Red Hot Chili Peppers – Brendan's Death Song

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If I die before I get it done
Will you decide
Take my words and turn them
Into signs that will survive
Because a long time ago
I knew not to deprive
It’s safe out there and now you’re everywhere
Just like the skies
You are love you are the love supreme
You are the rise
And when you hear this
You’ll know it’s your jam
It’s your goodbye

Like I said
You know I’m almost dead
You know I’m almost gone
And when the drummer drums
He’s going to play my song
To carry me along
Like I said
You know I’m almost dead
You know I’m almost gone
And when the boatman comes
To ferry me away
To where we all belong

We all crossed when we were feeling lost
It’s just the tide
Katari cried the day her lover died
She recognized
Because he gave her
A life of real love
It’s no surprise
The nights are long
But the years are short
When you’re alive
Way back when would never be again
It was a time
It’s gonna catch you
So glad I met you
To walk the line

Let me live
So when it’s time to dieTo ferry me away
To where we all belong

We all crossed when we were feeling lost
It’s just the tide
Katari cried the day her lover died
She recognized
Because he gave her
A life of real love
It’s no surprise
The nights are long
But the years are short
When you’re alive
Way back when would never be again
It was a time
It’s gonna catch you
So glad I met you
To walk the line

Let me live
So when it’s time to die
Even the reaper cries
Let me die
So when it’s time to live
Another son will rise

Yeah Yeah

Send "Brendan's Death Song" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by BetterOffWithoutYou, edited by tenkai, Kalico37

Track duration: 05:38


Brendan's Death Song song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:thanks for the comments guys. this is one of those songs that the first time you hear it you literally have to figure out who Brendan is as it is obvious they loved him. I like how AK takes the lead on this and carrys it the whole way as a vocal song. those of you that know music know that the band is "comping" which for the others meanings the band is in the background to his vocals. and really only fill in when there is a pause is the vocals. I like that. It shows that AK and the band are very sincere in relaying a message. there is no instrumental. it is a tribute much like a funeral. the words are the whole emodiment of the song. no flash of guitar, drums, etc. just AK with his beautiful voice singing about a friend that has gone to higher places. So sweet. love them!!!!
    Flag yyesterdayon February 15, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hello, I'm from Argentina and I'm a new member of this forum. Well, I've got a doubt about a part of the song that I don't understand what AK means to say...
    "So glad I met you, to walk a line". Please, if someone can help me. Thanks...
    Flag Gjoeon July 18, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General Comment:Brendan Mullins, an early friend of the Chilis', passed away after suffering a stroke soon after the band hired Josh Klinghoffer as the new guitarist. Soon after, they wrote this song as a tribute to him. He supported them in their early days in L.A. before anyone knew who they were.
    Flag meghanfruon March 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:Lyrics straight from the booklet [with some omitted parts added]:

    If I die before I get it done
    Will you decide
    To take my words and turn them into signs
    That will survive?
    Because a long time ago
    I knew not to deprive
    It's safe out there, and now you're everywhere
    Just like the skies
    You are love, you are the love supreme
    You are the rise
    And when you hear this
    You'll know it's your jam
    It's your goodbye

    [Chorus]
    Like I said
    You know I'm almost dead
    You know I'm almost gone
    And when the drummer drums
    He's going to play my song
    To carry me along
    Like I said
    You know I'm almost dead
    You know I'm almost gone
    And when the boatman comes
    To ferry me away
    To where we all belong

    We all crossed when we were feeling lost
    It's just the tide
    Katari cried the day her lover died
    She recognized
    Because he gave her
    A life of real love
    It's no surprise
    The nights are long
    But the years are short
    When you're alive
    Way back when
    Would never be again
    It was a time
    It's gonna catch you
    So glad I met you
    To walk the line

    [Chorus]

    (Come and get me...)

    (Hey!)
    (Hey!)
    (Yeah!)
    (Yeah!)
    (Yeah!)

    [Chorus]

    Let me live
    So when it's time to die
    Even the reaper cries
    Let me die
    So when it's time to live
    Another son will rise

    I said, yeah
    Yeah, yeah
    Yeah, yeah
    I said, yeah
    Yeah, yeah
    Yeah, yeah

    (I said, yeah) [Chorus x1]
    (Yeah, yeah)
    (Yeah, yeah)
    [x4]

    Like I said
    You know I'm almost dead
    You know I'm almost gone
    [x3]
    Flag d3bateson January 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing song, so great to see the chili's still making brilliant music.

    the line "The nights are long but the years are short when you're alive" is just incredible. really emotive song about death and life. hope my death song will be as good, if not equal to this haha
    Flag rossgreatscotton November 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A very good song
    Flag RHCPFTWon September 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Even though this isn't really the style the Chili Peppers do most often, this is one of my favorite songs by them. I DL'ed this song yesterday and I can't stop listening to it!
    I think this song is about not being afraid of death. The person to whom the song refers feels like he's lead a good life and he's ready to go. This is one of those songs that gives me chills every time I listen to it.
    Flag AmericanaFUBARon September 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was told this song was about a guy who ran a place where bands could just play. like random guys that wanted to play and this is where the Chili Peppers first played. and he was really amazing and he died like 2 years ago.

    Either way this song is so phenominal. It makes me really happy and not afraid to die and want to just run at life and do whatever i can. These guys have a real gift. Honest.
    Flag zzoommbbiieeon September 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was told this song was about a guy who ran a place where bands could just play. like random guys that wanted to play and this is where the Chili Peppers first played. and he was really amazing and he died like 2 years ago.

    Either way this song is so phenominal. It makes me really happy and not afraid to die and want to just run at life and do whatever i can. These guys have a real gift. Honest.
    Flag zzoommbbiieeon September 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Mullen was working with Blackie Dammett on the Chili Peppers biography, Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History when he died suddenly after suffering a stroke in 2009 and was unable to complete work on the book though it eventually was finished by Mullen's long-time companion Kateri Butler

    The line where it goes "Could Terry cry the day her lover died? She recognized
    Because he gave her a life of real love, it's no surprise"
    should be Kateri not could terry.
    Flag playbackon August 28, 2011   Link
    • 6 Replies

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