I'm an ocean in your bedroom
Make you feel warm
Make you want to reassume
Now we know it all for sure

I'm a dancehall, dirty break beat
Make the snow fall up from underneath your feet
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

I'm a meth lab, first rehab
Take it all off and step inside the running cab
There's a love that knows the way

I'm the rainbow in your jail cell
All the memories of everything you've ever smelled
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

Oh (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)

I'm an inbred and a pothead
Two legs that you spread inside the tool shed
Now we know it all for sure

I could show you to the free field
Overcome and more will always be revealed
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)

Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
There's a match, now let me light it (more will be revealed, my friend)

I'm the bloodstain on your shirt sleeve
Coming down and more, coming to believe
Now we know it all for sure

Make the hair stand up on your arm
Teach you how to dance inside the funny farm
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

I'll be there, tell me when you want to go
Come again, and tell me when you want to go
More will be revealed my friend


Lyrics submitted by on_a_plain_11, edited by ProbeAway

Don't Forget Me Lyrics as written by John Frusciante Michael Balzary

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Don't Forget Me song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    "don't forget me" competes as my favorite red hot song. it is an absolutely amazing, riveting song that literally touches something inside of me everytime i listen to it. i believe the overall message is so simple yet so touching: two lovers have ended their relationship and he simply does not want her to forget him. here are my interpretations of my favorite lines of the song:

    "i'm an ocean in your bedroom, make you feel warm make you want to reassume, now we know all it all for sure" - he knows that he has affected this woman and that he is so large and encompassing in her life, hence the ocean in the bedroom. he knows he can make her feel good, and now that their relationship is over, they can finally realize and know all the aspects of their time together.

    "i'm the rainbow in your jail cell, all the memories of everything you've ever smelled" - again, he is a glimpse of hope, light, and color in her small, trapped, sheltered world. his presence in her life reminds her of everything in her life, and he is so much a part of her that every moment in her life, even those that did not include him, are now somehow connected to him forever.

    "sideways falling, more will be revealed my friend, don't forget me i can't hide it, come again get me excited" - he is so affected by the end of this relationship that he feels as if he is falling sideways and walking and living all off balance. he knows more about their relationship will come to light after it has ended now, but he so desperately does not want her to forget him. and truthfully, all he desires is for her to come back to him again and return to him so that he can feel the excitement and vigor of life.

    "i'm the blood stain on your shirt sleeve" - although it may seem as if this line is referencing drugs, i believe it symbolizes how he gave his heart and soul to this girl, so much so that it is almost as if he bled for her, and his love for her was so strong that it metaphorically visible on her shirt, able to be noticed when looking at her life

    "make the hair stand up on your arm" - this simply references how he knows their entire relationship and experience together was so meaningful and real that the mere thought of it can send goosebumps through the body. their amazing connection was so deep that it affects the body subconciously

    "i'll be there, tell me when you wanna go" - this line that concludes the song includes his last words to her: telling her that he will always be there for her, will always have her in his heart and that if she were to desire to return to their love, he would instantaneously meet her. he will be ready for her love again, ready to go for her and with her the moment she says she wants to.

    A beautiful song, lyrically and musically. one of rhcp's best in my opinion. I can listen to this song over and over again, and it never fails to inspire a myriad of deep emotions and memories inside of me.

    megan082591on March 31, 2010   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    For my money one of the best songs they have ever done.

    As far as the meaning goes, I've always looked at this as a commentary on the battle with addiction. He can't forget it because it is always there in the background, reminding him of what life was like, and how he felt when he was high. No matter what he does its always there, trying to tempt him to use again and he will never really be alone because that voice will constantly be there in the background.

    It's a really powerful song and I feel like it captures the mindset of a recovering addict better, and in a way that is more chillingly real, than anything else I've ever heard.

    You know, or maybe it's just about puppies...

    greyman33on October 18, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I read somewhere that this song was written for John Fru, when he was deep in addiction, describing the lures of his addiction (something which AK would know very well) and how AK was concerned for him, hence "You're not alone, I'll be there, tell me when you want to go" -- "go" meaning to rehab. I love that the first chorus is followed by a spell-blinding guitar solo that expresses how JF would be feeling at the time: spinning spinning spinning shivering. Pure expression through music. But the song is so much better because AK has written the lyrics from so many perspectives -- as an addict, as a recovering addict, as someone removed and wanting to help, as someone who continually struggles with temptation. It is absolutely brilliant and one of my top 5 favorite RHCP songs.

