Songfacts®:

• "The lyrical inspiration for that was drugs," Queens Of The Stone Age bass player Nick Oliveri told Songfacts. "'First it giveth, then it taketh away.' First it's great, then you're stuck."
• Many Queens Of The Stone Age songs deal with drugs, but not in a straightforward way. Lead singer Josh Homme considers them one of many tools in his creative toolbox, and also believes it's up to the user to manage them accordingly (he has said he's favor of legalizing drugs). It's similar to how The Beatles handled it - drugs influenced some of their songs, but were just a small part of their story. This song deals with the influence of drugs on making music; how they can spur ideas but then negate all that inspiration later.
• That's Dave Grohl on drums, showing some sick stickwork during the chorus. The Foo Fighter joined the band to record the Songs For The Deaf album and subsequently toured with them.
• Josh Homme is the mainstay in Queens Of The Stone Age, which has shuffled musicians since they formed in 1996. Bass player Nick Oliveri, who played in the band Kyuss with Homme, joined for their second album, Rated R (2000) and stayed through Songs For The Deaf. During this time, he and Homme wrote most of the songs together, including "First It Giveth," which appears on Songs For The Deaf.
• The music video depicts footage of the band playing in Glastonbury, England and on their US Tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2002. It became somewhat famous because in it bassist Nick Olivieri is seen completely naked while playing and smashing his guitar on stage. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Martin - Rostock, Germany
• There is DJ banter between songs on the album, which has the concept of a radio station that plays "songs for the deaf." "First It Giveth" follows "No One Knows" and comes with an introduction by a Spanish announcer voiced by Alain Johannes, who played flamenco guitar on the track. Translated to English, he's hyping the song as "an impressive, fearsome music."