Strings Quartet -
Vitamin String Quartet Lyrics


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Getting born in the state of Mississippi
Papa was a copper and mama was a hippie
In Alabama she would swing a hammer
Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world does your company take me for

Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
On her merry way sayin'; baby whatcha gonna
Lookin' down the barrel of a hot metal .45
Just another way to survive

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

She's a lover baby and a fighter
Shoulda seen it coming when it got a little brighter
With a name like Dani California
The day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little loaded, she was stealing another breath
I love my baby to death

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

Who knew the other side of you?
Who knew that others died to prove
Too true to say good bye to you
Too true, too sad sad sad..

Push the fader gifted animator
One for the now and eleven for the later

Never made it up to minnesota
North dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota

Down in the badlands she was savin' the best for last
It only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast..

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release,
California show your teeth,
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release,
California show your teeth,




She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as interpreted by the Vitamin String Quartet, tell the story of a woman named Dani growing up in the American South. Her father was a police officer in Mississippi, while her mother was a hippie from Alabama. Despite their differing backgrounds, Dani grew up in poverty and never knew that there was anything other than being poor. She turns to a life of crime and becomes a bank robber, always on the run and looking for her next score. The singer notes that he should have seen her downfall coming, but he loved her “to death.”


The chorus of the song talks about California, which serves as a metaphor for a place that represents a fresh start. The idea of “resting in peace” and “simultaneous release” refers to the ups and downs of life, the good and the bad, and reveals Dani’s search for the next phase in her life. The twist in the end of the story is Dani's tragic end, dying too young and leaving the singer and the listener with a feeling of immense sadness.


Line by Line Meaning

Getting born in the state of Mississippi
The singer was born in Mississippi


Papa was a copper and mama was a hippie
Her father was a police officer and her mother was a hippie


In Alabama she would swing a hammer
When she was in Alabama, she worked as a laborer


Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
Working hard comes with consequences


She never knew that there was anything more than poor
The singer used to be poor and didn't know there was more to life


What in the world does your company take me for
The singer questions what people think of her


Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
The singer is wearing a black bandanna and is in Louisiana


Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She robbed a bank in Indiana


She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
The singer describes herself as a runner, rebel, and attractive


On her merry way sayin'; baby whatcha gonna
The singer is asking someone what they're going to do


Lookin' down the barrel of a hot metal .45
The singer is facing a gun


Just another way to survive
The singer is doing whatever it takes to survive


California rest in peace
The singer is addressing California and wishing for it to be at peace


Simultaneous release
Something is happening at the same moment


California show your teeth
The singer is asking California to show its strength


She's my priestess, I'm your priest
The singer is in a romantic relationship


She's a lover baby and a fighter
The singer describes herself as both loving and fighting


Shoulda seen it coming when it got a little brighter
The singer should have been aware of the situation when it improved


With a name like Dani California
The singer's name is Dani California


The day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
The singer knew that someday she would be sad about the relationship ending


A little loaded, she was stealing another breath
The singer was under the influence and struggling to breathe


I love my baby to death
The singer loves her partner very much


Who knew the other side of you?
The singer is wondering about her partner's other side


Who knew that others died to prove
Others have died to prove something


Too true to say good bye to you
The singer cannot bear to say goodbye to her partner


Push the fader gifted animator
Someone is using a mixing board to control the sound


One for the now and eleven for the later
One song is being made now and eleven more will be made later


Never made it up to minnesota
The singer never went to Minnesota


North dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota
Someone in North Dakota was trying to meet a quota


Down in the badlands she was savin' the best for last
The singer saved the best for last in a place known as the badlands


It only hurts when I laugh
The singer is masking her pain with laughter


Gone too fast..
Something ended too quickly




Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante, Michael Balzary

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

@citraamanda5860

Tell me somethin', girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for?
I'm fallin'
In all the good times I find myself longin' for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself
Tell me something, boy
Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore?
I'm falling
In all the good times I find myself longing for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself
I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-llow
We're far from the shallow now
Oh, ha-ah-ah
Ah, ha-ah-ah, oh, ah
Ha-ah-ah-ah
I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-llow
We're far from the shallow now



All comments from YouTube:

@mewtationnation3554

I don’t think many people realize how hard it is to play string instruments this flawlessly.

@user-tq9vs6fc9u

The violist in this piece is magnificent. Love that all parts get a moment in the spotlight.

@heychizito3273

These guys deserve more recognition!

@blairraker

I'm so glad you are finally making videos where we can see your faces and watch you play! My students really enjoy this one and Sunflower, but we need more!

@francescacois9317

So touching and beautifully played!

@eltongremio2395

Muito maravilhoso
Adorei ter encontrado vocês hoje.
Virei fã instantaneamente.
Thanks

@Kevin-nk7tk

Thanks for always making great music ❤️

@functioning_adequately

This is so good. Your music always makes me tear up. So evocative.

@brunavaneza3750

Simplesmente perfeito.

@marlinm4244

Such a beautiful cover. >.< anticipated getting to that part at 2:32 Hearing it through the violin = actual chills~

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