Only God Knows Why: Difference between revisions

"Only God Knows Why"
"Only God Knows Why"
Single by Kid Rock
from the album Devil Without a Cause
Released	October 9, 1999
Studio	White Room Studios, Detroit, Michigan
Genre	Country; blues rock; Southern rock;
Length	5:27 (album version); 4:17 (radio edit);
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	RJ Ritchie; Matt Shafer; John Travis;
Producer(s)	Kid Rock; John Travis;
Kid Rock singles chronology

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"Only God Knows Why" is a song by American musician Kid Rock. It was recorded in 1998 for his album Devil Without a Cause, on which it features as the eleventh track. The song was the first recorded ballad on record by Kid Rock. It was a weary road ballad in which the first four lines were written while he was in jail after a bar fight after signing to Atlantic Records in 1997.

The song was released as a single in 1999 and peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100,^[3] eventually ranking at number 67 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 for 2000.^[4] VH1 named it the 19th greatest power ballad in 2002.^[5] Outlaw country singer David Allan Coe released a live cover version of his release Live at Billy Bob's in 2003.

Music video

The music video is a montage of stage performances, his off time during touring, wandering the streets of and riding the streetcars in New Orleans and his performance at Woodstock 1999. The most infamous scenes are him getting hit with a full wine bottle in the head onstage, along with an overzealous fan following him to his car with security holding him back. His band, mother, father, and son are featured (during the part where he sings "I watch my youngest son and it helps to pass the time"). There are cameos by other stars like Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Gibby Haynes of Butthole Surfers and Hank Williams Jr. whose appearance comes after Kid Rock appeared in his "Naked Women and Beer" video.

There is a censored version, with the buttocks of a stripper blurred out while Kid Rock is signing it and when he makes a gun gesture which is blurred out.

Track listing

CD single

"Only God Knows Why" (radio edit)
"Only God Knows Why" (German radio edit)
"Wasting Time" (live)

Personnel

Kid Rock – vocals, acoustic guitar
Kenny Olson – lead guitar
Bobby East – slide guitar
Jimmie Bones – piano, organ
Stephanie Eulinberg – drums, percussion

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Singles Chart	13
Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative Chart	3
Germany (GfK)^[6]	96
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	19
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[7]	23
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[8]	13
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[9]	5
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[10]	6

End of year charts

End of year chart (2000)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[4]	67

References

^ D'Angelo, Joe. "Nu Metal Meltdown (Page 3)". MTV. Archived from the original on February 1, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Stewart, Shea (February 1, 2011). "Kid Rock's rebirth". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Kid Rock Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
^ "25 Greatest Power Ballads". The Greatest. May 23, 2003. VH1.
^ "Kid Rock – Only God Knows Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[1] D'Angelo, Joe. "Nu Metal Meltdown (Page 3)". MTV. Archived from the original on February 1, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[rebirth-2] Stewart, Shea (February 1, 2011). "Kid Rock's rebirth". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 30, 2019.

[Hot100-3] "Kid Rock Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[YearEnd-4] "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2010-08-31.

[5] "25 Greatest Power Ballads". The Greatest. May 23, 2003. VH1.

[sc_Germany_Kid_Rock-6] "Kid Rock – Only God Knows Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 28, 2019.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_Kid_Rock-7] "Kid Rock Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Kid_Rock-8] "Kid Rock Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Kid_Rock-9] "Kid Rock Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Kid_Rock-10] "Kid Rock Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

