01-By the Way
The Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Standing in line
To see the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there, waiting for
Dani the girl
Is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee, overload

Steak knife card shark
Con job boot cut

Skin that flick
She's such a little DJ
Get there quick
By street but not the freeway
Turn that trick
To make a little leeway
Beat that nic
But not the way that we play

Dog town blood bath
Rib cage soft tail

Standing in line
To see the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there, waiting for

Black jack dope dick
Pawn shop quick pick
Kiss that dyke
I know you want to hold one
Not on strike
But I'm about to bowl one
Bite that mic
I know you never stole one
Girls that like
A story, so I told one
Song bird, main line
Cash back, hard top

Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani the girl is
Singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee
Oversold
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for

Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah

Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani the girl
Is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee
Of her soul
By the way I tried to say
I know you
From before

Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow




By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "By the Way" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers talk about a person waiting in line to see a show, and there is a "heavy glow" emanating from the event. The songwriter talks about how they tried to communicate to someone named Dani that they would be there waiting for her. Dani is singing songs to the songwriter below the marquee. The lyrics go on to describe various images and actions, such as a "steak knife card shark" and "con job boot cut." The songwriter mentions a "Skin that flick," which refers to a film or movie, and Dani is described as a little DJ. The songwriter urges someone to "get there quick, by street, but not the freeway," turn a trick to make a little leeway, and beat that nic but not the way that they play. The lyrics continue to talk about a "Dogtown bloodbath" and "rib cage soft tail." The songwriter speaks of a black jack dope dick, pawn shop quick pick, kissing that dyke, and knowing everyone wants to hold one. The songwriter says they're not on strike but is about to bowl one and bite that mic, knowing that they've never stolen it. The lyrics continue to describe "songbird mainline," "cashback hardtop," and talk about Dani singing under the marquee, oversold. As the song ends, the songwriter says, "I know you from before," and proclaims again that they'll be waiting for Dani.


Line by Line Meaning

Standing in line
Waiting in a queue


To see the show tonight
Waiting to attend the concert tonight


And there's a light on
The venue has a bright light


Heavy glow
Intense brightness


By the way I tried to say
In addition, I attempted to express


I'd be there, waiting for
I'll be there, anticipating the arrival of


Dani the girl
Referring to a girl named Dani


Is singing songs to me
Dani is performing for me


Beneath the marquee, overload
Under the venue's marquees with overwhelming excitement


Steak knife card shark
Someone who cheats at card games with a sharp instrument


Con job boot cut
Dishonesty involving bootlegging and deception


Skin that flick
Take off that film


She's such a little DJ
She is a small but excellent disc jockey


Get there quick
Hurry up and get there


By street but not the freeway
Travel by side roads, not freeways


Turn that trick
Perform that feat


To make a little leeway
To gain some small advantages


Beat that nic
Conquer that addiction


But not the way that we play
But not with the same methods we use


Dog town blood bath
An intense and bloody fight in a rough neighborhood


Rib cage soft tail
A specific type of motorcycle frame


Black jack dope dick
A person who is addicted to gambling and drugs


Pawn shop quick pick
Rapidly choosing items at a pawn shop


Kiss that dyke
Kiss a lesbian


I know you want to hold one
You desire to have a homosexual experience


Not on strike
Not currently in labor strike


But I'm about to bowl one
But I'm about to smoke marijuana


Bite that mic
Hold the microphone tightly with your teeth


I know you never stole one
You have never stolen a microphone


Girls that like
Girls who appreciate


A story, so I told one
A narrative that I recounted


Song bird, main line
A talented singer and a prominent location


Cash back, hard top
A type of vehicle with a retractable roof and guaranteed satisfaction


Of her soul
Referring to the inner essence of Dani


I know you from before
I recognize you from a previous encounter


Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
An expression of disappointment or skepticism




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., MoeBeToBlame
Written by: ANTHONY KIEDIS, MICHAEL BALZARY, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, CHAD SMITH

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

@ceeessy

LETRA/LYRIC

Standing in line to see the show tonight
And there's a light on, heavy glow
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani, the girl, is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee, overload

Steak knife, card shark
Con job, boot cut
Skin that flick, she's such a little DJ
Get there quick by street, but not the freeway
Turn that trick to make a little leeway
Beat that nic, but not the way that we play
Dogtown, blood bath
Rib cage, soft tail

Standing in line to see the show tonight
And there's a light on, heavy glow
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for

Black Jack, dope dick
Pawn shop, quick pick
Kiss that dyke, I know you want to hold one
Not on strike, but I'm about to bowl one
Bite that mic, I know you never stole one
Girls that like a story, so I told one
Song bird, main line
Cash back, hard top

Standing in line to see the show tonight
And there's a light on, heavy glow
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani, the girl, is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee, oversold
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for

Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah, guess you never meant it
Oh, ah

Standing in line to see the show tonight
And there's a light on, heavy glow
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani, the girl, is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee, oversold
By the way, I tried to say
I know you from before

Standing in line to see the show tonight
And there's a light on, heavy glow
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for



@burdenthrive3204

Standing in line
To see the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there, waiting for
Dani the girl
Is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee, overload
Steak knife card shark
Con job boot cut
Skin that flick
She's such a little DJ
Get there quick
By street but not the freeway
Turn that trick
To make a little leeway
Beat that nic
But not the way that we play
Dog town blood bath
Rib cage soft tail
Standing in line
To see the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there, waiting for
Black jack dope dick
Pawn shop quick pick
Kiss that dyke
I know you want to hold one
Not on strike
But I'm about to bowl one
Bite that mic
I know you never stole one
Girls that like
A story, so I told one
Song bird, main line
Cash back, hard top
Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani the girl is
Singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee
Oversold
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah
Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Dani the girl
Is singing songs to me
Beneath the marquee
Of her soul
By the way I tried to say
I know you
From before
Standing in line to
See the show tonight
And there's a light on
Heavy glow
By the way I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for



All comments from YouTube:

@RedHotChiliPeppers

It has been confirmed that the Red Hot Chili Peppers will embark on a world tour in 2022! Sign up on https://redhotchilipeppers.com for more information.

@Myrrsito

It has been confirmed that i'll be there no mather what.

@albertmontero8729

yes

@tamandua9271

FINALLY

@damianrodriguez2866

Yuhhh

@JB-eg9jc

WOOO

129 More Replies...

@RedHotChiliPeppers

On this day in 2002, the music video for “By The Way” was released. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

@miriamvazquezxD

<3

@autumwilliams7949

This is one of my favorite RHCP'S songs none stop head banging!! I'm talking
major brain DAMAGE!! [?]

@Liquidmax1

again cant wacth, supouse to be my favorite band and they block my country 

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