ExceptYouDie: A Weezer Repertoire - Archive

From Weezerpedia

The following is an archive of several pages of the Weezer fan website ExceptYouDie. Information is presented without correction, and may be speculative or even falsified. Formatting is kept as faithful as possible to the original site.

Home

As of November 12, 2020.

Compilation of all information currently available.
Big thanks to Weezerpedia, GeeWiz, Blueguy, Fleafly and any other people who contribued[sic] to this list of information.

(2010-2014) Everything Will Be Alright In The End

As of November 12, 2020.

Recording Information:

The bulk of the recording was done with Ric in three sessions of three weeks each, in January 2014, March 2014, and June 2014 at Village Recording Studios in Santa Monica, CA. A great deal of the recording sessions can be seen in the teaser videos leading up to release.

It was revealed in Rolling Stone that Rivers used a "Google doc with a hyperspecific outline of everything left to do on this album. Each song has a number, with a long list of lettered tasks under it: Redo this solo, blend that intro better, and on and on." Brian Bell also stated in Rolling Stone that Rivers presented the band with "maybe 80, maybe 100" new songs before they made this album. Adds the guitarist, "I was like, 'Where did you find the time to write all these songs?'" Rivers stated that the oldest song goes back to late 2010.

Some other bits of information:

  • Sam Bell was engineer for the sessions.
  • "Da Vinci" was tracked on the first day of recording, 1/16/14.
  • Ric brought in his guitars that were used on the Blue album.
  • An extra session began on July 28th to record one more song for the album. Ric and Sam Bell were present.
  • Based on Snapchats from Rivers and comments from Scott, it seems likely that other aspects of the album were also worked on during the extra July session.
  • From 94/9:
    • "Scott: We're just making sure we have the right song. We made our decision while touring last week and here we are doing it, so we should finish it up today." (July ~31st)
    • "Scott: Usually while we're mixing we're also in the studio changing stuff around and adding parts and trying to make it as good as we can for the folks out there."
  • From Karl: "The guys are putting the finishing touches on the album in between our summer tour dates, and its very very close to completion." (August 1st)
  • From Zane Lowe: "Rivers: I think we're about 99% done. We're just putting the final touches on. A little narration here and there, special effects, that sort of thing." (Interview recorded sometime before July 21st)

One of the last tracks worked on was Foolish Father, in which Cuomo gathered some random fans via his Twitter and studio hands or anyone else around to sing the choral section at the end of the song... which was a last minute addition. According to the band, recording wrapped on August 20th.

Album Tracks:

Unreleased Album Tracks:

Earlier Versions:

Complete Catalog of Known Song Titles in this Timeframe (93):

All songs by Rivers Cuomo except when noted.

Demos from the 90s that were considered:

Links:

Sea Opera video clips in one compilation
https://weezerbyrichard.bandcamp.com/track/flight-plans
Short Flight Plans clip on the first Weezer Wednesday Video that revealed they were in the studio

(2010) Sea Opera

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

Rivers Cuomo started work on "studio roughs" now commonly called the "Sea Opera demos" with producer Shawn Everett. Nothing much is known about the sessions, except for the fact that this album was practically complete.

Concept:

A sailor named Mortimer Collins is on a ship called the Resolution who caught his wife/girlfriend cheating on him with the captain, Captain Buttress, and threw himself overboard to drown himself, where he hallucinates that the sea is his home. The story is told from the point of view of "The Roaches" a rock band on the ship called the Resolution.

Album Tracks:

Ballad Of The Briny:

Track in which it tells the story of Mortimer Collins throwing himself overboard and where he hallucinates that the sea is his home.

Lyrics:

"You wanted me to be a practical man, but now I see how things were."
I'm at home here, in the briny

Boat on the Sea:

No information about the song is currently available.

Rock And Roll Cockroach:

Theme is about a band named the Roaches, aboard the ship Resolution. The entire Sea Opera story is set in their point of view.

