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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation
And little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotation
And if you want these kind of dreams it's Californication

It's the edge of the world and all of Western civilization
The sun may rise in the East, at least it settled in a final location
It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication

Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin, is this your chin, or is that war you're waging?
First born unicorn
Hardcore soft porn

Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication

Marry me, girl, be my fairy to the world, be my very own constellation
A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on information
And buy me a star on the boulevard, it's Californication

Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement
And Cobain, can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station To Station?
And Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication

Born and raised by those who praise control of population
Well, everybody's been there and I don't mean on vacation
First born unicorn
Hardcore soft porn

Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication

Destruction leads to a very rough road, but it also breeds creation
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar, they're just another good vibration
And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication

Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Sicker than the rest, there is no test, but this is what you're craving
First born unicorn
Hardcore soft porn

Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Californication" paint a picture of the golden state as a land of opportunity and dreams. The first few lines introduce the idea that outsiders from China and Sweden want to be a part of the state and the culture. The song then shifts from a celebration of California to a commentary on the dark side of celebrity culture. The line "pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging" implies that people in Hollywood are willing to go to great lengths to stay young and relevant. The lyrics "first-born unicorn, hardcore soft porn" could be interpreted as a critique of the paradoxes of fame and excess that lurk beneath the surface of California's dazzling appeal.


The lyrics also touch on pop culture references with lines like "And Cobain can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station To Station?" referencing both David Bowie and the late Kurt Cobain. Additionally, the line "Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement" suggests that Hollywood and the entertainment industry are capable of creating illusions and impossible scenarios on screen. The song's overall message seems to be that although it's easy to fall under the spell of California's allure, there is also a darker end to the bargain where the excesses of fame can take a toll.


Line by Line Meaning

Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation
People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions


And little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotation
Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes


And if you want these kind of dreams it's Californication
If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be


It's the edge of the world and all of Western civilization
California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society


The sun may rise in the East at least it's settled in a final location
Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world


It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication
Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream


Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging
Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging


Celebrity skin, is this your chin, or is that war you're waging?
The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image


First born unicorn
The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California


Hardcore soft porn
The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California


Marry me, girl, be my fairy to the world, be my very own constellation
Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world


A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on information
Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age


And buy me a star on the boulevard, it's Californication
Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream


Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement
Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality


And Cobain can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station To Station?
Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm


And Alderaan's not far away, it's Californication
The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood


Born and raised by those who praise control of population
People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary


Well, everybody's been there and I don't mean on vacation
Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation


Destruction leads to a very rough road but it also breeds creation
While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born


And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar, they're just another good vibration
Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music


And tidal waves couldn't save the world from Californication
Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong


Sicker than the rest, there is no test, but this is what you're craving?
There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion




Lyrics ÂĐ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael Peter Balzary, John Anthony Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Gaylord Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Alex Alvarez


People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions


Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes


If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be


California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society


Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world


Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream


Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging


The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image


The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California


The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California


Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world


Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age


Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream


Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality


Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm


The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood


People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary


Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation


While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born


Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music


Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong


There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion

Comments from YouTube:

@RedHotChiliPeppers

It has been confirmed that the Red Hot Chili Peppers will embark on a world tour in 2022! Sign up on https://redhotchilipeppers.com for more information.

@AryanSingh-dr6st

first

@AryanSingh-dr6st

also super cool

@mariodeluna4899

Fuck yea, John Frusciante is back in the game!

@OLVIANNA

Whooaoaooaooaoaoaoao!!!!!

@JewelsVessel

What a time to be alive!

527 More Replies...

@RedHotChiliPeppers

Released on this day 20 years ago!

@onurravli760

<3

@luison_py

Thank you for existing RHCP !!!

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