A Literary Analysis of Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
In the last 30 years, few authors or musicians have been as prolific and intellectually groundbreaking as Anthony Kiedis of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Here, I provide some explanations of some of his more groundbreaking themes, statements, and imagery.
In the last 30 years, few authors or musicians have been as prolific and intellectually groundbreaking as Anthony Kiedis of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Here, I provide some explanations of some of his more groundbreaking themes, statements, and imagery.
“Lunatics on pogo sticks,
Another southern fried fiend on a crucifix.”
Here Anthony Kiedis has taken a simple item from the annals of American kitsch and bridged the 2,000 year gap back to the cross. Mr. Kiedis is not simply saying all who enjoy leisure activities are perceived as crazy in this day and age; he is pointing to the despair that finds you in your later years, especially in the south where many are left with nothing but an age-old recipe for fried food.
“Blood sugar sucker fish
In my dish
How many pieces do you wish?”
Once again, his culinary imagery is top notch. Clearly, the sugary fish represents government’s attempts to coerce the American population into keeping their money on American soil. How many pieces? As many as possible, the government answers.
“J. Butterfly is in the treetop
Birds that blow the meaning into bebop.”
Ah, a quick divergence into the work of Albert Camus–birds (the Questions man asks) blowing meaning into life seems almost straight out of The Myth of Sisyphus.
“Can I get a little bit of that done did do? You are on the road.”
Indeed, what can an individual do that has not already been done? As Thoreau said in Walden, no news or accomplishments are actually new. We can only take solace, as Mr. Kiedis does, in the journey that lies ahead of us. We are ALL on that road.
“Hey O, Woah.”
What would the alphabet be without that beloved fourth vowel? Fascinating and yet staggeringly impossible to comprehend.
“Writing about the world of the wild coyote, Good man Truman Capote.”
I simply adore that Anthony Kiedis felt he would be remiss if he did not mention one of the greatest nature writers of all time.
“To finger paint is not a sin, I stick my middle finger in.”
YOU HAD ME AT THE SANCTITY OF FINGER PAINTING.
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Christopher Elford
Christopher Elford is a Canadian-born waiter, writer, and comedian who enjoys playing a game called “Drink When You’re Unhappy.” He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his two cats and would love to do stand-up at your next garden or office party.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
I enjoyed your piece on the deeper meaning of Anthony Keidis’s lyrics (made me LOL). I do have to say that I enjoy his writing style (in all seriousness). What I think I like the most is that it is so open to imaginative interpretation (which I believe he has stated as his desired writing purpose) and he also uses some lovely imagery… or maybe its because he sings it with so much conviction that it all seems to make sense?
You missed the Charlie Parker reference
i didnt know carrot top was in the band
I should have caught that based on his reference to J Butterfly, his breathing coach. I also now realize he was referencing not only charlie parker but larry bird, the king of bebopketball.
Blue battered naval town slip kisses
Delivered by duck muscles and bottlenosed grifters
Arrive in time to catch the late show
It’s a beehive barrel race
A she-hive stare and chase
Wasted feature who tried and failed to reach her
Embossed beneath a box in the closet that’s lost
The kind that you find when you mind your own business
Shiv sister to the quickness before it blisters
Into the new morning milk blanket
Your ilk is funny to the turnstyle touch bunny
Whose bouquet set a course for bloom without decay
Get your broom and sweep the echoes of yesterday’s fallen freckles away…….
Please explain.
Thanks.
Its hard to believe (your writing about Anthony Keidis)
That theres nobody out there (more deserving of your bombastry)
Its hard to believe (that I’m spending so much time on this)
That Im all alone (but I am laughing like a lunatic)
At least I have her love (she doesn’t give me much else)
The city she loves me (and afterwards I feel dirty)
Lonely as I am (because you’re so busy with RVAnews)
Together we cry (forlorn, forlorn, alas, you are Canadian)
Your joke at lampooning Anthony Kiedis falters in the fact that, J. Butterfly was a real eco-friendly person http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Butterfly_Hill.
So the satirical inference about it being “a quick divergence into the work of Albert Camus–birds (the Questions man asks) blowing meaning into life seems almost straight out of The Myth of Sisyphus” is wrong. His lyrics have meaning, your life doesn’.
the guy above me is THAT stoked on Anthony Kiedis.
THAT STOKED.
matt, you are just mad because you didnt know that doesn’=slang for doesn’t.
To: Jprop
Loved your piece thx lolz so true
#1, totally agree. i’ve always thought it was amazing that Anthony’s lyrics are so open to interpretation, on an individual level, and so poignet at the same time…. i’ve never sturggled to find meaning in his lyrics and they always seem to express, in albeit abstract ways, a truth i know to be fundamentally true.
it’s funny i should find this because i was just telling a friend about how i was going to write “memoirs of an album: rhcps” based upon the significance of rhcp songs have had in my life!
THAT STOKED
It’s so sad when people try and make a name for themselves by giving shit to others who are above them.
The guy who wrote this is an imbecile and has the poorest sense of humour I’ve ever encounted!
What next? An analysis of John Lennon’s lyrics? I am the walrus I am the eggman, start on that first you twat