Released October 9, 1999 | Label Atlantic | |
Recorded Temper Mill Studios, Detroit, Michigan Genre Southern rock, country rock Length 5:27 (album version)
4:17 (radio edit) Writer(s) RJ Ritchie, Matt Shafer, John Travis | ||
"Only God Knows Why" is a country rock ballad recorded by Kid Rock in 1998 on his album Devil Without a Cause. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 on Modern Rock Tracks, #5 Mainstream Rock Tracks and #23 Hot AC. 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. Country Outlaw singer David Allan Coe released a live cover version on his release Live At Billy Bob's in 2003. VH-1 named it the 19th greatest power ballad in 2002.
Contents
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 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
- "Only God Knows Why" (Radio Edit)
- "Only God Knows Why" (German Radio Edit)
- "Wasting Time" (Live)