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The Slow Show — God Only Knows
Album: Brother
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2393









Released: 2012
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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God only knows what,
What I will do with you
God only knows what,
What I will do with you

These crooked legs won't walk on the sand
And the words they don't make any sound
It all looks different these days
But it's still the same, it's still the same

So miss me, let me go
Said the mouth with the buck spells
No time to waste on sorrow
So miss me, let me go

These crooked legs won't walk on the sand
And the words they don't make any sound
It all looks different these days
But it's still the same, it's still the same

Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home
Comments (114)add comment
Why did this remind me of Elmer Fudd on vocals?
Posted 1 year ago by fritzler.mark617    [ Reply ]
Beautiful horns!
Posted 2 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
 TerryS wrote:

He's from the Crash Test Dummies School of Vocal Presentation.



That was my immediate thought.  
Posted 2 years ago by nottheusualkind    [ Reply ]
It so reminds me of Lambchop!
Great music!
Posted 2 years ago by mcvh    [ Reply ]
 Waaiers wrote:

Trivia: how many songs have been written with the phrase "God only knows" in it?



God only knows......
Posted 2 years ago by ruthless    [ Reply ]
Trivia: how many songs have been written with the phrase "God only knows" in it?
Posted 2 years ago by Waaiers    [ Reply ]
Beautiful.
Posted 3 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
 DChas wrote:
reminiscent of Tom Rush . . . nice rich baritone
 
Even more reminiscent of Bill Morrissey (since we're talking New England folk musicians).  
Posted 3 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Still trying to figure out why I love this song so much.  Great melody and riff, yes.  But that's true of a lot of songs.  Maybe orchestration? Willingness to play slow and beautiful?  Harmonies in the instruments?  Maybe just warm, simple lullabies...?
Posted 3 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
 rushed wrote:

One exception: Imogen Heap's "Hide & Seek" - a very creative use of autotune* by an artistwith a real voice.
 

*not autotune

sorry, that's a minor peeve of mine
Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 kazoo wrote:

I think the line "Said the mouth with the buck spells" should be "Said the man with the book of spells"
 
It is that line; the RP lyrics are incorrect

God only knows,
What, what I will do, with you!
God only knows,
What, what I will do, with you!
These crooked legs won't walk on the sand,
And words, they don't make any sound,
It all looks different these days,
But it's still the same,
It's still the same.
"So miss me,
Let me go."
Said the man with the book of spells.
"No time we'll waste on sorrow,
So miss me,
Let me go."
These crooked legs won't walk on the sand,
And words, they don't make any sound,
It all looks different these days,
But it's still the same,
It's still the same.
Everybody's home,
Now.
Everybody's home,
Now.
Everybody's home,
Now.
Everybody's home.
Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Christopher Hough / Robert Goodwin / James Longden / Joel Byrne-mccullough / Frederick Kindt God Only Knows lyrics © Sea Of Tunes Publishing Co., Rough Trade Publishing Ltd., Rough Trade Publishing Ltd

http://www.theslowshow.co.uk/b...
Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]

I think the line "Said the mouth with the buck spells" should be "Said the man with the book of spells"
Posted 4 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
Great song to play over the apolitically embarassing on-going US President impeachment hearings. 
Posted 4 years ago by moocray    [ Reply ]
Love the brass.
Posted 5 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
reminiscent of Tom Rush . . . nice rich baritone
Posted 5 years ago by DChas    [ Reply ]
Sweet, sweet sound.  The Slow Show is a great name for this band.  It would make me fall asleep, except it sounds so good I would keep listening.
Posted 5 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
Reminds me a bit Final Cut
Posted 5 years ago by capooti    [ Reply ]
Been a while.  Still as moving.  I suppose that will never change.
Posted 5 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
I'm sorry but certain song titles should not be re-used, like Layla, Imagine, and God Only Knows.
 
To be fair, "God only knows" is a a phrase which has been used for hundreds of years, but seeing it as the song title can make one expect a cover version.
Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Bill Morrissey auditioning for lead vocals on the Crash Test Dummies.  Homage to the early 90s.
Posted 6 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Kind of mournful. Fits this slow, lazy afternoon...
Posted 6 years ago by Yeoleman    [ Reply ]
 DaveInVA wrote:
Sounds like Herle Maggard meets Badly Drawn Boy...

