Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 30, 2011

Songwriter: Josh Klinghoffer Chad Smith Flea Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
Start marching
'Cause you think you shot to number one
Counting days and
Skipping your stones into the sun
Over age and under thumb, oh
Does it weigh a ton?
I'll be yours tonight
Living the dream of a meteorite

[Chorus]
Start jumping 'cause
We've got something to say, yeah
Young lovers keep it pumping
In the streets of L.A., yeah

[Verse 2]
Short stroking doesn't fly
Better to go for broke
Watch you smoking Mary Jane
And does it make you choke?
Jumping the fence, riding the rails, oh
Can you take a joke?
I'll be yours today
Living the dream with a capital K

[Chorus]
Start jumping 'cause
We've got something to say, yeah
Young lovers keep it pumping
In the streets of L.A., yeah

[Bridge]
Tell me now, I'll tell you how
Just show me where to send

[Post-Chorus]
Make time for love and your happiness
The Mothers of Invention are the best
We all know and struggle with some loneliness
A tender mess for everyone, I guess
I guess

[Verse 3]
Half blinded
I'm reminded how to find the stairs
Nickel and dimin'
Think it's time to play some musical chairs
Dirty laundry, what a quandary
Ask her if she cares
I'll be yours and more
Better than ever, like never before

[Chorus]
Start jumping 'cause
We've got something to say, yeah
Young lovers keep it pumping
In the streets of L.A

[Post-Chorus]
Make time for love and your happiness
The Mothers of Invention are the best
We all know and struggle with some loneliness
A tender mess for everyone, I guess
I guess

[Verse 4]
Sweet talking
As I'm walking through your part of town
Never again
Will Johnny C. a Love Supreme be found
Is it ever meant to be?
And is it so profound?
Is it you and me?
A billion to one, make history
A history

[Outro]
Said yeah, oh yeah
Said yeah, oh yeah
I said yeah, oh yeah

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

From the album

I’m with You (2011)

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I’m with You