Andrew Perry of The Observer notes that within the dreamy, anthemic atmosphere of “Slow Cheetah,” the Chili Peppers transmute their funk and metal into a much mellower and softer style, whilst sacrificing little of their passion and energy. David M. Goldstein of Cokemachineglow writes that “Slow Cheetah” is “an example of how the band has learned to function in slower tempos without inducing sleep.” Stadium Arcadium received generally positive reviews, and even won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2007.
For much of Stadium Arcadium, guitarist John Frusciante experiments with a vast array of synthesized effects, many of which are reminiscent of the idiosyncratic timbres found on 2004’s Shadows Collide With People. The ghostly outro of “Slow Cheetah” is a clear example of Frusciante’s affinity for psychedelia, and provides a stark contrast to the song’s acoustic beginning. The backwards guitar at the song’s outro is similar to 1991’s “Give It Away”, where Frusciante used the same technique. Both “Slow Cheetah” and “Give It Away” draw heavily from Jimi Hendrix’s guitar technique in “Castles Made of Sand,” as well as from the famous backmasking in the Beatles' song “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Flea’s bass in “Slow Cheetah” is characteristic of his minimalist techniques found in By The Way and Stadium Arcadium – a radical departure from his funky, slap-bass style commonly used on pre-Californication albums.
Slow Cheetah
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waking up dead, inside of my head
Would never, never do
There is no med-, no medicine to take
I've had a chance to be insane, asylum from the falling rain
I've had a chance to break
Mysterious girl misunderstood, dressed like a wedding cake
Any other day and I might play a funeral march for Bonnie Brae
Why try and run away?
Slow cheetah, come before my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah, come, it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
I knew a girl
She worked in a store, she knew not what her life was for
She barely knew her name
They tried to tell her she would never be as happy as a girl in a magazine
She bought it with her pay
Slow cheetah, come before my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah, come, it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
Everyone has so much to say
They talk, talk, talk their lives away
Don't even hesitate
Walking on down to the burial ground
It's a very old dance with a merry old sound
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah, come before my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah, come, it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
Slow cheetah, come before my forest
Looks like it's on today
Slow cheetah, come, it's so euphoric
No matter what they say
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Slow Cheetah" tell a story of letting go of societal norms and embracing a more natural way of living. The vocalist, Anthony Kiedis, speaks of waking up "dead inside of [his] head" and realizing that there is no medication that can truly heal him. He then reflects on moments in his life where he has been close to insanity and could have broken down, but ultimately found strength to persevere. The imagery of a "mysterious girl misunderstood, dressed like a wedding cake" serves as a metaphor for the expectation of conformity that society places on individuals.
The chorus of the song calls for a "slow cheetah" to come before Kiedis' "forest," symbolizing a need for change and growth in his life. He describes the feeling as "euphoric" and states that it doesn't matter what others may say. The lyrics then introduce a character, a "girl who worked in a store," who has been told that she cannot be as happy as the women she sees in magazines. This verse serves as a commentary on the pressure society puts on women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards.
The final verse speaks to the idea that everyone has something to say, but it often amounts to nothing more than empty talk. The imagery of walking to the "burial ground" represents a letting go of societal expectations and embracing a more natural way of living. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus, emphasizing the need for growth and the willingness to reject societal norms in order to achieve it.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking up dead inside of my head
Starting the day feeling numb and disconnected from reality
Will never never do there is no med
This state of mind cannot be alleviated by medication
No medicine to take
There is no quick fix for this emotional pain
I've had a chance to be insane
I've experienced moments of madness
Asylum from the falling rain
Finding refuge from life's hardships
I've had a chance to break
I've hit rock bottom
It's so bad it's got to be good
The situation is so terrible that it can only get better
Mysterious girl misunderstood
A girl who is enigmatic and often misjudged by others
Dressed like a wedding cake
Wearing ostentatious clothing that makes her stand out
Any other day and I might play
Under different circumstances, I might act differently
A funeral march for Bonnie Brae
Mourning the loss of something or someone
Why try and run away
Why bother escaping when there is nowhere to go
Slow cheetah come
A request for something beautiful and wild to appear
Before my forest
Before my inner landscape
Looks like it's on today
Seems like something important is happening today
It's so euphoric
It's such an intense feeling of happiness
No matter what they say
Regardless of what others think or say about it
I know a girl
An introduction to a story about a girl
She worked in a store
Her occupation
She knew not what
She was unsure of her purpose
Her life was for
What her existence meant
She barely knew her name
She had a weak sense of self-identity
They tried to tell her
Others attempted to advise her
She would never be
She would not achieve the level of success or happiness that others have
As happy as the girl
As content and satisfied as someone else
In the magazine
In the media's portrayal of what success and happiness looks like
She bought it with her pay
She believed what she saw and heard, and purchased into the idea
Everyone has
A statement on society in general
So much to say
People are always talking frequently and loudly
They talk talk talk
Non-stop chatter
Their lives away
Wasting time and energy on meaningless conversations
Don't even hesitate
No need to hold back, speak your truth
Walking on down
A direction to move forward
To the burial ground
A place of death and finality
It's a very old dance
A long-standing yet monotonous routine
With a merry old sound
A facade of joy amidst the bleakness
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Balzary, John Anthony Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith
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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