Red Hot Chili Peppers – By the Way

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Send "By the Way" Ringtone to Cell

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

Black jack dope dick
Pawn shop quick pick

Send "By the Way" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by treestump, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:37

"By the Way" as written by Smith/majeski

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


By the Way song meanings
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237 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:It's a story about a fictional female that was created out of a combination of all the women the singer has ever been with. This character that is being sung about was first mentioned in "Californication" with "Teenage bride with baby inside/getting high on information", this song is the middle, and the song that finishes the story of Dani (who is named in this song) is Dani California. It's generally telling the story of this young woman as the middle part, explaining how she lived her life day-to-day, while Dani-california explains how she lived her life overall and her death.
    Flag Lykason March 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:By the Way
    Red Hot Chili Peppers
    -Lennon Marie (13 years old)
    **Well, let me just say this is such a well done song.**

    This may sound weird for a little girl to think this, but hey it's my idea.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    "Standin' in line to see the show tonight and there's a light on; heavy glow."

    ^^ I think this means that some man, (Or even Kiedis himself,) has been drinking heavily and is in line to get into a strip show. Once he gets in, the room is hazy with smoke, the lights are dim, and hes trying to drown out any of his sorrows in his drink.

    "By the way I tried to say I'd be there; Waiting for"

    ^^I think this represents ow his wife/girlfriend asked him to honor an important commitment because it means a lot to her. In the mean time, He does not honor the commitment and blows off the special occasion and she is so upset that she leaves him. Or it also could be that he forgot, or promised an important family member that he would be there for them, but he fails. Maybe that family member does not forgive him or passes away suddenly.

    *This may or may not represent the meaning of the song, but this is how I picture the song when I listen to it.*

    -Lennon Marie
    Flag kidrauhlon December 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    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.
    Flag kheartson September 01, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is my interpretation.

    It's about being a worrying parent of a young man or woman who is going for a night out in a cruel environment - bars, clubs, alcohol, drugs, sluts, players, fights, fake friends ripoffs, murder, etc.

    Everything is nice at home. Caring family, good food, electricity, warm bed, bathroom, TV,security etc.

    why risk it? why bother?

    Thats how a parent feels.

    Hope it makes sense :D
    Flag daveddddddddddddddon June 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:um thats not all the lyrics ... there's more
    Flag RHCPfreak888on December 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction:I think the lyrics are "ooh ah kissed ya than i missed ya" not "ooh ah guess you never meant it"
    Flag julien34on April 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when i was a wee little sprout and this song first came out, i imagined that he was singing the chorus in someone else's perspective. and the "ooh, ah - guess ya never meant it" was his response to that person.
    Flag claireisdumbon March 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when i was a wee little sprout and this song first came out, i imagined that he was singing the chorus in someone else's perspective. and the "ooh, ah - guess ya never meant it" was his response to that person.
    Flag claireisdumbon March 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song has stuck around for so long, and I really like it. :)
    Flag invaderzim7695on October 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have never been able to sing this song straight. In fact, this is probably one of the songs where I have gotten all of the lyrics wrong on the first 1000 listens!

    Seriously though, I thought he said "I'm about to blow one" ..
    Flag keykeyx10000on September 08, 2010   Link

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