The single debuted on the The Billboard Hot 100 at #24 and peaked at #6, becoming the band's third single (after "Under the Bridge" and "Scar Tissue") to surpass the top-ten. In addition, "Dani California" became the second song in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, after R.E.M.'s 1994 hit "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?", and also charted at #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts. The song won two Grammy Awards, one for Best Rock Song and the other for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. It also marked the band's join-biggest UK hit to date along with "By the Way", peaking at #2 in the UK Singles Chart, being kept out of #1 by Gnarls Barkley's Crazy.
This song was featured on Rock Band.
Dani California
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 IndianaShe'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
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 © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante, Michael Balzary
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasio440
"Dani California"
Gettin' born in the state of Mississippi
Poppa was a copper and her momma was a hippie
In Alabama, she would swing a hammer
Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world, what does your company take me for?
Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
On her merry way sayin', "Baby, what you gonna—?"
Lookin' down the barrel of a hot metal .45
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
She's a lover, baby and a fighter
Shoulda seen her comin' when it 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 stealin' 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
Who knew the other side of you?
Who knew what others died to prove?
Too true to say goodbye to you
Too true to say, say, say
Push the fader, gifted animator
One for the now and eleven for the later
Never made it up to Minnesota
North Dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota
Down in the Badlands, she was savin' 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
California, rest in peace (Do svidaniya)
Simultaneous release (California)
California, show your teeth (Do svidaniya)
She's my priestess, I'm your priest, yeah, yeah
😎😎😎😎
@MomirViggwilv
I think Dani California is one of the most American songs ever written. A story of poverty and violence and struggle, and the bittersweet love that blooms in those conditions.
@chrisdraughn5941
Yeah, this song makes me think of a re-booted Bonnie & Clyde…. Not unlike Noah’s Ark reminds me of my dad, who’d come home drunk, smack my mom, turn our house upside down, and then show up with flowers the next day like nothing happened. God sends this massive flood, wipes out almost everything, and then puts up a rainbow like it’s supposed to fix everything. It’s messed up, you know? At least my dad didn’t drown the whole neighborhood… so there’s that… but the rainbow didn’t really end anything… God is reportedly coming back and next time, he’s not only putting his first through the drywall, he’s bringing fire too…. Why do people say this is a god of love? Maybe in the trailer park where Dani California escaped from, that’s love?
@DT-yr4tx
You are uneducated, definitely 😅
@faulkner146
Yeah grew up poor now a multimillionaire…. Losers will stay losers.
@raphaelwilkes97
This is facts keep fucking talking!!!
@yoyeo1900
@@chrisdraughn5941
God so loves you that he offers salvation through faith. Are you ready to repent and be born again in Jesus?
@evanhalsey1844
This is an awesome song, and one of my favorites by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I remember when I heard this song at a hotel casino in Las Vegas awhile back while vacationing out west. Totally appropriate for that culture.
@K1NG0FW0LV35
The beat is so uplifting but the story is so sad... Rip Dani California.
@vaughanpower4538
The guitar lines are so good and when the instruments meet up the sound is amazing . The use of the different guitar effects is clever. Example the intro to the main guitar lead.
@RobertoZadik-en8zc
Brilliant, fresh and intense Red Hot good song with a special guitar part and the usual charisma of the singer Anthony Kiedis. Great stuff