Dani California
Red Hot Chili Peppers/Musicfire.in Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Getting born in the state of Mississippi
Papa was a copper, and her mama was a hippy
In Alabama she would swing a hammer
Price you got to pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world does your company take me for?
Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
Robbing on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner
Rebel, and a stunner
On her merry way saying baby, watcha gonna?
Looking down the barrel of a hot metal forty-five
Just another way to survive

California, rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California, show your teeth
She's my priestess
I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah, yeah

She's a lover, baby, and a fighter
Should've seen it coming when I got a little brighter
With a name like Dani California
Day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little loaded, she was stealing another breath
I love my baby to death

California, rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California, show your teeth
She's my priestess
I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Who knew the other side of you?
Who knew that others died to prove?
Too true to say goodbye to you
Too true to say, say, say

Pushed the fader, gifted animator
One for the now, and eleven for the later
Never made it up to Minnesota
North Dakota man
Wasn't gunnin' for the quota
Down in the Badlands she was saving the best for last
It only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast

California, rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California, show your teeth
She's my priestess
I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah, yeah

California, rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California, show your teeth
She's my priestess




I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers introduces us to the song's titular protagonist, Dani California. She was born in Mississippi to a cop father and a hippie mother. Moving from state to state, Dani ended up in Indiana, where her life takes a turn for the criminal. We learn that she is a "runner, rebel, and a stunner" who robs a bank at the barrel of a "hot metal forty-five" and is always on the move, asking "baby, watcha gonna?"


The song then transitions to the chorus, where the band sings about California. "California, rest in peace" could be a nod to the California lifestyle that Dani has always been drawn to, but it could also be looked at as ironic, considering the rough-and-tumble life that Dani has led so far. The chorus ends on the repeated lines, "She's my priestess, I'm your priest," which could be interpreted in many ways, but mainly suggest a close relationship established between the song's narrator and Dani California.


In the second verse, the singer tells us that Dani is "a lover, baby, and a fighter." He should have seen it coming when he got a little too close. He loved Dani too much to say goodbye, even though he knew the day would come. The bridge of the song is almost surreal, where Dani is described as a "gifted animator" and "one for now, and eleven for the later." The song ends with California again being mentioned in the chorus, and a final line, "yeah, yeah, yeah."


Line by Line Meaning

Getting born in the state of Mississippi
The singer was born in Mississippi


Papa was a copper, and her mama was a hippy
The singer's father was a police officer and mother was a hippie


In Alabama she would swing a hammer
The singer lived in Alabama and worked hard labor


Price you got to pay when you break the panorama
There are consequences for disrupting the natural beauty of an area


She never knew that there was anything more than poor
The artist grew up in poverty and never knew anything else


What in the world does your company take me for?
The singer questions the motives of those they associate with


Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
The singer wore a black bandanna while in Louisiana


Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
The artist committed robbery in Indiana


She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
The artist is a fast runner and has a rebellious nature


On her merry way sayin', "Baby, whatcha gonna?"
The artist questions the future and asks others what they plan to do with their lives


Looking down the barrel of a hot metal 45
The singer faced danger and possible death in a violent situation


Just another way to survive
The artist sees their actions as necessary for survival


California, rest in peace
The singer references the death of California's culture and previous way of life


Simultaneous release
Many things were happening at once in California during this period of change


California, show your teeth
California is urged to show its strength and resilience in the face of change


She's my priestess, I'm your priest
The artist and California are connected, with the state holding spiritual significance


She's a lover, baby, and a fighter
The artist sees California as both nurturing and powerful


Shoulda seen it comin' when it got a little brighter
The singer knew this change was coming when things started to improve


With a name like Dani California
The singer references a person named Dani California, who represents the changes happening in the state


Day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
The artist knew they would eventually have to let go of the previous way of life in California


A little loaded, she was stealin' another breath
The artist was feeling overwhelmed, struggling to keep up with changes in California


I love my baby to death
The artist has strong feelings of love, loyalty, and connection to California


Who knew the other side of you?
The singer wonders what else California has in store as it changes


Who knew that others died to prove?
Others in California have made sacrifices for this change


Too true to say goodbye to you
The singer can't bring themselves to say goodbye to the previous California


Push the fader, gifted animator
The singer is skilled and creative


One for the now, and eleven for the later
The singer is creating something now that will last for the future


Never made it up to Minnesota
The artist never left the southern states


North Dakota man wasn't gunnin' for the quota
North Dakota is not a place where people go for excitement or adventure


Down in the Badlands, she was savin' the best for last
The best things in California's new way of life are yet to come


It only hurts when I laugh
The singer is trying to cope with the pain of change through humor


California, rest in peace
The artist reflects on California's past as it is being transformed


Simultaneous release
Many things are happening all at once in California during this time


California, show your teeth
California is urged to show its power and grit in the face of change


She's my priestess, I'm your priest
The singer and California share a spiritual connection




Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante, Michael Balzary

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

CoverSolutions

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Jon Lee

This song isn't difficult, imo the hardest part is all the little variations of the fill-in during the verse. They're all a little different and it's tough to memorize them all perfectly and when to play each one

TJ

Agree, hard to remember, but I think you can create your own variations too as long as they are fit in the correct NOT

Rivers Moore

@Alahad I've been playing in a Chili's tribute band for about a year and a half now. When I first started I was DETERMINED to do each fill in the same place. Then you watch him do it live, he hasn't got a clue what he did on the recording 90% of the time. Don't get me wrong most stuff should be done the exact same but this song is a good example of just learning the jist of a few of them and play them as you feel naturally on stage like he does.

LadyArchimedes

Hallo Archimedes!

John •Stout

@Steve M agreed

Steve M

Thats the time to get creative

2 More Replies...

WildVideos

Thanks bro your covers are the best on YouTube

The 10 Commandments

WildVideos Agree

Edan Love

@Keir Hardy look, I was messing around with my friend wilson. seriously, I don't get what's the big deal? i mean, really, why you gotta be like that? I love the chili peppers, they're my favorite band. i'm a bassist and flea and les claypool are my favorite bassists. so, instead of an informational battle, just shut up about something you may not have thought was funny. it was a simple thing, so give it a rest. I'm not gonna hold a grudge other people have replied with the same negativity. so, Keir Hardy, is this enough for you, or will you drop the subject?

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