Lyric:

"because Weezer will never die"

Unknown Song:

Later became the EWBAITEEYD track "Rest In Peace" which was scrapped again and remade into the bridge of "Summer Elaine And Drunk Dori". Album closer.

Lyrics:

In the back of your heart (whoa oh)
In the back of your mind (whoa oh)

(2011) Ecce Homo

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

Demo collection by Rivers Cuomo, made in 2011 for an early attempt for album 9. Did not contain any co-writes and had final cover art (Everybody Needs Salvation cover) and fold-out star map and a picture of the Tower of Babel. Possibly recorded in Eb tuning.

Themes:

According to the leaked tracklist, an instrumental is placed after 5 songs. Ecce Homo is divided into 3 themes, with the first part relating to the Patriarcha (relationships to father or authority figures) theme on EWBAITE, next five is on Belladonna (relationship with women), and the last one is hypothesized to be about religion.

What seems to be the case, however, is that Ecce Homo had a more linear theme than EWBAITE that focused on historical figures and Rivers Cuomo’s relation to them. Starting with Rules of Life, Cuomo laments to his daughter that there are certain rules you have to follow if you want to go down in history. But, the song turns dark as he teaches that after you follow the rules, “they’ll fuck you.” The concept album then follows historical figures, with songs focusing on the Hindenburg (which went down in flames), Paul Revere trying to protect the new country from the old rulers, Cleopatra, and even Cuomo comparing himself to Christ (who was crucified). The title, Ecce Homo, means Behold the Man, which could be Cuomo saying these songs are what make up his personality. A sort of “This is what I am on paper.”

Tracklist:

  1. Narcissus Blooming
  2. Rules Of Life
  3. Gravity Will Bring You Down
  4. Sing My Blues Away
  5. The British Are Coming
  6. Semper Fi
  7. Ain't Got Nobody
  8. I Won't Flake On You
  9. Ivory Telephone
  10. Cleopatra
  11. The Wasteland
  12. Bless The Whole Wide World
  13. Everybody Needs Salvation
  14. Anonymous
  15. Resurgam Fidei

Narcissus Blooming:

Nothing much is known other than the title and the it being an instrumental.

Rules Of Life:

Well-known outtake. Different versions of this track exists, ranging from different lyrics to different verses. The lyrics of the recreation are a mix of the Ecce Homo version's lyrics and a later version's lyrics.

Gravity Will Bring You Down:

Gravity is in 3/4 time signature and key of Ab. Often described as Ecce Homo's version of Superfriend. Contains downward choral section of falsetto harmonies in the bridge before the solo. Has lyrics about Hindenburg falling to the ground. Some lyrics suggest that the imagery was being chained in a dungeon.

Chorus lyrics:

Not every man is a superman
Not every girl is a supergirl
So cut your coupons while you still can
Cause gravity will bring you down.

Verse lyrics:

Mice munchin on your tasty bum

Sing My Blues Away:

A recreation exists. Possibly heard during Listening Party sessions.

The British Are Coming:

Different versions of this song exists, with different lyrics. One of them has lyrics that deal with personal problems and references Boba Fett.

Alternate lyric:

Roman soldiers trying to run the show

Semper Fi:

Nothing much is known other than the title and it being an instrumental.

Ain't Got Nobody:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

I Won't Flake On You:

Nothing much is known other than the title.

Ivory Telephone:

Reworked 1998 Rivers Demo.

Cleopatra:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

The Wasteland:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

Bless The Whole Wide World:

Nothing much is known other than the title.

Everybody Needs Salvation:

Rerecorded with Shawn Everett and released for the first Fan Club single after EWBAITE.

Anonymous:

Once a sprawling 6 minute epic, and has a completely cut intro section.

One version's lyrics was:

I don't want to call you Jesus
I don't want to call you Buddha
I don't want to call you Muhammad
I don't even know your name
No i don't know the words to say
So I'll call you Anonymous.

