Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 30, 2011

Songwriter: Josh Klinghoffer Chad Smith Flea Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
I saw you at the police station
And it breaks my heart to say
Your eyes had wandered off
To something distant, cold and grey
I guess you didn't see it coming
Someone's gotten used to slumming
Dreaming of the golden years
I see you had to change careers
Far away
But we both know its somewhere

[Verse 2]
I saw you on the back page
Of some free press yesterday
The driftwood in your eyes
Said nothing short of love for pay
I know you from another picture
Of someone with the most conviction
We used to read the funny papers
Fool around and pull some capers
Not today
Send a message to her
A message that I'm coming
Coming to pursue her

[Chorus 1]
Down home country
I rest my face on your bed
I've got you ten times over
I'll chase you down 'til you're dead

[Verse 3]
I saw you on a TV station
And it made me want to pray
An empty shell of loveliness
Is now dusted with decay
What happened to the funny paper?
Smiling was your money maker
Someone ought to situate her
Find a way to educate her
All the way
Time to come and find you
You can't hide from me girl
So never mind what I do

[Chorus 2]
Down home country
I rest my face on your bed
I met my soulmate country
And I left it all for your head

[Verse 4]
I saw you in the church yard
And there was no time to exchange
You were getting married
And it felt so very strange
I guess I didn't see it coming
Now I guess it's me who's bumming
Dreaming of the golden years
You and I were mixing tears
Not today
Not for me but someone
I never could get used to
So now I will refuse to

[Outro]
Down home country
I rest my face on your bed
I met my soulmate country
And I left it all for your head
I've got my best foot forward
And I'll chase you down 'til you're dead

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)

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

Police StationRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’m with You