Harmony:
E minor scale
E F♯ G A B C D E
i ii III iv v VI vii i
C / Am / Em / Em /
VI / iv / i / i /
The chord changes repeat almost through out the whole song, the vocals are talky vocals, drum fits with the rhythm of the vocals. The drums very much fit with the guitar too. Softly in the background you can hear a piano playing which doesn’t stop until the song ends. You can also hear nice melody guitar solos in the background.
The song is about how an emotionally damage woman has damaged this man who wanted to be emotionally connected, but then she leaves him with no guilt “There just photos after all” and expects him to do the same, hence the lyrics ” I cant wash you off my skin” saying he cant just get rid of her instantly. “Little soldiers in a row
Falling in and out of love” showing the other men that will encounter this damaged woman and encounter the same fate. “I want something good to die for
To make it beautiful to live.
I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate.
Do you believe it in your head?” This is saying that he wants a true woman to be in love with and it be worth it and that he doesn’t care what it will take and isn’t hesitating to keep trying even if he fails.
She said “I’ll throw myself away,
They’re just photos after all”
I can’t make you hang around.
I can’t wash you off my skin.
Outside the frame, is what we’re leaving out
You won’t remember anyway
I can go with the flow
But don’t say it doesn’t matter, matter anymore
I can go with the flow
Do you believe it in your head?
It’s so safe to play along
Little soldiers in a row
Falling in and out of love
Something sweet to throw away
I want something good to die for
To make it beautiful to live.
I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate.
Do you believe it in your head?
I can go
With the flow (ohohoho)
(I can go) Don’t say it doesn’t matter
(With the flow)
Matter anymore
I can go
With the flow (ohohoho)
(I can go) Do you believe it in your head? (with the flow)
Do you believe it in your head? (ohohoho)
Do you believe it in your head? (ohohoho)
How…
Structure: Verse/Chorus/verse/outro
Instrumentation and Equipment:
Piano – Literally plays the E chord the entire song
drums – Recorded in a very small room dense sounding room with some parts of the kit being muted to make the drum kit clash less and have clearer sound.
Rhythm Guitar – heavy distorted guitar
Rhythm guitar – heavy distorted guitar
Lead Guitar – Les paul on the bridge position with reverb and a light tremlo effect and fuzz
bass -Just a usual thick bass tone
Tempo and time: 4/4 and tempo is 159bpm (beats per minute)
Vocals: The vocals are talky but still have elements
Personal response: The song in my perspective is that even that people have hardships in life that you can have the perspective of moving on and enjoying life and excepting it how it is and that bad things will come anyway so just go with the flow. I Personally think this song is a masterpiece because its simplicity but also the little guitar melodies in the background and the drumming style in the song too, with Josh Homme’s lyric style giving you a good flow of the song.
Research: Unlike the rest of the track Gene Trautman played the drums on this sing instead of Dave Grohl as he was supposed to be the drummer for the album until Dave offered to play. Before announcing the track or releasing it they played it at festivals like the reading festival to test the song out which is something they do commonly. For the music video the band members were airbrushed black and white and but on a red background.