Red Hot Chili Peppers

Songwriter: Jimi Hendrix

Producer: Michael Beinhorn

[Verse 1: Anthony Kiedis]
You jump in front of my car
When you know all the time
Ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive
You tell me it's alright, you don't mind a lil' pain
You say you just want me to take you for a ride

[Chorus: Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante & Flea]
You're just like (crosstown traffic)
So hard to get through to you
(Crosstown traffic)
I need to run over you
(Crosstown traffic)
All you do is slow me down
Tryin' to get on the other side of town

[Verse 2: Anthony Kiedis]
I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can see you had your fun
But darling, can't you see my signals turn from green to red?
And with you, I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead

[Chorus: Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante & Flea]
You're just like (crosstown traffic)
So hard to get through to you
(Crosstown traffic)
I need to run over you
(Crosstown traffic)
All you do is slow me down
Tryin' to get on the other side of town

[Bridge: Anthony Kiedis: Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante & Flea]
You're just like (crosstown traffic)
Well, aw yeah (crosstown traffic)
Aye, aye, aye, be easy on 'em (crosstown traffic)
Aye, aye, don't fuck 'em up (crosstown traffic)
(Crosstown traffic) Well, aw yeah
(Crosstown traffic) All I need is to run over you
(Crosstown traffic) One more time for the band in blue

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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Mother’s Milk

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Mother’s Milk