Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: July 9, 2002

Songwriter: John Frusciante Flea Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
Does it go from east to west, y'all
Body free and a body less, y'all
Come again just to start afresh and
Once again to find a home
In the moment of the meantime
Dropping in coming through the mesh, y'all
Checking in just to get it blessed, y'all
Hard to leave when it's picturesque and
Find a form that's free to roam

[Chorus 1]
Where you come from, where you're going?
Where you come from, where you're going?

[Verse 2]
Do it all then it all again, y'all
Make it up and you make a friend, y'all
Paddle on just around the bend and
Find a place where you can see
All the mamas and the papas
Take a chance on a recommend, y'all
Hard as hell just to comprehend, y'all
Disbelief that I do suspend and
Easy now to find a breeze

[Chorus 1]
Where you come from, where you're going?
Where you come from, where you're going?

[Bridge]
We all want to tell her, tell her that we love her
Venice gets a queen, best I've ever seen
We all want to kiss her, tell her that we miss her
Venice gets a queen, best I've ever

[Verse 3]
I know you said you don't believe in God
We used to disagree
Now that it's time for you to leave

[Chorus 2]
G-L-O-R-I-A
Is love, my friend
My friend, my friend

[Verse 4]
Your stylish mess of silver hair
A woman of your kind is rare
Your uniform returns to air

[Chorus 2]
G-L-O-R-I-A
Is love, my friend
My friend, my friend

[Verse 5]
And now it's time for you to go
You taught me most of all I know
Where would I be without you, Glo?

[Chorus 2]
G-L-O-R-I-A
Is love, my friend
My friend, my friend

[Verse 6]
I see you standing by the sea
The waves you made will always be
Your kiss goodbye before you leave

[Chorus 2]
G-L-O-R-I-A
Is love, my friend
My friend, my friend

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 (Deluxe Version)

From the albums

By the Way (2002)
By the Way (Deluxe Version) (2002)

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

Venice QueenRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

By the Way (Deluxe Version)