Released: May 5, 2006

Songwriter: Chad Smith Anthony Kiedis Flea John Frusciante

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
The curtain is open a head to put dope in
Now we will come clean it the future we've seen it
No, no, I know, I said, no no
It's like a dream that falls away
Into the night where we can play
I'm on a train one happy day
Two eyes for sight three times I pray
Soda pop we've got to set up shop
And when the weather comes we've got a pressure drop
We don't know but every day I go
To see what I can bring into a cameo, oh oh, oh no

[Pre-Chorus]
We believe, we believe

[Chorus]
Climb a tree for monkey business
Write a check out to forgiveness
All the world on half an acre
Pushing dirt into a quaker

[Verse 2]
The mission, the method
The downfall arrested
Because it's not the first time
Nor is it the worst time, no no, oh no
To see the bird without a care
For in a word it's nice out there
In a tree my mama bear
Will be all right with proper care
Hey hey, hey
Boomerang into a bigger bang
A little cry of love because they cannot sing
Cherokee, what did the pharaoh see?
Another time and space another place to be

[Pre-Chorus]
We believe, we believe
We believe, we believe

[Chorus]
Climb a tree for monkey business
Write a check out to forgiveness
All the world on half an acre
Pushing dirt into a quaker

Climb a tree for monkey business
Write a check out to forgiveness
All the world on half an acre
Pushing dirt into a quaker

[Outro]
The motive, the measure
The purpose, the pleasure
The risk, is it worth it?
The disc, is it perfect?
I found you amongst them
The flower with young stem
Disparage, the broken
The marriage, eloping

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.