First It Giveth

Album: Songs For The Deaf (2002)
Charted: 33
Play Video

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."

Comments: 1

  • Layton from Paris, TxI really like this song, I like the background vocals in the chorus. My friend gave me the CD and I really like it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.