining the band's desert rock influences.[14] Structurally, the song unfolds over 3:07, beginning with an introductory guitar riff that establishes the main motif, followed by two verses and corresponding choruses that build tension through repeating chord progressions.[18] A bridge introduces slight variation before escalating into a final chorus that transitions seamlessly into an extended guitar solo outro, emphasizing the track's hook-laden design for broad appeal.[17] This concise arrangement prioritizes rhythmic drive and riff repetition, hallmarks of the album's production approach.[14]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of "Go with the Flow" depict a dissolving relationship in which the narrator reluctantly consents to "go with the flow," symbolizing passive acceptance of the partner's desire to end the commitment, amid pleas such as "Don't say it doesn't matter anymore."[9] This narrative unfolds through the perspective of the narrator, who grapples with the inevitability of separation, expressing an inability to retain the partner emotionally or physically, as in the lines "I can't make you hang around / I can't wash you off my skin."[19] Central themes revolve around letting go, emotional detachment, and the pain of unreciprocated commitment, reflecting the collaborative songwriting of Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri, and Mark Lanegan's exploration of transient connections in romantic entanglements.[9] The song portrays a partner who discards relationships when they deepen, leaving the narrator yearning for substance amid superficiality, as evidenced by the repeated invocation to "go with the flow" as a resigned strategy to navigate the breakup.[19] Homme draws from personal observations of impermanent bonds, emphasizing the reluctance to fully disengage despite the relationship's erosion.[9] Key lines like "I want something good to die for, to make it beautiful to live" underscore a desire for meaningful closure and purpose, contrasting the emptiness of casual detachment with the beauty found in profound, even sacrificial, experiences.[20] This sentiment highlights the narrator's internal conflict, seeking validation that the connection held value before its dissolution.[9] The poetic style eschews literal storytelling in favor of evocative metaphors, such as photos representing discarded memories and skin evoking lingering intimacy, to convey the impermanence of emotional ties.[19] These images reinforce the theme of transience without explicit resolution, allowing the lyrics to resonate through ambiguity and emotional rawness. The song's energetic musical drive provides a stark contrast to these somber lyrical undertones, amplifying the tension between outward momentum and inner resignation.[9]Release and commercial performance
Single release and promotion
"Go with the Flow" was released on April 7, 2003, by Interscope Records as the second single from Queens of the Stone Age's third studio album, Songs for the Deaf, which had been issued the previous year.[1][21] The single followed the band's breakthrough track "No One Knows," building on its momentum to establish the album's broader commercial appeal.[22] The promotion emphasized radio airplay and ties to the parent album's rising profile, positioning the track as a potential crossover success through integration with visual media.[22] Formats included enhanced CD singles, 12-inch vinyl at 45 RPM, and digital downloads, with a particular emphasis on European markets through region-specific pressings.[1] Initial buzz was amplified by the album's nomination for Best Hard Rock Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards and the band's high-profile performances, including multiple sets on the 2003 Lollapalooza tour.[23][24]Track listings
The single "Go with the Flow" by Queens of the Stone Age was issued in multiple physical formats across regions, primarily featuring the album version as the lead track alongside remixes and live recordings as B-sides.[1] These B-sides often included live performances to highlight the band's energetic stage presence.[1]UK CD single (Interscope Records 497 870-2, enhanced)[16]
| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go With The Flow | 3:07 |
| 2 | No One Knows (Unkle Reconstruction Radio Edit) | 4:42 |
| 3 | Hanging Tree (Live) | 3:26 |
UK 12" vinyl single (Interscope Records 497 870-0, clear vinyl, 45 RPM)[25]
| Side | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| A | Go With The Flow | 3:07 |
| B | No One Knows (Unkle Reconstruction Vocal Edit) | 7:02 |
Australian CD maxi-single (Interscope Records 497 873-2, enhanced)[26]
| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go With The Flow | 3:07 |
| 2 | No One Knows (Unkle Reconstruction Radio Edit) | 4:42 |
| 3 | Hanging Tree (Live) | 3:26 |
European CD single (Interscope Records 497 867-2, enhanced)[2]
| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go With The Flow (Album Version) | 3:08 |
| 2 | No One Knows (Unkle Reconstruction Radio Edit) | 4:39 |
| 3 | Hangin' Tree (Live from the Melkweg, Amsterdam) | 3:31 |
Charts
"Go with the Flow" achieved its strongest chart performance in rock-oriented formats, reflecting Queens of the Stone Age's niche appeal within the alternative and hard rock genres. In the United States, the single peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it spent a total of 26 weeks, demonstrating sustained radio play throughout 2003. It also reached number 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, indicating modest crossover potential but limited mainstream pop success.[27][5] Internationally, the song charted primarily in 2003 across several territories, with notable entries in English-speaking markets. The following table summarizes its peak positions on select national charts:| Chart | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 21 | 6 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC) | 22 | N/A |
| UK Rock & Metal Singles (OCC) | 3 | 18 |
| Australia Singles (ARIA) | 39 | 1 |
| Ireland Singles (IRMA) | 43 | 1 |
| Netherlands Singles (MegaCharts) | 50 | N/A |