 
Ha! and Yes!
Posted 6 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
7 -> 8
Posted 6 years ago by SeriousLee    [ Reply ]
The horns arrangement has something The Wall-ish, not so bad.
Posted 6 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
From me only 5 - Decent  which from me means just OK
Posted 6 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
Hearing Bahamas in this.
Posted 6 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
  oh!  I like this {#Yes}  ....  smooth !
Posted 6 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
Kind of sounds like Bill Morrisey. RIP Bill.
Posted 6 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
A nice little song.  You live long enough I daresay it'll be a perspective you'll come 'round to?  Then again...age don't have nuthin' to do with it?  {#Cheers}

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 7 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the last months with my beloved little dog, Miss Pallas Athena.  She's waiting for me somewhere, like she did for 14 years, so she can say, "Everybody's home now."
Posted 7 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
very nice!
Posted 7 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Where do I know that guitar riff from?
Posted 7 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

One question per post please.

 

Posted 7 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:

Bingo.  Surprised more commenters aren't drawing that parallel here.  Is he really that little-known outside of New England?  

BillG has 4 Bill Morrissey tunes in the database, but none played since 2008.  

 
How about Randy Newman...
Posted 8 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]
 LuvWilloughby wrote:

I was thinking Bill Morrissey.

 
Bingo.  Surprised more commenters aren't drawing that parallel here.  Is he really that little-known outside of New England?  

BillG has 4 Bill Morrissey tunes in the database, but none played since 2008.  
Posted 8 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Neil Diamond meets Tom Wait.
Posted 8 years ago by SeriousLee    [ Reply ]
 bryangorman wrote:
Sounds like Bill Callahan.

 
I was thinking Bill Morrissey.
Posted 8 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
I've some reason to believe in domino effect.Manifest with ''Everybody's home, now.'' Which is a real estate.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Can't beat a bit of brass!
Posted 8 years ago by p4rkrb01    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Bill Callahan.
Posted 8 years ago by bryangorman    [ Reply ]
 TerryS wrote:
He's from the Crash Test Dummies School of Vocal Presentation.

 
(wincing in horror and pain...)

I think this guy's better.  
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Interesting range of comments.
Every time I hear this, I find more to like.
For me today, it was the solid high point in the past hour of very enjoyable RP.
 
Posted 9 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 Jim_Messenger wrote:
Amazing. I live 90 miles from Manchester and this band is virtually invisible on the UK airwaves.  Thanks yet again Bill / Rebecca for being first to another band to my attention.   We eventually 'got' Gotye over here too.   And if I hear another so called Brit music lover ask me who Porcupine Tree are I'll spit.

 
Yeah, me too.  Never heard of Porcupine Tree till I kept saying to myself, who is that amazing band Bill keeps playing?  Now I've got all their albums (I live in London!)
Posted 9 years ago by bodhi    [ Reply ]
 CaffeineSam wrote:
It is slow indeed. Does it show though ? What does God even know ? What is God, and when did men invent its concept ? Why is there something ?

 
One question per post please.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
It is slow indeed. Does it show though ? What does God even know ? What is God, and when did men invent its concept ? Why is there something ?
Posted 9 years ago by CaffeineSam    [ Reply ]
Something heartbreaking here.....
Posted 9 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
Nice song , iffy vocals.
Posted 10 years ago by mtbiker493    [ Reply ]
He's from the Crash Test Dummies School of Vocal Presentation.
Posted 10 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 Emwolb wrote:
God only knows why I originally gave this a "7"...moved to an iffy "6"
 
After hearing it today, and God only knows why, I interpreted the lyrics as -- perhaps -- a soldier returning from war, and imagining what to do about a loyal wife.  (Must be because I watched Clint Eastwood's Flags of our Fathers again last night.)
 
Today this is a 9. 
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 amyvoscas wrote:
crash test dummies? is that you?

 
I heard that baritone too !
Posted 10 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
God only knows why I originally gave this a "7"...moved to an iffy "6"
Posted 10 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
Always think it's Lambchop!
Posted 10 years ago by redddy    [ Reply ]
Bahamas? Sounds much like "Lost in the Light."  Is this the same guy? I see joempie in Switzerland wonders the same thing below.
Posted 10 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Nice lyrics and melody.  Needs a vocalist.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
crash test dummies? is that you?
Posted 10 years ago by amyvoscas    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:
They sound like The National on morphine...

 
Better you stay with the wine, Matt.
Posted 10 years ago by palatin8    [ Reply ]
They sound like The National on morphine...
Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 Biscobret wrote:
Graduate from the Eddie Vedder school of crooning.

PSD...