Cut verses were about a girl:

"She walks up to me, but I don't know what to call you"
"I don't want her to leave"
"There was some of that crush, you were good to me"
"I want her to use me, abuse me"
"Dump me, I'm a bitch"

Resurgam Fidei:

Early version of the EWBAITE track Return To Ithaka. The title changed from Resurgam Fidei to Resurrection to Return to Ithaka.

(2012) Self-Titled/Color Album

As of November 11, 2020.

Recording Information:

A group of demos appeared in the midst of the listening parties that were originally slated for release with possible color title (Purple/Black). Apparently most of the songs were pretty bad by some accounts, and the color album was scrapped.

Songs Considered:

Notes:

California Snow:

Rerecorded and released for SPELL and later on, the Black Album.

Guy With An Eye:

1 minute clip of Rivers working on the track was uploaded to Youtube. The title of the video is called "how bout I get to know ya" suggesting these are lyrics from a part of the song not present in the video.

Lyrics:

oh baby baby, rock your body
til 7:30

Hey there girl with the curls
You're so beautiful
I am a guy with an eye
I see what i like so tonight

I'm Just Being Honest:

Became a Scott and Rivers track (Real Intention) and later released on the Black Album.

Loop:

"I want to put you on my loop, loop, loop". Similar to Guy With An Eye. The chorus was described as memorable.

No Bars:

Uses cellphones as a metaphor.

Party Hard (On Noah's Ark):

Co-written with Toby Gad.

(2012- 2014) EWBAITEEYD

As of November 11, 2020.

Recording Information:

Group of Rivers demos that were recorded between 2011-2014. It combined the rock band aspect of Sea Opera, the historical narrative of Ecce Homo, and the co-writes of the proposed self titled albums.

Songs Considered (63):

Ain't Got Nobody:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

Anonymous:

Early version of the EWBAITE track. Had verses of Rivers speak-singing over clean, chorusy guitars.

Are We Good?:

Once slated for release as a single but was then dropped from the album, possibly among the last few to be cut from the album.

Lyrics:

Are we good? Are we understood?

Back To The Shack:

Early version of the EWBAITE track. Around as early as 2013.

Caveman:

Leaked 2012 Rivers and Pat demo for EWBAITE.

Call The Police:

Leaked 2012 Rivers and Pat demo for EWBAITE.

Cleopatra:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

Co-Dependant:

Later became "Girl We Got A Good Thing" on The White Album.

Rivers sang co dependent lyrics on a periscope:

Getting co-dependent
Just a couple chickens
Pecking at each other
Seething in resentment

Cyclone:

Rerecorded and released in the Scott and Rivers album, although with Japanese lyrics. Opening melody was used for the bridge of Too Many Thoughts in My Head.

Da Vinci:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

Don't Mess With My Girl:

"The British Are Coming" rework with different lyrics.

East Coast vs. West Coast:

2007 Rivers Cuomo demo reworked for possible inclusion on the album. Full band version exists. A version with Scott and Brian singing ends with "aw shut the fuck up".

El Presidente:

Leaked 2012 Rivers and Pat demo.

Eulogy for a Rock Band:

Early version of the EWBAITE track. Previously known as Eulogy for a Rock Star as seen in Ric's notebook in one of the Weezer Wednesday videos.

Exonerate Me:

No information about the song is currently available.

Expatriates In Paris:

Short recreation containing the melody and chords of the chorus exists, in the key of Ab. Full recreation began but remains unfinished. Described by one as one of the greatest songs of this period. The chorus felt like a quicker paced version of Pomp and Circumstance. It was "quaint and restrained" and "really charming, melodically reminiscent of the Romantic early album 3 thing.

Lyrics:

Expatriates In Paris hanging out in a cafe
Talking about the world's events, why can't we be that way?

Flight Plans:

Recreation exists. First part of a two-song story, wherein the band dies in a plane crash. Many versions of this song currently exists, some are in circulation.

