21st Century
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

All the creatures
On the beaches
Making waves in a motion picture
Won't you keep this
In between us
Search and seizure, wake up Venus

The dollar bill will

Mentally ill bill
Mum and dad take your 'don't be sad' pill
Turn the screw and
Twist my language
Don't forsake me I'm contagious

There's a reason for the twenty first century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be

Come on, wooh
It's my favorite
Combination
Coming down with the favored nations
Deep rotation
Mutilation
Learn to give and take dictation

Oh, oh oh, oh oh
Like a Cain and Abel
Oh, oh oh, oh oh
It's time to run this table

There's a reason for the twenty first century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be

Come on, yeah

Read me your scripture and
Read me your scripture
Read me your scripture and I will twist it

Show me your wrist and I
Show me your wrist and
Show me your wrist and I'll kiss it, kiss it

Oh, oh oh, oh oh
Like a Cain and Abel
Oh, oh oh, oh oh
It's time to run this table

Simple soldier
Hand it over
Stop and read what you just wrote her
Strangulation
Altercation
Oral sex and bird migration

There's a reason for the twenty first century
Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be, come on

There's a reason for the twenty first century

Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be
And that it's meant to be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Red Hot Chili Peppers's song 21st Century can be divided into two parts: the first part deals with the world, where beach creatures are making waves in a motion picture, and the dollar bill is making people mentally ill, and parents are taking pills to suppress their sadness. The words "search and seizure" and "wake up Venus" signify that our society has lost control and we need to wake up to what's happening around us. The singer sings, "Don't forsake me, I'm contagious," suggesting that his feelings are spreadable and we should all be paying attention.

The song's chorus repeats the idea that there is a reason for the twenty-first century, even though we're not sure what it is, and it's meant to be. The second part of the song deals with the individual, where the singer wants to learn how to give and take dictation, and there is a favorite combination coming down with the favored nations, deep rotation, and mutilation.

The next lyrics are about taking someone's script, twisting it, and kissing their wrist. Like a Cain and Abel signifies that there is a belief in the battle between good and evil. The final section is "simple soldier, hand it over, stop and read what you just wrote her. Strangulation, altercation, oral sex, and bird migration." These lyrics are cryptic and open to interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

All the creatures On the beaches Making waves in a motion picture Won't you keep this In between us Search and seizure, wake up Venus
The people on the beach look like they're in a movie, let's keep this between us because the government is watching us

The dollar bill will Mentally ill bill Mum and dad take your 'don't be sad' pill Turn the screw and Twist my language Don't forsake me I'm contagious
Money makes us crazy, our parents tell us to be happy with pills, people in power manipulate the way we speak, and nobody should reject each other because we're all connected

There's a reason for the twenty first century Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be And that it's meant to be
There's a purpose for the current time period that we don't fully understand but we know it's important

Come on, wooh It's my favorite Combination Coming down with the favored nations Deep rotation Mutilation Learn to give and take dictation
Let's join forces with other countries and work together. Our ideas need to be flexible and open to change. We should be willing to listen and speak to each other

Oh, oh oh, oh oh Like a Cain and Abel Oh, oh oh, oh oh It's time to run this table
Like the biblical brothers Cain and Abel, there's conflict but it's time to resolve it and take control of our lives

Read me your scripture and Read me your scripture Read me your scripture and I will twist it Show me your wrist and I Show me your wrist and Show me your wrist and I'll kiss it, kiss it
People can manipulate religious beliefs and symbols to fit their own agendas. Also, people may crave attention and affection

Simple soldier Hand it over Stop and read what you just wrote her Strangulation Altercation Oral sex and bird migration
We need to surrender to a higher power and reflect on what we say and write. There's turmoil in our society and also moments of beauty and pleasure

There's a reason for the twenty first century Not too sure but I know that it's meant to be And that it's meant to be, come on
Again, there's a purpose to this era that we may not fully comprehend but it's time to embrace it

Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, JOHN ANTHONY FRUSCIANTE, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CHAD SMITH

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The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock and psychedelic rock. The band consists of co-founders Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals) and Flea (bass), as well as drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, the latter of whom has been in the band across three stints. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the best-selling bands of all time. Read Full BioThe Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock and psychedelic rock. The band consists of co-founders Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals) and Flea (bass), as well as drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, the latter of whom has been in the band across three stints. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the best-selling bands of all time. They are the most successful band in the history of alternative rock, with the records for most number-one singles (13), most cumulative weeks at number one (85) and most top-ten songs (25) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They have won six Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's 1984 self-titled debut album, which instead featured guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. Slovak rejoined for their second album, Freaky Styley (1985), and Irons for their third, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). Irons left after Slovak died of a drug overdose in June 1988.

With new recruits Frusciante and Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Mother's Milk (1989) and their first major commercial success, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Frusciante was uncomfortable with their newfound popularity and left abruptly on tour in 1992. After a series of temporary guitarists, he was replaced by Dave Navarro, who appeared on the group's sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.

In 1998, following Navarro's departure, Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, Californication (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006) were also successful; Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who appeared on I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. They released their 12th album, Unlimited Love, in 2022.

The Chili Peppers' mix of hard rock, funk and hip hop has influenced genres such as funk metal, rap metal, rap rock and nu metal. Kiedis said the band were early to combine "hardcore funk and hip-hop-style vocals", and suggested they had influenced Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and Linkin Park. Smith said, "Certainly Anthony's singing style and voice lends itself to being unique, and nobody sounds like him. The cool thing about it is we can play any style of music whether it's hard and fast, or loud or quiet, slow or medium, whatever it is; rock or funk, and it still sounds like us. I'm proud of that because sometimes bands don't have that strong personality where you go, 'Oh, that's boom, right away.'"

The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame In April 2012. The induction lineup was Kiedis, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer, Frusciante, Slovak (represented by his brother James), Irons and Martinez; Frusciante was invited, but did not attend. Navarro and Sherman were not inducted; Sherman said he felt "dishonored". The band performed "By the Way", "Give It Away" and "Higher Ground", which included Irons and Martinez on drums. It was the first time Kiedis and Flea had performed with Irons in more than 20 years.

In 2003, Rolling Stone released their first list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 310 and Californication at 399. In 2012, a revised list was released, with Californication at 401. In 2020, Rolling Stone released another version of the list, with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 186 and Californication at 286.

The band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 31, 2022. George Clinton, Woody Harrelson and Bob Forrest unveiled the star at the ceremony.