 
If only, I'd probably love it then.
Posted 10 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Definitely a bit of Lloyd Cole influence...
Posted 10 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 salsaboy21 wrote:
although I am a very casual listener it never ceases to amaze me how you get to play easy listening / light rock music tracks that I can never hear anywhere else. Excellent work just don't stop why you could even drop in some classical music to remind music fans where their roots are and we would still love what you do. salsa boy 
 
Keep listening salsaboy21... Bill plays classical as well.  In the past week I've personally heard one of Chopin's Nocturnes and some Beethoven as well as some nice jazz numbers.
Posted 10 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
although I am a very casual listener it never ceases to amaze me how you get to play easy listening / light rock music tracks that I can never hear anywhere else. Excellent work just don't stop why you could even drop in some classical music to remind music fans where their roots are and we would still love what you do. salsa boy 
Posted 10 years ago by salsaboy21    [ Reply ]
God only knows why I like this song, but I do.   As markthecarp said below: " ... it's too close to being one of those "there but for the grace of God go I" things."
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
missed this song so much!!
Posted 10 years ago by Catecaneverall    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
I'm sorry but certain song titles should not be re-used, like Layla, Imagine, and God Only Knows.

 
I imagine Layla only knows for sure. "God only knows" was a widely-used phrase for hundreds of years before Brian Wilson was born.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Touching musical amasement .
Posted 10 years ago by Coldcreek    [ Reply ]
I love this song. 

But the lyrics are

So miss me, let me go, said the man with a book of spells.

In a youtube video you have a look on the singers sheet .



Posted 10 years ago by Osterbek    [ Reply ]
Graduate from the Eddie Vedder school of crooning.

PSD...
Posted 10 years ago by Biscobret    [ Reply ]
Sorry I know that these kind of things unfortunately need to be addressed in life and broader attention needs to be paid to them but this is too depressing and I never want to hear it again.  I perhaps it's too close to being one of those "there but for the grace of God go I" things.
Posted 11 years ago by markthecarp    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:
Try Bill Morrissey crossed with the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies.  
 
My thought exactly! (That would be Brad Roberts.)
Posted 11 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
this is lovely.  haven't heard this group before.  a little eddie vedderish.
Posted 11 years ago by yolafromcosta    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
I'm sorry but certain song titles should not be re-used, like Layla, Imagine, and God Only Knows.

 
Yes, you could write a song titled, "Stairway to Heaven," but would you really want to?
Posted 11 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
I'm sorry but certain song titles should not be re-used, like Layla, Imagine, and God Only Knows.

 
Hear hear!
Posted 11 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
I'm sorry but certain song titles should not be re-used, like Layla, Imagine, and God Only Knows.
Posted 11 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Sad song, and lyrics that I'm afraid to interpret.  Like it, though.  The guitar tone is perfect for the attitude.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Nice, but I like Chris Rea better.
Posted 11 years ago by simme2    [ Reply ]
 djengs wrote:

There with ya, Laz. A wise rabbit once told me, "If you can't give it a 10 then don't give it nuthin' at all" or something like that. Done a few either way but lean toward only rating something I like a lot, but staying away from it in general. If I like it, why put a number on it?
 

I hear ya...  I am still ambivalent...  he sings with a gravelly grunt, but I kind of like this song...
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Bahamas. Is that coincidental or is it the same guy singing? Can't find that on allmusic.com...
Posted 11 years ago by joempie    [ Reply ]
 Lazarus wrote:


He sings as though he suffers badly from constipation...  but I kind of like the song...

I am too ambivalent about it to rate it one way or the other... 

 
There with ya, Laz. A wise rabbit once told me, "If you can't give it a 10 then don't give it nuthin' at all" or something like that. Done a few either way but lean toward only rating something I like a lot, but staying away from it in general. If I like it, why put a number on it?
Posted 11 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
 moocray wrote:

I hear Willy Nelson mated with Johnny Cash.



 
Try Bill Morrissey crossed with the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies.  
Posted 11 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
 Misterfixit wrote:
Too much whine, falsetto, not enough breath control, need autotune.
 
 

He sings as though he suffers badly from constipation...  but I kind of like the song...

I am too ambivalent about it to rate it one way or the other... 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Loving it on a rainy day in Sardinia. Thanks Bill.
Posted 11 years ago by kayakingclark    [ Reply ]
 moocray wrote:

I hear Willy Nelson mated with Johnny Cash.

That was just a rumor !
 


Posted 11 years ago by yahig    [ Reply ]
Hungover variation on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"....But shambly fun. 
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Good, evocative song. Thoughtful, wistful, but not downbeat. Play it again, Bill. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
I hear Rob Goodwin from Manchester, Lancashire, England.  Impressed RP, yet again {#Sunny}
Posted 11 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]

I hear Willy Nelson mated with Johnny Cash.


Posted 11 years ago by moocray    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Herle Maggard meets Badly Drawn Boy...
Posted 11 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
 Jim_Messenger wrote:
Amazing. I live 90 miles from Manchester and this band is virtually invisible on the UK airwaves.  Thanks yet again Bill / Rebecca for being first to another band to my attention.   We eventually 'got' Gotye over here too.   And if I hear another so called Brit music lover ask me who Porcupine Tree are I'll spit.
 