Foolish Father:

Early version of the EWBAITE track with notable changes. The song was a very late addition tot the tracklist.

Freckles:

Co-written with Panic! At The Disco in 2011. Originally supposed to be for their album Vices & Virtues but was not included in final tracklist.

Getting It Out:

Possibly given to McBusted, as their song Getting It Out names Rivers as a co-writer.

Go Away:

Early version of the EWBAITE track. The verses are switched, with Bethany's verse first.

Hyde:

Rivers discussing his wife with a therapist. Discusses how she can be so nice, but also be a complete monster. Screams in the song “She’s a fucking murderer.” Sounded more funny than dark.

I Need Some Of That:

Also known as Summa Dat. Recorded in the album sessions, there is a version with Ric Ocasek's vocals present. Later became the song "Where The Wind Blows" on the second Scott and Rivers album.

I Want To Autotune My Face:

No information about the song is currently available.

I've Had It Up To Here:

Early version of the EWBAITE track, in a higher key. The extra "I've had it" melodies at the end were not present on earlier versions. One version had a pre-chorus with the lyric "the same old bullshit is making me sick".

It's Been So Long:

Recorded in the album sessions. Demo released as Fan Club Single #3.

La Mancha Screwjob:

Originally written for EWBAITE, but it didn't fit the theme of the album. The Pacific Daydream version is largely unchanged from the one in contention for EWBAITE aside from having a newly written bridge and a very different production style.

Let's Go To The 44th Dimension:

"Everybody Needs Salvation" rework.

Let Your Freak Flag Fly:

Had lyrics about George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and playing xbox games.

Live My Life:

Recorded in the album sessions. Possibly rewritten for one of the Scott and Rivers albums.

Lonely Girl:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

Looking For A Fight:

The bridge of Living in LA is likely based on this song.

Main Girl:

Registered in ASCAP/BMI.

Ms. Fantasy:

Registered in ASCAP/BMI.

My Guitar:

Cool chorus, and a theme of the “monster inside” and killing the monster with “My Guitar.” But verses were “very maladroit.” It sounded like a song for his daughter wherein the band would kill the monsters. The bridge of High as a Kite is supposed to be the bridge of this track.

My Mystery:

Early version of the EWBAITE track "Anonymous"

My Place:

Registered in ASCAP/BMI.

New Girl:

Eventually released on the second Scott & RIvers album.

Older and Wiser:

Only chorus lyrics are known: "I'm older and wiser, never gonna leave again"

Pornography:

Registered in ASCAP/BMI.

Resurrection:

Early version of the EWBAITE track "Return To Ithaka". It is likely that it changed to Return to Ithaka during the Odysseus stage of the album.

Rest In Peace:

Melody is from the bridge of Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori and an unknown Sea Opera song.

Rules Of Life:

At least 60 versions of this song is in the vaults, showing how good it was originally and how it fell out. The lyrics of the recreation are a mix of the Ecce Homo version and a later version. A mock version of the album included Rules of Life, but it was a version that wasn't as good as previous versions.

Send Her To Heaven:

All American Rejects has a song titled Send Her to Heaven and has Rivers as a co-writer. It's been said that this version is very identical to the Rivers demo.

Shining Star/The Band We Love:

Early version of the EWBAITE track Eulogy For A Rock Band. A portion of the bridge contains lines from Kurt Cobain's suicide note.

Simple To Me:

Possibly a Slurpee rewrite. Described as being a poppy sounding song.

Special Time:

A song about Rivers needing to spend a little special time with his lady. Good chorus.

Lyrics:

How could a flower live without water?
How could a man survive without some special time?

Up In The Clouds:

Acoustic guitar and organ with a normal verse/chorus structure but an epic solo. Evolved from East Coast vs West Coast. One version cribbed the chorus of Anonymous. Recreation began but remains unfinished.

Wagamama:

No information about the song is currently available.

