Released: April 1, 2022

Songwriter: Chad Smith Flea John Frusciante Anthony Kiedis

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
When I'm with you, I feel like myself
No stranger, the shadow of somebody else
When I feel you holdin' my hand
I get touched, ain't this life grand?

[Chorus]
But the form of a-life is long, never-ending
And the smell of your hello, I know
And the smile of a knife is seldom befriending
And the smell of tangelo, I know

[Verse 2]
When I'm near you, I feel like a king
A life force inside to do anything
When I'm downtown, I pick up the phone
I hear you and I'm not alone

[Chorus]
But the form of a-life, a long never-ending
And the smell of your hello, I know
And the smile of a knife is seldom befriending
And the smell of tangelo, I know

[Bridge]
But December came strong, the mending went wrong
And the clothes on the line never dried
And the crows on my hill came in for the kill
But the dream of this love never died

[Verse 3]
When I lost you out in that field
My crooked eyes could hardly conceal
Tell me one time and bring me my tray
Oh, let it go and now I must pray
Let's pray

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.