Sick Love
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


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Say goodbye to Oz and everything you own
California dreamin' is a Pettibon
LA's screaming you're my home
Vanity is blasted but it's rarely fair
I could smell the Prozac in your pretty hair
Got a lot of friends, but is anyone there

I don't know but it's been said
Your heart is stronger than your head
And this location is my home

Stick 'n move you're living in a quick world
Got a heavy laugh for such a tiny girl
Born into it that's for sure

Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected, well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective
How your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliché

People talk and tell you what you want to hear
Do you really need another souvenir
Super heroes tend to disappear
Fame is just a trick you see an empty glass
Leave you feeling thirsty and so very fast
Chase your tail my baby it'll be your last

I don't know but it's been said
Your heart is stronger than your head
And this location is my home

Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected, well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective
How your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliché

Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected, well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective
How your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliché





Openly defective is the lover you elected and
A portrait she was bound to portray

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sick Love by Red Hot Chili Peppers touch on themes of disillusionment with fame and the superficiality of Hollywood. In the first verse, the song references leaving behind the fantasy land of Oz and describing California as “dreamin’” instead of a reality. The singer finds their home in the screaming chaos of LA, despite the vanity and artificiality of the city. The line, “I could smell the Prozac in your pretty hair,” suggests a numbing of emotions to deal with the superficiality of fame and life in Hollywood.


The chorus addresses the idea that love can be both healing and destructive. Sick love is the “modern cliche,” as people often find themselves caught in toxic relationships, unable to break free. The second verse describes the singer’s sense of feeling trapped in a fast-paced world. They describe themselves as living in a “quick world” where they are constantly on the move. This ties in with the theme of disillusionment, as they realize that fame and superficiality are not what they expected.


The final verse touches on themes of fame and the illusion of superheroes. People tell the singer what they want to hear, and they find that fame is an empty glass that leaves them feeling thirsty for something more. In the end, the singer is left feeling disillusioned, suggesting that the lover they have elected to portray is openly defective.


Overall, Sick Love is a song about disillusionment and the price of fame. The lyrics address themes of superficiality, destructive relationships, and the emptiness of stardom.


Line by Line Meaning

Say goodbye to Oz and everything you own
Bid farewell to your previous life along with all your possessions.


California dreamin' is a Pettibon
The idea of living a carefree life in California is represented by the art of Raymond Pettibon.


LA's screaming you're my home
The noisy streets of Los Angeles make it a place of belonging.


Vanity is blasted but it's rarely fair
Although the culture of promoting personal appearance has been criticized, it does not prevent people from being superficial.


I could smell the Prozac in your pretty hair
Your lovely locks may give the impression of a happy self, but there's a chance that you're being medicated to get there.


Got a lot of friends, but is anyone there
Having a bunch of social connections doesn't necessarily mean that it's anything more than that.


Stick 'n move you're living in a quick world
The environment you're living in operates at a fast pace and requires you to be quick on your feet.


Got a heavy laugh for such a tiny girl
You have a big and boisterous laugh for someone of your stature.


Born into it that's for sure
It's not something you acquired, it's something you were always a part of.


Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected, well
Relationships are formed in ways that are often surprising.


Sick love comes to wash us away
Unhealthy relationships can have a harmful impact on our lives.


Prisons of perspective
Our point of view can become our own jail cell.


How your vision gets corrected and
It's possible for your sight to be improved.


Sick love is my modern cliché
My current relationship is reminiscent of something that's often overdone.


People talk and tell you what you want to hear
Folks often provide you with feedback that is agreeable to hear.


Do you really need another souvenir
Is it essential for you to add more material items to your collection?


Super heroes tend to disappear
Individuals that are put on a pedestal are eventually forgotten about.


Fame is just a trick you see an empty glass
Celebrity culture is an illusion that is ultimately lacking substance.


Leave you feeling thirsty and so very fast
It only provides momentary fulfillment before leaving you wanting more.


