Red Hot Chili Peppers

Released: June 8, 1999

Songwriter: Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis John Frusciante Flea

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
Close to my skin, I'm falling in someone who's been
Sittin' by the phone, I'm left alone in another zone
John says to live above hell and my will is well
No one is waiting for me to fail and my will could sail, yeah
It's such a waste to be wasted in the first place
I want to taste the taste of being face-to-face with common grace
To meditate on the warmest dream
And when I walk alone, I listen to our secret theme

[Chorus]
Your solar eyes are like nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close that can see right through
I'd take a fall and you know that I'd do anything
I will for you

[Verse 2]
Sailin' for the sun, 'cause there is one that knows where I'm from
I care for you, I really do, I really do
Come closer now so you can lie right by my side
I sit alone in the sun, I wrote a letter to you gettin' over myself, yeah

[Chorus]
Your solar eyes are like nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close that can see right through
I’d take a fall and you know that I’d do anything
I will for you
Your solar eyes are like nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close that was made for you
I’d take a fall and you know that I’d do anything
I will for you

[Outro]
Close to my skin, someone who's been, I'm a-falling in
Disasters are just another star falling in my yard
John says to live above hell and my will is well
Long to be with someone to tell "I love your smell"

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

Californication

From the albums

Californication (1999)
Californication (Deluxe Version) (1999)

Red Hot Chili Peppers popular songs

This Velvet GloveRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Californication