Songwriter: Stevie Wonder

[Verse 1]
People keep on learnin'
Soldiers keep on warrin'
The world keep on turnin'
'Cause it won't be too long
Powers will keep on lyin'
While your people will keep on dyin'
The world keep on turnin'
'Cause it won't be too long

[Chorus]
So darn glad he let me try it again
'Cause my last time on Earth, I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin' 'til I reach the highest ground

[Verse 2]
A-teachers a-keep on teachin'
A-preachers a-keep on preachin'
World, keep on turnin'
'Cause it won't be too long
Oh no
Lovers a-keep on lovin'
While believers keep on believin'
Sleepers just stop sleepin'
'Cause it won't be too long
Oh no

[Chorus]
So darn glad he let me try it again
'Cause my last time on Earth, I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin' 'til I reach the highest ground

[Outro]
And Stevie knows that, uh, nobody's gonna bring me down
('Til I reach the highest ground)
'Cause me and Stevie, see, we're gonna be sailing on the fuckin' funky sound
('Til I reach the highest ground)
Bustin' out, and I'll break you out, 'cause I'm sailing on
('Til I reach the highest ground)
Just, uh, sailin' on, sailin' on the higher ground
('Til I reach the highest ground)

Red Hot Chili Peppers

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.