They're Red Hot
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hot tamales and they're red hot
Yeah, she got 'em for sale, hey
Hot tamales and they're red hot
Oh, she got 'em for sale

I got a girl, say she long and tall
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
Hot tamales and they're red hot
Oh, she got 'em for sale

And she got 'em for sale, oh yeah well
Hot tamales and they're red hot
Yeah, she got 'em for sale, uh-huh
Hot tamales and they're red hot

Yeah, she got 'em for sale
You know the monkey, now the baboon playing in the grass
Well, the monkey stuck his finger in that ol' "good gulf gas", now hey
Hot tamales and they're red hot

Oh, she got 'em for sale, I mean um
And she got 'em for sale, oh yeah well
Hot tamales and they're red hot
Yeah, she got 'em for sale, oh-well

Hot tamales and they're red hot
Oh, she got 'em for sale
She got two for a nickel, four for a dime
Would sell you more, but they ain't none of mine, so, hey

Hot tamales and they're red hot
Well, she got 'em for sale, I mean um
And she got 'em for sale, oh yeah
Hot tamales and they're red hot

Oh, she got 'em for sale, yeah, yeah
Hot tamales and they're red hot
Oh, she got 'em for sale
I'm gonna upset your backbone, put your kidneys to sleep

I'll due to break 'way your liver and dare your heart to beat 'bout my, hey
Hot tamales and they're red hot




Well, she got 'em for sale, I mean yeah
And she got 'em for sale, oh yeah

Overall Meaning

"They're Red Hot" is a song sung by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that is an adaptation of Robert Johnson's 1936 song of the same name. The song is primarily built on vocals, with dirty bass, percussive clapping, and stamping rhythms. The lyrics of the song describe a woman selling hot tamales that are so hot they will "upset your backbone, put your kidneys to sleep," implying just how spicy they are. One of the verses of the song talks about a monkey who got his finger in "good gulf gas," referencing an oil spill, which was the result of the standard oil company called "Gulf Oil's" faulty oil drilling causing oil to leak onto the gulf of mexico - this noxious smell can be naturally conceived as spicy or "red hot" and thus adds onto the already spicy and "red hot" tamales.


The song is also known for its repetition, where the verse "Hot tamales and they're red hot, oh, she got 'em for sale" is repeated continuously throughout the song. It has a blues and rock melody typical but also represents the RHCP's (Red Hot Chili Peppers) ability to cross genres with their music.


Line by Line Meaning

Hot tamales and they're red hot
Referring to the spicy Latin American dish, emphasizing its heat and appealing taste


Yeah, she got 'em for sale, hey
Someone selling hot tamales, promoting them


I got a girl, say she long and tall
Introducing a girl, describing her height


Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
Illustrating the absurdity of the girl's sleeping habits


And she got 'em for sale, oh yeah well
Reiterating that the girl is selling hot tamales


You know the monkey, now the baboon playing in the grass
Telling a story about monkeys playing in the grass


Well, the monkey stuck his finger in that ol' "good gulf gas", now hey
Describing the monkey putting its finger in gasoline, indicating its mischievous nature


Yeah, she got 'em for sale, uh-huh
Re-emphasizing that someone is selling hot tamales


She got two for a nickel, four for a dime
Advising the listeners of the price of hot tamales


Would sell you more, but they ain't none of mine, so, hey
Explaining that the seller cannot offer more hot tamales for purchase


I'm gonna upset your backbone, put your kidneys to sleep
Promising to deliver an intense experience and enjoy the hot tamales


I'll due to break 'way your liver and dare your heart to beat 'bout my, hey
Expressing the desire to push oneself to extremes while consuming the hot tamales


Oh, she got 'em for sale, I mean um
Repeating that someone is selling hot tamales, but with some hesitation


Hot tamales and they're red hot
Ending the song with a reminder of the spicy and delicious hot tamales




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Robert Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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