Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: June 8, 1999

Songwriter: Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis John Frusciante Flea

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
Deep inside of a parallel universe
It's getting harder and harder to tell what came first
Under water where thoughts can breathe easily
Far away you were made in a sea just like me

[Chorus]
Christ, I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh, it's everything

[Verse 2]
Staring straight up into the sky
Oh my my
A solar system that fits in your eye
Microcosm
You could die but you're never dead
Spider web
Take a look at the stars in your head
Felds of space kid

[Chorus]
Christ, I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh, it's everything
Christ, I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh, it's everything

[Verse 3]
Psychic changes are born in your heart
Entertain
A nervous breakthrough that makes us the same
Bless your heart, girl
Kill the pressure it's raining on
Salty cheeks
When you hear the beloved song
I am with you

[Chorus]
Christ, I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh, it's everything
Christ, I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh, it's everything

[Instrumental Outro]

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

Greatest Hits

From the albums

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

Parallel UniverseRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Greatest Hits