    I also love it because it's part of AK's ongoing love letter to JF. Purple Stain, This Velvet Glove, The Zephyr Song, Savior, Minor Thing, Road Trippin', this song ... some of RHCP's best songs refer to JF in some way or another. Now he's gone but the songs remain. Am wondering if AK feels weird performing these songs and singing lyrics about his departed favorite subject. Maybe not. Who knows.

    paralleluniverseon July 19, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    I absolutely love this song. I think every song can be twisted into any meaning you want it to have that fits with your life at the moment. Mine right now is anger at having to take pain medications because of chronic mind numbing pain. Even though I'm not technically an addict, it has become a physical dependency because I've been in pain so long. So to me it rings of drug addiction.

    In the beginning it's the ocean in your bedroom because it makes you feel so nice and warm and comfortable. Then you're taken to your jail cell where your memories of it are very clear especially if you go through withdraws.

    Spreading your legs to get that fix. (Now for me I have a legal prescription and don't think I could ever do that no matter how much pain I'm in, but I could see why someone would)

    Not alone, I'll be there tell you when you want to go, I see this whole song from a recovering drug addict, someone who remembers the joy and pain of it. That the addiction is always inside of you, will never leave you alone and is ready when you are to either fight the temptation or give in.

    I think Don't forget me I can't hide it, come again get me excited refers to the addict wanting to do the right thing but still having those claws in them, so they realize that they will always feel that rush if they are exposed to it but again really trying to stay clean.

    I don't know if I'm right, it's just how I feel, to me it is all about recovering but it always being a dark problem that can come out and hurt you at any time if you don't stay on top of it. Keep your reason for staying clean in your heart.

    crazycrafterizzyon September 23, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    It's definitely about addiction in my opinion. The drug is talking to him... Reminding him of the high thrills it provided..

    I love the line, "I'm the rainbow in your jail cell." It's a metaphor. I (the drug) was the one who made you happy (rainbow) when everything else in your life was falling apart (jail cell).

    The drug is trying to persuade him to use again. 

    I love the eerie guitar sounds in the background. They are a constant reminder of the drug's notorious power. While the drug talks about it's ability to make him "feel warm" and what-not, he (and the listener) are emersed in a haunting melody that serves as a reminder of the pain and damage the drug inflicted. 

    The reason the song resonates with so many people, in my opinion, is because addiction is universal. We all have an addiction. For some people, it's drugs. However, painful addictions can take many forms.

    A destructive relationship can be a painful addiction. The song resonated with me in this way. Love was the drug. The relationship gave me temporary highs that were so addictive that I accepted the destructive aspects of it. After awhile, all the pain and damage that resulted from our fights and arguments over-shadowed the brief moments of euphoria. We eventually detoxed by going our separate ways, but only after numerous failed attempts.

    That was my addiction..  I still have withdrawals. I also know that my drug is still waiting for me to give in to him... To go back.. "I'll be there.. Tell me when you wanna go..."

    MusicIsMyBoyfriend11on June 04, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    By the Way is their greatest album to date! Lyric-wise is phenomenal and the depth of these songs musically is over the top. The song are played with such passion that I haven't been able to find on another rhcp album. I know a lot would argue that Stadium Arcadium is the best one, but I beg to differ. Yes Stadium Arcadium is obviously a masterpiece but it has something missing which is the great lyrics that were featured on By the Way. Now, I'm With You, I believe that is grand on the scale that is so much bigger than anything they ever done. Musically, the album takes you over a wide range of different musical stylings and the way it is composed and arranged would make anyone's heart melt. But call me old fashion, (not really, I'm only 18), By the Way is still one of the greatest piece of music I ever heard.

    kheartson September 02, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I read an interview by RHCP, and this is what Anthony said about the song: "It's my idea of what God is about, what life is. It puts us in such a good mood, I think we'll open our shows with it for the next three years."

    on_a_plain_11on July 21, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    freakin awesome song, best part is when he says "more will be revealed my friend" at the very very end. chilling.

    Shroomin15on September 06, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think its a song written for the people who feel lonely. Its as if no matter how bad things get or seem, or no matter how many times u screw up...theres always this "Presence" that is there with you. I dont know what or who it is, but it seems (Through what i think of this song) to always be there for you, even if no one else is. I remember some one tellin me something similar, and thats how i see this song now. I dont think you can pin a song like this down to one experience like, love or drugs etc...Theres a much bigger message and meaning in it than that. There are other meanings to it im sure, different for everyone, and i hold other views as im sure many others do. Just have to add that personally, one of my favourite songs ever written an one of my favourites. If you have heard it, you will know why...

    Solus Taivason May 15, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think its either about drug abuse or sexual intercourse just my opinion

    sexdrugsandrocknrollon April 20, 2011   Link

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