The song features four guitars all playing completely different riffs. It is a ballad that clocks in at 5:11 making it the third longest recording on the album. It runs through stages, each time repeating the original verse until the song's completion. In between the verses, guitar solos can be heard from the four guitars that play. The first and third lines of the chorus are sung by John Frusciante, while the second and fourth are answered by Anthony Kiedis. Arguably, this piece is a closer reflection of Frusciante's solo albums, such as The Will to Death.
Unfortunately, this song is impossible to be perfectly performed live by the Red Hot Chili Peppers due to the fact that John Frusciante dubbed the song so many times.
Dosed
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Closer than most to you, and
What am I supposed to do?
Take it away
I never had it anyway
Take it away
And everything will be okay
In you, a star is born, and
You cut a perfect form, and
Someone forever warm
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Way up on the mountain where she died
All I ever wanted was your life
Deep inside the canyon, I can't hide
All I ever wanted was your life
Show love with no remorse, and
Climb on to your seahorse, and
This ride is right on course
This is the way I wanted it to be with you
This is the way I knew that it would be with you
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Way up on the mountain where she died
All I ever wanted was your life
Deep inside the canyon, I can't hide
All I ever wanted was your life
I got dosed by you, and
Closer than most to you, and
What am I supposed to do?
Take it away, I never had it anyway
Take it away, and everything will be okay
Way up on the mountain where she died
All I ever wanted was your life
Deep inside the canyon, I can't hide
All I ever wanted was your life
“Dosed” by Red Hot Chili Peppers is a song that illustrates the vulnerability of a person within a romantic relationship. The song talks about how the persona has been emotionally affected by the person he’s in love with. The lines “I got dosed by you, and closer than most to you, and what am I supposed to do?” show that the persona was left helpless to the situation he’s in, after being “dosed” or exposed to their partner’s emotions. He is admitting that he doesn’t know how to handle the intensity of the relationship. The chorus “Take it away, I never had it anyway, take it away, and everything will be okay” implies that he is willing to let go of the relationship, as he feels he has nothing to lose.
The second verse of the song “Way up on the mountain where she died, all I ever wanted was your life, deep inside the canyon I can’t hide, all I ever wanted was your life” can be interpreted as the persona trying to come to terms with death. The lines imply that the persona is struggling to move on from a tragedy and feels unable to accept the situation that he’s in. The song’s chords and melody create a contemplative mood that complements the song’s theme of painful reflection. The lines “Lay on, lay on, lay on” can be seen as a chant-like repetition of the persona's desire to avoid the pain of the situation, perhaps by numbing himself with the effects of the so-called “dose” he received.
Overall, the song has a sad tone and speaks about the struggles of a relationship, the feeling of being dosed with someone's emotions and not knowing how to handle it, and the pain of trying to come to terms with a tragic situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I got dosed by you, and
I fell in love with you and was under your influence, and
Closer than most to you, and
I was closer to you than most people, and
What am I supposed to do?
I don't know what to do in this situation, and
Take it away
Take away my feelings for you,
I never had it anyway
Because I never really had a chance with you,
Take it away
Take away the pain of loving you, and
And everything will be okay
And I will be able to move on, and everything will be alright.
In you, a star is born, and
You have a certain star quality about you, and
You cut a perfect form, and
You have a perfect image, and
Someone forever warm
You are always comforting and welcoming to others, and
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Just keep being there, supporting me, and providing a safe space.
Way up on the mountain where she died
I think of you in a tragic way, like being on a mountain where someone died,
All I ever wanted was your life
All I ever wished for was to be with you, to have your love, and to share a life with you,
Deep inside the canyon, I can't hide
Even though I try to hide from these feelings, they are still deep inside me, and I cannot escape them.
Show love with no remorse, and
Love me without any regrets or hesitations, and
Climb on to your seahorse, and
Ride with me into the adventure of love like we are on a seahorse, and
This ride is right on course
Our journey together is going as it should be, smoothly and steadily, without any obstacles, and
This is the way I wanted it to be with you
Being with you is what I have always wanted, and
This is the way I knew that it would be with you
I always had a feeling that it would be like this, full of love and passion.
Lay on, lay on, lay on, lay on
Just be with me and comfort me in this intimate and safe space we share.
Way up on the mountain where she died
Despite the painful imagery that comes with it, I still think of you as a tragic but beautiful figure,
All I ever wanted was your life
All I ever wanted was to be with you, and to share in the beauty and sadness of life with you.
Deep inside the canyon, I can't hide
Even though I try to keep these feelings to myself, they are still deeply embedded within me and I cannot escape them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Michael Balzary, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Alvarez
on Californication
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The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California
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The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood
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Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation
While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born
Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music
Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong
There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion
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