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@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | released   = October 9, 1999
 | format     =
-| recorded   = Temper Mill Studios, Detroit, Michigan
+| studio     = White Room Studios, Detroit, Michigan
-| studio     =
 | venue      =
+| genre      =
-| genre      = [[Country music|Country]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal_meltdown/news_feature_030124/index3.jhtml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030201100950/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal_meltdown/news_feature_030124/index3.jhtml |archivedate=February 1, 2003 |title=Nu Metal Meltdown (Page 3) |publisher=[[MTV]] |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |accessdate=February 4, 2018}}</ref>
+* [[Country music|Country]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal_meltdown/news_feature_030124/index3.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030201100950/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal_meltdown/news_feature_030124/index3.jhtml |archive-date=February 1, 2003 |title=Nu Metal Meltdown (Page 3) |publisher=[[MTV]] |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref>
-| length     = 5:27 <small>(album version)</small><br>4:17 <small>(radio edit)</small>
+* [[blues rock]]<ref name="rebirth">{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/feb/01/kid-rocks-rebirth/|title=Kid Rock's rebirth|author=Stewart, Shea|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=July 30, 2019}}</ref>
+* [[Southern rock]]<ref name="rebirth" />
+| length     =
+* 5:27 {{small|(album version)}}
+* 4:17 {{small|(radio edit)}}
 | label      = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
-| writer     = RJ Ritchie, Matt Shafer, John Travis
+| writer     =
-| producer   = Kid Rock with John Travis
+* [[Kid Rock|RJ Ritchie]]
+* [[Uncle Kracker|Matt Shafer]]
+* John Travis
+| producer   =
+* Kid Rock
+* John Travis
 | prev_title = [[Cowboy (Kid Rock song)|Cowboy]]
 | prev_year  = 1999
@@ Line 24: / Line 33: @@
 }}
-"'''Only God Knows Why'''" is a song by American musician [[Kid Rock]]. It was recorded in 1998 for his album ''[[Devil Without a Cause]]'', on which it features as the eleventh track. The song was the first recorded ballad on record by Kid Rock. It was a weary road ballad in which the first four lines were written while he was in jail after a bar fight after signing to Atlantic Records in 1997. It is notable for its heavy use of [[Auto-Tune]].
+"'''Only God Knows Why'''" is a song by American musician [[Kid Rock]]. It was recorded in 1998 for his album ''[[Devil Without a Cause]]'', on which it features as the eleventh track. The song was the first recorded ballad on record by Kid Rock. It was a weary road ballad in which the first four lines were written while he was in jail after a bar fight after signing to Atlantic Records in 1997.
-The song was released as a single in 1999 and peaked at number 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name="Hot100"/> eventually ranking at number 67 on the [[Billboard Year-End|''Billboard'' Year-End]] Hot 100 for 2000.<ref name="YearEnd"/> [[VH1]] named it the 19th greatest power ballad in 2002.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=25 Greatest Power Ballads |series=The Greatest |series-link=The Greatest (TV series) |network=[[VH1]] |date=May 23, 2003}}</ref> [[Outlaw country]] singer [[David Allan Coe]] released a live cover version on his release ''Live at Billy Bob's'' in 2003.
+The song was released as a single in 1999 and peaked at number 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name="Hot100"/> eventually ranking at number 67 on the [[Billboard Year-End|''Billboard'' Year-End]] Hot 100 for 2000.<ref name="YearEnd"/> [[VH1]] named it the 19th greatest power ballad in 2002.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=25 Greatest Power Ballads |series=The Greatest |series-link=The Greatest (TV series) |network=[[VH1]] |date=May 23, 2003}}</ref> [[Outlaw country]] singer [[David Allan Coe]] released a live cover version of his release ''Live at Billy Bob's'' in 2003.
 ==Music video==
-The music video is a montage of stage performances, his off time during touring, wandering the streets of and riding the [[Streetcars in New Orleans|streetcars]] in [[New Orleans]] and his performance at [[Woodstock 1999]]. The most infamous scenes are him getting hit with a full wine bottle in the head onstage, along with an overzealous fan following him to his car with security holding him back. His band, mother, father, and son are featured (during the part he sings "I watch my youngest son and it helps to pass the time"). There are cameos by other stars like [[Mark McGrath]] of [[Sugar Ray]], [[Gibby Haynes]] of [[Butthole Surfers]] and [[Hank Williams, Jr.]] whose appearance comes after Kid Rock appeared in his "Naked Women and Beer" video.
+The music video is a montage of stage performances, his off time during touring, wandering the streets of and riding the [[Streetcars in New Orleans|streetcars]] in [[New Orleans]] and his performance at [[Woodstock 1999]]. The most infamous scenes are him getting hit with a full wine bottle in the head onstage, along with an overzealous fan following him to his car with security holding him back. His band, mother, father, and son are featured (during the part where he sings "I watch my youngest son and it helps to pass the time"). There are cameos by other stars like [[Mark McGrath]] of [[Sugar Ray]], [[Gibby Haynes]] of [[Butthole Surfers]] and [[Hank Williams Jr.]] whose appearance comes after Kid Rock appeared in his "Naked Women and Beer" video.
 There is a censored version, with the buttocks of a stripper blurred out while Kid Rock is signing it and when he makes a [[Finger gun|gun gesture]] which is blurred out.
@@ Line 35: / Line 44: @@
 ==Track listing==
 ;CD single
-# "Only God Knows Why" (Radio Edit)
+# "Only God Knows Why" (radio edit)
-# "Only God Knows Why" (German Radio Edit)
+# "Only God Knows Why" (German radio edit)
-# "Wasting Time" (Live)
+# "Wasting Time" (live)
 ==Personnel==
@@ Line 43: / Line 52: @@
 * Kenny Olson – lead guitar
 * Bobby East – slide guitar
-* Jimmie Bones – piano,organ
+* Jimmie Bones – piano, organ
 * Stephanie Eulinberg – drums, percussion
@@ Line 62: / Line 71: @@
 |align="center"|3
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Germany2|96|artist=Kid Rock|song=Only God Knows Why|songid=121564|accessdate=May 28, 2019|rowheader=true}}
+{{Singlechart|Germany|96|artist=Kid Rock|song=Only God Knows Why|songid=121564|access-date=May 28, 2019|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Kid Rock|accessdate=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true|refname="Hot100"}}
+{{Singlechart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Kid Rock|access-date=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true|refname="Hot100"}}
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|23|artist=Kid Rock|accessdate=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
+{{Singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|23|artist=Kid Rock|access-date=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|13|artist=Kid Rock|accessdate=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
+{{Singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|13|artist=Kid Rock|access-date=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|5|artist=Kid Rock|accessdate=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
+{{Singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|5|artist=Kid Rock|access-date=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{Singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|6|artist=Kid Rock|accessdate=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
+{{Singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|6|artist=Kid Rock|access-date=February 4, 2018|rowheader=true}}
 |}
 {{col-2}}
@@ Line 81: / Line 90: @@
 !align="center"|Position
 |-
-|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="YearEnd">{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000|title=Billboard Top 100 - 2000|accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref>
+|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="YearEnd">{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000|title=Billboard Top 100 - 2000|access-date=2010-08-31|archive-date=2009-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304120640/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 |align="center"|67
 |-
@@ Line 88: / Line 97: @@
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
-==External links==
-* {{MetroLyrics song|kid-rock|only-god-knows-why}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{Kid Rock}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:1998 songs]]
 [[Category:1999 singles]]
+[[Category:American blues rock songs]]
+[[Category:American country music songs]]
 [[Category:Kid Rock songs]]
 [[Category:Country ballads]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Kid Rock]]
+[[Category:Southern rock songs]]