Wasteland:

Early version of the EWBAITE track.

We Are The Indians:

"Goofy" song about Indians.

Weekend Girl:

Reworked version of Burning Sun. The Burning Sun demo was edited with a new chorus and bridge. Later rerecorded and became Weekend Woman for Pacific Daydream.

What I Want Is To Be Wanted:

Circulating EWBAITE track. Chorus was used for the bridge of "The End of the Game" from Van Weezer.

When We Were Young:

Recreation exists. Original closer for EWBAITE. Melody was revised and reworked to the verse of High As A Kite.

Notes:

There were also lyrics about parents, and breaking the laws of nature. A song that has presumably made the cut, had a line "I can hear you crying downstairs, shut the fuck up".

Lyrics found in EWBAITE Booklet:

I can hear you crying downstairs, shut the fuck up. Don't try to manipulate me

(Possibly Hyde)

I know I'm the better man
I hope I'm the better man

(?)

Learn how to make drinks
Eat with proper table manners
I will sit with my back straight
Properness in the littlest things

(Possibly Rules of Life)

She came with me to my room
She wanted to be with me
And when she went to go home
You tried to take her
You tried to take her from me

(?)

I realize that the monster dies in the end too. It's okay
Even the monster will die

-or-

I realize that the monster dies in the end too it's on-
Even the master will...

(Possibly My Guitar)

Unknown Song 1:

Possible song lyrics were posted in a thread:

Watch the meters rise
And my memory fade into oblivion

I don't know if the wheel works

Just tell me what I have to do
I'm begging you
Every day is supposed to be the start
But I'm just not there
And I'm scared that it's too late

Unknown Song 2:

An acoustically plucked song was heard in a listening party.

Links:

https://weezerbyrichard.bandcamp.com/album/when-we-were-young

(2014-2016) White Album

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

235 demos were considered before producer Jake Sinclair was on-board the album, with only California Kids making the cut. More songs were written with Jake Sinclair.

Album Tracks:

  1. California Kids
  2. Wind In Our Sail
  3. Thank God For Girls
  4. Girl We Got A Good Thing
  5. Do You Want To Get High?
  6. King Of The World
  7. Summer Elaine And Drunk Dori
  8. L.A. Girlz
  9. Jacked Up
  10. Endless Bummer

Released B-Sides:

Complete Catalog Of Songs In The Timeframe (26):

(2014) Rivers Demos

As of October 29, 2020.

Background:

Recorded during 2014 and "LP"ed by the fans. Rivers demos, and some co-writes. Jake and Rivers listened through 235 demos in 2015, with California Kids only making the cut.

Songs Considered:

Awaken Early:

Early version of Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori as heard on the SongExploder podcast talking about the development of the song.

Beautiful Lies:

Mentioned by Rivers on Facebook. The bridge of Weekend Woman likely originated from this song.

California Kids:

Early version of the White Album track. This demo became the centerpiece of the White Album.

Co-Dependent:

Early version of the White Album track Girl We Got A Good Thing. Originally written between 2012-2014 (Everything Will Be Alright In The End Except You Die).

Doo-Wop:

Eventually rerecorded and released on the second Scott & Rivers album.

Gun It:

Mentioned by Rivers on Facebook.

Happy Hour:

Eventually rerecorded and released on Pacific Daydream. An early version of the song had "high on coke, making music" instead of "up on stage, high on music".

Johnny Clash:

The lyrics were about the death of a punk rocker who wore yoga pants.

My June Bride:

Early version of Mexican Fender on Pacific Daydream. Very identical other than the chorus had the lyric "my June bride" instead of "my summer love". The "June bride" phrase was recycled for the bridge of Feels Like Summer.

Pink Elephants:

The lyrics dealt with a Brian Wilson-type character who is happy with his toes in his sandbox.

Take a Ride With Me:

There was a song heard in a listening party about riding a bike, it's possible that this is that song.

