Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: August 16, 1989

Songwriter: Flea Anthony Kiedis Chad Smith John Frusciante

Producer: Michael Beinhorn

[Verse 1]
Step right up and listen, please
You're gonna get it with the greatest of ease
Well, well, everybody a-gather 'round, all aboard the underground
You gotta get in before you get out
Gettin' out what it gonna be about
Well if you find that you are blind
Open up your bashful mind
Let my band step inside
Take you on a cosmic ride
A-let my band step inside
Take you on a cosmic ride
With honest sounds, I'll paint your brain
For in this song, I do proclaim
That once aboard this moving train
I'll do my best to ease your pain
Slinky as my speech may be
On this trip, you'll ride for free
As we leave, I'll trade us spots
Where outer space is not so dark
This axis bold as love you see comes and goes so easily
This axis bold as love you see comes and goes so easily

[Chorus 1]
Space is king or so I sing, a subway to Venus
Space is king or so I sing, a subway to Venus

[Verse 2]
Once aboard and feeling smooth
Like a liquid, you will ooze
Into a state of mind that soothes
Aw, be my guest inside my grove
'Cause what I got to give to you
Is gonna make you wanna boogalulu
I'll make you wiggle like a wiggly worm
'Cause you deserve to wiggle and squirm
Life's too short to be in a hole
So bust into your funkiest stroll
Life's too short to be in a hole
So bust into your funkiest stroll

[Chorus 2]
Space is king or so I sing, a subway to Venus
Space is king or so I sing, a subway to Venus

[Bridge]
Oh, what I got to give to you
Is gonna make you wanna boogalulu
I'll make you wiggle like a wiggly worm
'Cause you deserve to wiggle and squirm
Life's too short to be in a hole
So bust into your funkiest stroll
Well, take your body, a-shake it around
And do the dog on the ground
And if I can't make you dance
I guess I'll just have to make ya piss ya pants

[Chorus 3]
Space is king or so I sing, subway to Venus
Space is king or so I sing, subway to Venus
Space is king or so I sing, subway to Venus
Space is king oh, oh, or so I sing, subway to Venus

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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