Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 14, 2012

Songwriter: Josh Klinghoffer Flea Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
All of my love and most of my fears
Been coming on strong for most of my
Years add up and end up in a song

[Verse 2]
Cellophane tweeds and revenue streams
Are blocking my shots and killin' my
Dreams that showed me how to be the cause

Ooh ahh, yella
Ooh ahh, hey, ah, what now?

[Chorus]
It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time for me, I see
She wants to belong and I want to be free
Excommunicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

Ooh ahh, yella, ooh ahh, yeah

[Verse 3]
All of my friends and enemies
They were part of this dance that put me right
Here we go, so glad I got this chance

[Verse 4]
Better known plans and lesser known schemes
Were all about love and less about
Me, I'd have to say she wore the pants

That's, oh!

[Chorus]
It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time, for me, u-huh
She wants to belong and I want to be free
Excommunicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

[Bridge]

[Chorus]
It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time, for me, let's see
She wants to belong and I want to be free
Ex-communicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

[Outro]
It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time, for me, uh uh
She wants to be rich and I want to be free
Keep your plans elastic 'cause there ain't no guarantee

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

I’m with You Sessions

From the album

I’m with You Sessions (2013)

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

Strange ManRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’m with You Sessions