Chase your tail my baby it'll be your last
If you pursue something endlessly without any progress, it may be your downfall.


Openly defective is the lover you elected and
You chose a partner who is openly flawed.


A portrait she was bound to portray
The image she portrays is inevitable and predetermined.


I don't know but it's been said
There's a common saying.


Your heart is stronger than your head
Your emotional impulses may overpower your logical reasoning at times.


And this location is my home
This place is where I feel at home.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: JOSH ADAM KLINGHOFFER, CHAD SMITH, MICHAEL PETER BALZARY, ELTON JOHN, BERNARD J.P. TAUPIN, ANTHONY KIEDIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@johnnydeppisarapistjohnnyd8962

UPI ARCHIVES
 
APRIL 3, 1990 
Singer Anthony Kiedis convicted of sexual battery, indecent exposure

Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis performs live on stage. File photo by C.L. Cornish/UPI | License Photo
FAIRFAX, Va. -- The lead singer of the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers was convicted Tuesday of sexual battery and indecent exposure after a concert in suburban Washington, D.C.

Anthony Kiedis, 27, of Los Angeles, was accused of touching a woman's face with his penis after a concert at George Mason University in Fairfax County on April 21, 1989.

The woman, a student at GMU who served on the university's program board, said the incident occurred outside the band's dressing room after the concert.

Circuit Court jurors recommended that Kiedis be fined $1,000 on each charge. He could have received up to 60 days in jail.

Judge Michael McWeeny set sentencing for Friday. Under Virginia law, McWeeny can impose the jury's recommendation or reduce it, but he cannot increase it.

The Circuit Court trial was an appeal of a ruling by a lower court judge, who found Kiedis guilty of both charges and sentenced him to 60 days in jail.

Kiedis denied ever touching the woman but others said they saw the incident and a band member admitted he made an encouraging statement.

Fans of the rock band, whose music is described as 'white funk,' packed the courtroom during the two days of testimony.

The band's latest album, 'Mother's Milk,' includes the hit songs 'Knock Me Down,' and a remake of the Stevie Wonder tune 'Higher Ground.'

l'k;jlkbj



@fiammavillegas8116

Say goodbye to Oz and everything you own
California dreamin' is a Pettibon
LA's screaming you're my home
Vanity is blasted but it's rarely fair
I could smell the Prozac in your pretty hair
Got a lot of friends, but is anyone there

I don't know but it's been said
Your heart is stronger than your head
And this location is my home

Stick n move you're living in a quick world
Got a heavy laugh for such a tiny girl
Born into it that's for sure

Rivers get connected, so much stronger than expected well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective, how your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliche

People talk and tell you what you want to hear
Do you really need another souvenir
Super heroes tend to disappear
Fame is just a trick you see an empty glass
Leave you feeling thirsty and so very fast
Chase your tail my baby it'll be your last

I don't know but it's been said
Your heart is stronger than your head
And this location is my home

Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective, how your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliche

Rivers get connected so much stronger than expected well
Sick love comes to wash us away
Prisons of perspective, how your vision gets corrected and
Sick love is my modern cliche

Openly defective is the lover you elected and
A portrait she was bound to portray



All comments from YouTube:

@wasser8258

My favorite song from the album. Josh couldn´t replace John and John can´t replace Josh. Both are very talented and unique human beings

@cuttingaway123

Yep

@ohadaharoni1955

!

@1sportsangel

Agreed!

@NevDawg34

Good take.

@nevitsp7844

@Zayden Jose wut

27 More Replies...

@jeremylycan3565

Played this at my dads funeral. He was an old school guy but, this was the only new era song I’d catch him listening to in the living room by himself.

@Rockited

Josh really filled the gap when John was gone. Hope he takes his talent to another band and that band will be very lucky to have him. He proved himself to be a very talented guitarist and all rhcp fans wish him well.

@savoniarickwa6723

Josh plays with pearl jam now

@merrillolen9555

​@@savoniarickwa6723Now he plays with Jane's addiction.

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