Thank God For Girls:

Early version of the song Fun in the Sun from the second Scott & Rivers album. The title was recycled for the Thank God For Girls that appeared on the White album.

Weekend Woman:

Eventually rerecorded and released on Pacific Daydream. Like Weekend Girl, this version was an edited version of the Burning Sun demo but with a new chorus.

Unknown Song 1:

Contained lyrics that were on this Tumblr post from Rivers, which also contained lyrics to other White album songs.

Unknown Song 2:

Had a very long feedback interlude with a repeating chord progression.

(2015) Jake Sessions

As of October 29, 2020.

Background:


Songs Considered:

(2016-2019) Black Album

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

Ideas for a "Black Album" were already being talked since 2016. Atleast 3 versions of "Black Album" has been scrapped, before settling on Dave Sitek to produce the album.

Album Tracks:

  1. Can't Knock the Hustle (Rivers Cuomo)
  2. Zombie Bastards (Rivers Cuomo, Rami Yacoub)
  3. High as a Kite (Rivers Cuomo, Josh Alexander)
  4. Living in L.A. (Rivers Cuomo, Jonny Coffer, Jerome Williams)
  5. Piece of Cake (Rivers Cuomo)
  6. I'm Just Being Honest (Rivers Cuomo, Ammar Malik, David Hodges)
  7. Too Many Thoughts In My Head (Rivers Cuomo)
  8. The Prince Who Wanted Everything (Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell, Luther Russell)
  9. Byzantine (Rivers Cuomo, Laura Jane Grace)
  10. California Snow (Rivers Cuomo)

Unreleased:

Living In L.A:

Previously titled "This Girl", which had alternate verse lyrics.

Runner-Up:

Described by Rivers as Pinkerton-esque with piano but had electronic sounds.

A Ballad for a Fallen Soldier (a.k.a. I'll Love Your Everyday):

Unknown if it was ever considered for a studio album

Cardigan Disaster (Midnight):

Multiple versions exist, played live at Rivers' solo shows. Meant to be Black Album's first single until it was dropped from the album

Close To Your Lips:

Registered with some of the co-writers of Feels Like Summer:

Feels Like Summer:

Ended up being released in Pacific Daydream.

Getting It Out:

Registered with some of the co-writers of Get Right.

Black V1

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

(2017) Pacific Daydream

As of October 29, 2020.

Recording Information:

While the Black Album was being made, a seperate folder of songs called "beach" was compiled. The "beach" folder ended up growing faster than the Black Album, and later became Pacific Daydream.

Tracklist:

  1. Mexican Fender
  2. Beach Boys
  3. Feels Like Summer
  4. Weekend Woman
  5. Happy Hour
  6. QB Blitz
  7. Sweet Mary
  8. Get Right
  9. La Mancha Screwjob
  10. Any Friend Of Diane's

Notes:

Most of the tracks were either reworked entirely for PD or parts were used from different eras.

Mexican Fender:

White era demo exists. "heartbreak DJ" was originally "Foxy DJ". Rivers went to Butch and said "make it sound not like Weezer".

Beach Boys:

Written and possibly demoed before PD.

Feels Like Summer:

Originally for Black Album (Black Version 1).

Weekend Woman:

Reworked version of EWBAITE track Weekend Girl, which was a reworked version of Green era track Burning Sun.

Happy Hour:

White-era demo exists.

QB Blitz:

Written and possibly demoed before PD.

Get Right:

Written for Pacific Daydream.

Sweet Mary:

EWBAITE era demo might possibly exist (Same co-writer as La Mancha Screwjob, which was confirmed to be in contention in EWBAITE, could have been sourced in the same songwriting session.)

La Mancha Screwjob:

EWBAITE era demo exists. PD version is largely unchanged from the EWBAITE version, except for the new bridge and production style. Summer Night is possibly an early version.

Any Friend Of Diane's:

Written for Pacific Daydream.

See also


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