In June 2004, John Frusciante announced that he would be releasing six rec… Read Full Bio ↴In June 2004, John Frusciante announced that he would be releasing six records over six months. His aim was to produce these records quickly and inexpensively on analog tape, avoiding modern studio and computer-assisted recording processes. A Sphere In the Heart of Silence - the fifth record in the series - was released in November 2004.

Made in collaboration with his friend, guitarist and drummer Josh Klinghoffer, this album contains 7 tracks mainly of experimental nature, with heavy use of synths and keyboards.

Josh has worked with John on many of his solo albums, playing drums and synths on most occasions. He and John also played alongside Fugazi's Joe Lally on the album Automatic Writing, John's second album in the series, with the trio naming themselves Ataxia.

In 2010 Josh joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, after John Frusciante announced he left the band.

Communique
John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is slow communique
This is slow communique
It's a show that I hope you know

My opposing say,
Why are we inside?
There are no rules
There are no rules

I will try to start a fire
I will try to start a fire
Just to show how well it burns

It's a breaking of commune
It's a breaking of commune
Just to show another way to go

You can never return
You can never return
It's a barrier for life before you learn

I can never return
I found an island, I found an island for you

This is slow communique
This is slow communique
It's a show that I hope you know

Swimming from the island
I will try you know

You say we're running now
You say we're running now
You go to where you never know

I will try to start a fire

I will try to start a fire
Just to, Just to watch how it burns

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Communique" are open to interpretation, but one possible interpretation is that the song is about breaking away from what is expected or the norm. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that the communication is slow, but that there is a show to be seen for those who are paying attention. The singer then addresses someone who is opposed to what they are doing and questions why they are inside when there are no rules. This line could be interpreted to mean that there is no reason to conform to societal norms.

The chorus repeats twice, with the singer stating that they will try to start a fire just to show how well it burns, and that this is a breaking of commune, just to show another way to go. The idea of starting a fire could symbolize the beginning of something new and exciting after breaking away from what was holding them back, while the "breaking of commune" could mean breaking away from an established group or lifestyle. The singer then acknowledges that once this break is made, you can never return; it becomes a "barrier for life before you learn."

The singer then reveals that they have found an island for the other person, but that they themselves can never return. The final lines of the song have the singer acknowledging that they are swimming away from the island, perhaps indicating that they are leaving behind what they have created for the other person to find. The song ends with the singer repeating that they will try to start a fire just to watch how it burns, suggesting that they are eager to see what will happen next in their journey.

Line by Line Meaning

This is slow communique
This message is being conveyed slowly

It's a show that I hope you know
It's a performance of sorts, and I hope you understand that

My opposing say,
My opposing belief is that

Why are we inside?
Why are we confined to this space?

There are no rules
There are no guidelines to follow

I will try to start a fire
I will attempt to ignite a flame

Just to show how well it burns
To demonstrate how well it can burn

It's a breaking of commune
It's a departure from the established community

Just to show another way to go
To showcase an alternative path

You can never return
Once you leave, you cannot come back

It's a barrier for life before you learn
It's a boundary that remains for your entire life, until you learn