Tell Me Baby
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
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Some dreams were meant to be declined
Tell the man what did you have in mind
What have you come to do?
No turning water into wine
No learning while you're in the line
I'll take you to the broken sign
Come and get it
Lost it at the city limit
Say goodbye
'Cause they will find a way to trim it
Everybody
Lookin' for a silly gimmick
Gotta get away
Can't take it for another minute
This town is made of many things
Just look at what the current brings
So high, it's only promising
This place was made on you
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where do you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind
Some claim to have the fortitude
Too shrewd to blow the interlude
Sustaining pain to set a mood
Step out to be renewed
I'll move you like a baritone
Jungle brothers on the microphone
Getting over with an undertone
It's time to turn to stone
Chitty chitty, baby
When your nose is in the nitty gritty
Life could be a little sweet
But life could be a little shitty
What a pity
Boston and a Kansas city
Looking for a hundred
But you only ever found a fitty
Three fingers in the honeycomb
You ring just like a xylophone
Devoted to the chromosome
The day that you left home
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind
"Tell Me Baby" by Red Hot Chili Peppers seems to be about the various people who come to a city with big dreams, looking for something to call their own. The lyrics suggest that some people are doomed to failure, while others have what it takes to make it. The song starts with the lines, "They come from every state to find, some dreams were meant to be declined. Tell the man what did you have in mind, what have you come to do?" The lyrics reflect the struggle that is faced by most people in big cities, where everyone is competing with everyone else to make a mark for themselves.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of loneliness and finding a connection in a fast-paced, competitive city. The lines, "Tell me, baby, what's your story, where you come from and where you wanna go this time? Tell me, lover, are you lonely? The thing we need is never all that hard to find" highlight the search for companionship and meaning amidst the chaos of the city. The song also talks about pain and the need to overcome it to grow stronger: "Some claim to have the fortitude, too shrewd to blow the interlude, sustaining pain to set a mood, step out to be renewed."
Overall, "Tell Me Baby" provides a raw and poignant reflection on the struggles, dreams, and pain experienced by people in big cities, while also highlighting the search for companionship and meaning amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
They come from every state to find
People come from all over the country to find something
Some dreams were meant to be declined
Some goals are not worth pursuing
Tell the man what did you have in mind
Explain your intentions to the person in charge
What have you come to do?
What is your purpose here?
No turning water into wine
Miracles are not possible
No learning while you're in the line
You can't learn anything while waiting in line
I'll take you to the broken sign
I'll show you something that's not working properly
You see these lights are blue
These lights are not working properly
Come and get it
The opportunity is here for the taking
Lost it at the city limit
Missed the opportunity because of location
Say goodbye
It's time to leave
'Cause they will find a way to trim it
They will find a way to take something away
Everybody
Everyone
Lookin' for a silly gimmick
Searching for something that's not important
Gotta get away
Need to escape the current situation
Can't take it for another minute
Can't handle it any longer
This town is made of many things
This city has many different aspects
Just look at what the current brings
Observe what is currently happening
So high, it's only promising
There's potential for greatness here
This place was made on you
This city was built around you
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Share your background with me
Where you come from
What's your hometown?
And where you wanna go this time?
What do you want to achieve now?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
Are you feeling alone?
The thing we need is never all that hard to find
What we need is usually within reach
Giving up on the innocence you left behind
Losing sight of your past purity
Some claim to have the fortitude
Some people claim to have strength and courage
Too shrewd to blow the interlude
Too smart to waste time
Sustaining pain to set a mood
Enduring hardship to create an atmosphere
Step out to be renewed
Take a step forward to start again
I'll move you like a baritone
I'll inspire you like a deep-voiced singer
Jungle brothers on the microphone
Rappers from the jungle expressing themselves
Getting over with an undertone
Succeeding with a subtle message
It's time to turn to stone
It's time to become unfeeling
Chitty chitty, baby
Childish expression
When your nose is in the nitty gritty
When you're dealing with harsh reality
Life could be a little sweet
Life can be enjoyable
But life could be a little shitty
But life can also be unpleasant
What a pity
What a shame
Boston and a Kansas City
Different places
Looking for a hundred
Searching for something valuable
But you only ever found a fitty
But only found something of little value
Three fingers in the honeycomb
Using three fingers to access something sweet
You ring just like a xylophone
You have a pleasing sound
Devoted to the chromosome
Dedicated to your genetic makeup
The day that you left home
The day you left your childhood home
Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, JOHN ANTHONY FRUSCIANTE, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CHAD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind