Read Full Bio ↴This song is a cover of a Sly & The Family Stone track of the same name.
This song is about a man who has 'had enough' of a girl that is taking advantage of him. She is keeping him around as a 'backup' and he's finally taking a stand to say he's had enough. He has decided that he will stop all contact with her and hope that eventually, when she finally decides to make him number one, she'll be the same woman he fell in love with.
If You Want Me to Stay
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be available for you to see
I'm about to go there then you'll know
For me to stay here I've got to be me
You'll never be in doubt that's what it's all about
You can't take me for granted and smile
Count the days I'm gone
'Cause I promise I'll be gone for a while
And when you see me again I hope that you have been
The kind of person that you really are now
You got to get it straight
How could I ever be late
When you're my woman taking up my time
Oh how could I ever allow
I guess I wonder how
I could get out a pocket for fun
When you know that you're never number two
Number one's gonna be number one
I'll be good I wish I could get this message over to you now
When you see me again I hope that you have been
The kind of person that you really are now
I'll be so good I wish I could
Get this message over to you now
Get this message over to you now
I'll be so good I wish I could
The lyrics to "If You Want Me To Stay" by Red Hot Chili Peppers are a message of self-preservation and self-respect. The singer is telling his partner that he will be available to see them now, but he needs to be true to himself in order to stay. He cannot be taken for granted or smiled at while he is away. He promises to be gone for a while, and the partner should not try to reach him by phone.
The singer hopes that when he returns, his partner will have become the type of person they have always wanted to be. The lyrics suggest that the partner may be causing some stress or strain on the relationship. The singer can't allow himself to be number two or play games. He will be good, and he wishes he could get this message over to them now.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that when there is love, it is important to communicate and respect each other's needs and boundaries. The singer is asserting his power to be himself and to make sure that his partner respects that. He has made it clear that he will not tolerate being taken for granted or being made to feel unimportant.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want me to stay I'll be around today
I am willing to stay if you want me around today
To be available for you to see
I'll make myself available for you to see
I'm about to go there then you'll know
I'm about to leave, and when I do, you'll know
For me to stay here I've got to be me
I can only stay if I can be myself
You'll never be in doubt that's what it's all about
You should never doubt that this is what it's all about
You can't take me for granted and smile
You can't take me for granted and act like everything is fine
Count the days I'm gone
Count the days I'll be away
Forget reachin' me by phone
Don't bother trying to reach me by phone
'Cause I promise I'll be gone for a while
Because I promise I'll be away for a while
And when you see me again I hope that you have been
When you see me again, I hope you've become
The kind of person that you really are now
The kind of person you truly are today
You got to get it straight
You need to understand
How could I ever be late
I could never be late
When you're my woman taking up my time
When you're my partner, taking up my time
Oh how could I ever allow
Oh, how could I let myself
I guess I wonder how
I suppose I'm curious how
I could get out a pocket for fun
I could cheat for fun
When you know that you're never number two
When you know you're always my top priority
Number one's gonna be number one
My top priority will always be my top priority
I'll be good I wish I could get this message over to you now
I'll be good, and I wish I could make you understand this message immediately
Get this message over to you now
Make you understand this message immediately
I'll be so good I wish I could
I'll be so good, and I wish I could
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Alvarez
on Californication
People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions
Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes
If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be
California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society
Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world
Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream
Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging
The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image
The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California
The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California
Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world
Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age
Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream
Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality
Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm
The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood
People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary
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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