She's Only 18
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She's only eighteen
Don't like the Rollin' Stones
She took a short cut
To bein' fully grown
She got that mood ring
Her little sister, Rose
A smell of Springsteen
A pair of pantyhose

This talking picture show is leaking from a silhouette
She said, "My man, you know, it's time to get your fingers wet"
You hustle faster when you can't afford a cigarette
The last I heard from you, why, you were screamin', "Handle it!"

Knock the world
Right off its feet and straight onto its head
The book of love will long be laughing after you are dead
Fascinated by the look of you and what was said
Make a play for all the brightest minds in life will share

I heard some P-Funk
Out on the road again
To get your head shrunk is what I recommend
It's in your bloodline
A perfect Frankenstein
Out on the lone pine
I'm gonna make you mine
It's understood, you wrap the fool right around my neck
You've got some glitter on ya kitty in the disco tech
I put my lovin' in your oven and I had to check
The last I heard from you a you we're screamin', "Resurrect!"

Knock the world
Right off its feet and straight onto its head
The book of love will long be laughing after you are dead
Fascinated by the look of you and what was said
Make a play for all the brightest minds in life will share, ooh

Knock the world
Right off its feet and straight onto its head
The book of love will long be laughing after you are dead




Fascinated by the look of you and what was said
Make a play for all the brightest minds in life will share

Overall Meaning

The song "She's Only 18" by Red Hot Chili Peppers is a combination of sexually-charged lyrics and a groovy instrumental that reflects on the young woman's physical maturity and sexual awakening. The lyrics suggest that she is not a fan of the Rolling Stones but has taken a shortcut to becoming a fully grown woman. The mood ring she wears and her little sister, Rose, and the smell of Springsteen, and a pair of pantyhose all represent references to elements of a 1980s American pop culture.


The verses are cohesive, where a talking picture show is leaking from a silhouette, urging the singer to get his fingers wet. Alluding to the woman's mature body, he emphasized that when someone doesn’t have a lot of money, they work faster. Red Hot Chili Peppers included the reference to the screaming "handle it” as a compelling phrase in their repertoire. A play on words that showcases the characters' difficulty in handling their situation.


The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "Knock the world right off its feet, and straight onto its head. The book of love will long be laughing after you are dead. Fascinated by the look of you and what was said. Make a play for all the brightest minds in life will share." This phrase reflects the singer's desire to leave a mark on the world, to be remembered for his actions, and to make a lasting difference in the world. The chorus also highlights the fascination with the woman and the things she says, that she has had an impact on him that affects his entire perspective on life.


Line by Line Meaning

She's only eighteen
The subject is young and inexperienced.


Don't like the Rollin' Stones
The subject has different tastes in music than the singer.


She took a short cut to bein' fully grown
The subject may have matured too quickly or taken a shortcut to adulthood.


She got that mood ring
The subject wears a mood ring, which may reflect her emotions.


Her little sister, Rose
The subject has a younger sister named Rose.


A smell of Springsteen
The subject may have a connection to the music of Bruce Springsteen.


A pair of pantyhose
The subject wears pantyhose, which may be seen as suggestive.


This talking picture show is leaking from a silhouette
The artist may be seeing a distorted reflection of the subject.


She said, 'My man, you know, it's time to get your fingers wet'
The subject is encouraging the artist to take action.


You hustle faster when you can't afford a cigarette
The artist may be suggesting that the subject is struggling financially.


The last I heard from you, why, you were screamin', 'Handle it!'
The singer is recalling a previous conversation with the subject, in which they were told to 'handle it.'


Knock the world right off its feet and straight onto its head
The artist is suggesting that the subject can have a powerful impact on the world.


The book of love will long be laughing after you are dead
The singer is suggesting that the subject will have a lasting impact on the world, even after they have passed away.


Fascinated by the look of you and what was said
The singer is intrigued by the subject's appearance and words.


Make a play for all the brightest minds in life will share
The singer is advising the subject to pursue the most intelligent and creative people in life.


I heard some P-Funk out on the road again
The artist has recently heard music by Parliament-Funkadelic while on tour.


To get your head shrunk is what I recommend
The artist is suggesting that the subject seek therapy.


It's in your bloodline, a perfect Frankenstein
The subject may have inherited certain traits from their family that make them unique.


Out on the lone pine, I'm gonna make you mine
The singer is declaring their intention to pursue a romantic relationship with the subject.


It's understood, you wrap the fool right around my neck
The subject has a strong influence over the artist.


You've got some glitter on ya kitty in the disco tech
The subject may have had a wild night out, as evidenced by the glitter on their clothing.


I put my lovin' in your oven and I had to check
The artist may be implying that they had sex with the subject and are now checking for pregnancy.


The last I heard from you, you were screamin', 'Resurrect!'
The singer is recalling a previous conversation with the subject, in which they were told to 'resurrect.'




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Alex Alvarez


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