v t e Kid Rock
Twisted Brown Trucker: Kenny Tudrick Jason Krause Jimmie Bones Stefanie Eulinberg Aaron Julison Paradime Uncle Kracker Bob Ebeling Kenny Olson Joe C. Mike Bradford Lonnie Moxley Bobby East Chris Labroux
Studio albums	Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast The Polyfuze Method Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp Devil Without a Cause Cocky Kid Rock Rock n Roll Jesus Born Free Rebel Soul First Kiss Sweet Southern Sugar Bad Reputation
Other releases	Fire It Up (EP) The History of Rock Live Trucker
Singles	"I Am the Bullgod" "Bawitdaba" "Cowboy" "Only God Knows Why" "American Bad Ass" "Forever" "You Never Met a Motherfucker Quite Like Me" "Lonely Road of Faith" "Picture" "Feel Like Makin' Love" "Cold and Empty" "Jackson, Mississippi" "I Am" "So Hott" "Amen" "All Summer Long" "Roll On" "Rock N Roll Jesus" "Born Free" "First Kiss" "Don't Tell Me How to Live"
Featured singles	"Rock Star" "Good to Be Me"
Concert Tours	Devil Without a Cause Tour Summer Sanitarium Tour History of Rock Tour Bad Reputation Tour
Related	Discography Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show