Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 22, 1989

Songwriter: Jack Irons Hillel Slovak Flea Anthony Kiedis

Producer: George Clinton

[Chorus 1]
We're millionaires
Against hunger

[Chorus 2]
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got a million more that'll take me away
All the other ones' bills starting to percolate
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay

[Verse 1]
Well I'm a millionaire too, but not like you
As far as I'm concerned, I got a job to do
I've got to pave the way, I've got to save the day
I've got to make it better, I've got to say
You and I, we're millionaires, but we're a million miles away from the saint who stares
Upon the millions who die, every day of the week
Just because they can't get enough to eat
While we the rich dine on all these feasts, and everything's fine, yeah peaches and creme
But it just isn't something you've got to realize, there's something wrong, we've got to open our eyes
When the world cries, we just can't hide, we've got a job to do, we've got to save some lives

[Chorus 1]
We're millionaires
Against hunger

[Chorus 3]
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Dice the mice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the dare

[Chorus 2]
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got three or four yachts on the Chesapeake Bay
All those people starvin' everyday
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay

[Verse 2]
Well I'm a millionaire too
All I know that is true is that I've got more cash than I can use
I want anything that I can have, but I don't need nothin' and I never have
Each damn day my heart's set far, but I'll be okay, cuz I don't starve
Kids from the street the losing their emotion so damn snobby so out of touch
With two hungry people who die as they stare at the city at night, you know it gives to share
So listen up, you millionaires, every woman, every man, help all you can
All races unite, and I will now concern to the type of problem that helps us learn

[Chorus 1]
We're millionaires
Against hunger

[Chorus 3]
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Dice the mice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the dare

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.

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Freaky Styley