Call Fred, you and he have much in common.


Posted 11 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
Not that song titles can't be re-used for brand new songs but......God Only Knows ??? - What were they thinking?
 
God only knows what they were thinking.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Not that song titles can't be re-used for brand new songs but......God Only Knows ??? - What were they thinking?
Posted 11 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Amazing. I live 90 miles from Manchester and this band is virtually invisible on the UK airwaves.  Thanks yet again Bill / Rebecca for being first to another band to my attention.   We eventually 'got' Gotye over here too.   And if I hear another so called Brit music lover ask me who Porcupine Tree are I'll spit.
Posted 11 years ago by Jim_Messenger    [ Reply ]
Definitely a bit of Lloyd Cole in this track. 
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 cShaggy wrote:
<...> So miss me, let me go
Said the mouth with the buck spells
No time to waste on sorrow
So miss me, let me go <...>
 
At the 1:56 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY3deaJ9qec
Posted 11 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Good...eight
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Thumbs up - never heard it but I like it!
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 cShaggy wrote:
<...>

Said the mouth with the buck spells

<...> 

Replacing Said the mouth with the buck spells with Said the man with the book of spells makes a lot more sense.

Posted 11 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Sounds more like Bill Morrissey to me, only at half-speed.  And that is saying something.  
Posted 12 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Yeesh! This guy makes Thom Yorke sound like the Laughing Policeman.
Posted 12 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Is this the dude from Crash Test Dummies... 15yrs later?

Actually, I kinda dig  it. 
Posted 12 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
 Misterfixit wrote:
Too much whine, falsetto, not enough breath control, need autotune.
 
 
Sarcasm is so hard to pick up in a comment box...  that aside, this piece of music surprised me by what it evoked in me.
Posted 12 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
God only knows what, 
What I will do with you
God only knows what, 
What I will do with you

These crooked legs won't walk on the sand
And the words they don't make any sound
It all looks different these days
But it's still the same, it's still the same

So miss me, let me go
Said the mouth with the buck spells
No time to waste on sorrow
So miss me, let me go

These crooked legs won't walk on the sand
And the words they don't make any sound
It all looks different these days
But it's still the same, it's still the same

Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home, now
Everybody's home
Read more at https://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107859425362/#K1VcjMXDAdOtvy1e.99
Posted 12 years ago by cShaggy    [ Reply ]
Very nice.
Posted 12 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
Never heard this artist. Sounds like Eddie Vedder mixed with Frank Black. Not unlikeable. Great musicians on this track. Lovely music. I might get used to his voice and like this more next time I hear it.
Posted 12 years ago by poetista    [ Reply ]
 FooledAgain wrote:

Ditto. Except that, with training, practice, and confidence, you can probably sing better than you think.
 
In high school, a friend of mine said that I sound like two frogs with laryngitis having sex.

I was kicked off the school choir, and I was the only baritone and one of two guys.
 
Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
First time I hear this one and I love it. Thank you so much Bill and Rebecca for such nice surprises every now and then {#Angel}.
Posted 12 years ago by Zelidar    [ Reply ]
first time hearing this one, nice one.
Posted 12 years ago by Lichenia,    [ Reply ]
 FooledAgain wrote:

Ditto. Except that, with training, practice, and confidence, you can probably sing better than you think.
 
One exception: Imogen Heap's "Hide & Seek" - a very creative use of autotune by an artistwith a real voice.
Posted 12 years ago by rushed    [ Reply ]
 Byronape wrote:

Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing needs autotune.  Not on this song or any other song ever.  If you have to autotune, then don't sing.  Thus why I don't sing.

 
 
Ditto. Except that, with training, practice, and confidence, you can probably sing better than you think.
Posted 12 years ago by FooledAgain    [ Reply ]
 Misterfixit wrote:
Too much whine, falsetto, not enough breath control, need autotune.
 
 
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing needs autotune.  Not on this song or any other song ever.  If you have to autotune, then don't sing.  Thus why I don't sing.

 
Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
Nice...Kind of in that Red House Painters mellow vibe.
Posted 12 years ago by derekd    [ Reply ]
Oh what a wonderful place Manchester is too... So much talent coming out from here too.  I look forward to hearing more from these guys, and also, I have added a local Salford singer Ren Harvieu, but hoping it will pass the LRC... So, watch out for her too. 
Posted 12 years ago by CTS    [ Reply ]
Too much whine, falsetto, not enough breath control, need autotune.
 
Posted 12 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
Meh.
Posted 12 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear these guys, only came across them recently but will look for more...
Posted 12 years ago by ivann    [ Reply ]