No One Knows

"No One Knows" is a song by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age written by band members Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan. It was the first single and second track from their third album, Songs for the Deaf, and was released on November 26, 2002. "No One Knows" was a chart success, becoming the band's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and their only single to top the US Alternative charts. The song was also critically acclaimed, receiving a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2003 Grammy Awards. Background and writing The main riff is reminiscent of Cold Sore Super Stars from Desert Sessions Vol 7 & 8. According to Homme, "No One Knows" existed before the recording sessions for Songs for the Deaf: "We have patience with music, a year or five years down the road it may kind of rewrite itself and become what it's supposed to be. There's two songs on this record that are over five years old, you know? 'God Is in the Radio' and 'No One Knows'". Recording for Songs for the Deaf began in March 2002 at three studios across California. Though the liner notes credit Homme and Eric Valentine with producing the majority of the album – including "No One Knows" – Homme credits Valentine with merely recording the beginning of the album for contractual reasons. Reception "No One Knows" has received critical acclaim from critics. In The Guardian review of Songs for the Deaf, Dave Simpson said No One Knows' has killer riffs to spare". Playlouder were similarly enthused, calling the song "soulful, like the last gasp of the hero in an old western". Eric Carr of Pitchfork Media called it an "easy groove" and "four-to-the-floor slime of the highest quality".