Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: June 10, 2002

Songwriter: Chad Smith John Frusciante Flea Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
I was walking through a courtyard
Without shoes and
Without regard
Automatic catacombs
Take me where I wanna go

[Pre-Chorus]
All around
All in phases
It astounds
And amazes
Built to last and known to roam
Touch me on my chromosome

[Chorus 1]
One time
Fascinated by the face of time
One time
I got it to give and now we're going to make some time

[Chorus 2]
Ultra-fine and altruistic
Can I spy into the mystic
System's down for infiltration
Open mind free of frustration

[Verse 2]
I was driving
To a safe place
And arriving
As I retraced

Yell into a telescope
Aim it at the star of hope

[Chorus 1]
One time
Fascinated by the face of time
One time
I got it to give and now we're going to make some time

[Chorus 3]
All over the young girl
The smell of blood and thunder
I'm connected by the lightning rod
Giving the beauty to it
Heaven knows how well I know you

[Chorus 2]
Ultra-fine and altruistic
Can I spy into the mystic
System's down for infiltration
Open mind free of frustration

[Pre-Chorus]
All around
All in phases
It astounds
And amazes
Built to last and known to roam
Touch me on my chromosome

[Chorus 1]
One time
Fascinated by the face of time
One time
I got it to give and now we're going to make some time

[Chorus 3]
All over the young girl
The smell of blood and thunder
I'm connected by the lightning rod
Giving the beauty to it
Heaven knows how well I know you

[Outro]
Time

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a rock band based in Los Angeles, CA that incorporates elements of rap, funk, punk, and rock into their work, mainly classified as an alternative rock band. They made it mainstream off the success of their 1991’s fifth studio album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, led by singles “Give it Away” and “Under the Bridge.” After losing guitarist John Frusciante and losing popularity following the release of the less successful One Hot Minute, the band reunited for 1999’s Californication. The title track and hit singles “Around the World,” “Scar Tissue” and “Otherside” propelled them back to the fame. After 2002’s solid release By the Way and 2006’s double-disc Stadium Arcadium, Frusciante once again left the band to further pursue his solo career. The band added Josh Klinghoffer to help fill his void, and released I’m With You in 2011.

In December 2019, the band announced via Instagram that Klinghoffer had left after 10 years, and Frusciante would be rejoining.

Their lyrical content was mostly centered around sex, drugs, and the Los Angeles lifestyle, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis mostly rapped them as he wasn’t confident as vocalist. Most members of the band also suffered from drug addiction, as Kiedis and Frusciante had to check themselves into rehab for heroin addiction at various points in their lives. But Californication marked a change in the band’s content matter and lifestyle. The band was sober for the most part, and the lyrics had shifted to songs about love and the pains of addiction, the title even criticized the city they loved so much. In addition, Kiedis had started to sing his lyrics much more often as he finally felt comfortable with his voice. That change has allowed the band to stick around for over 20 years despite multiple changes to their lineup and is part of why they remain relevant.

more tracks from the album

By The Way (B-Sides + Bonus Tracks)

From the album

By The Way (B-Sides + Bonus Tracks) (2003)

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

TimeRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

By The Way (B-Sides + Bonus Tracks)