Red Hot Chili Peppers – If You Have to Ask

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A wanna be gangster
Thinkin' he's a wise guy
Rob another bank
He's a sock 'em in the eye guy
Tank head
Mr. Bonnie and Clyde guy
Look him in the eye
He's not my kinda guy
Never be
Confusion proof
Pudding's sweet
But too aloof
Orange eye girl
With a backslide dew said
Yo homie
Who you talkin' to
A backed up paddywagon
Mackin' on a cat's ass
One upper cut
To the cold upper middle class
Born to storm
On boredom's face
And a little lust
To the fucky ass flea bass
Most in the race
Just lose their grace
The blackest hole
In all of space
Crooked as a hooker
Now suck my thumb
Anybody wanna come get some

If you have to ask
You'll never know (chorus)
Funky motherfuckers
Will not be told to go

Don't ask me why
I'm flyin' so high
Mr. Bubble meets superfly
In my third eye
Searchin' for a soul bride
She's my freakette
Soak it up inside
Deeper than a secret
Much more
Than meets the eye
To the funk
I fall into my new ride
My hand my hand
Magic on the one
Is a medicine man
Thinkin' of a few
Taboos that I ought to kill
Dancin' on their face
Like a stage on vaudeville

I feel so good
Can't be understood
Booty of a hoodlum
Rockin' my red hood

(chorus)

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Lyrics submitted by shut, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:37


If You Have to Ask song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:"Magic on the one Is a medicine man" I like the Magic Johnson reference here, "one" is another name for point guard which is the position Magic Johnson played. And you know how much the Peppers liked Magic Johnson.
    Flag brmcon March 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought this song was about someone you least expect turning out to be a criminal.
    At the beginning it sounds like they just robbed a bank and are escaping, and then he says "One upper cut
    To the cold upper middle class". And then later on it's as if he is hiding it from the world when he says "Searchin' for a soul bride, She's my freakette, Soak it up inside, Deeper than a secret, Much more
    than meets the eye." I am probably wrong about the original intent of it but it does make sense if you read into it that way.
    Flag Aimee655321on December 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The meaning of this song is if you don't get the it, you never will, so stop trying. Simple as that.
    Flag cdspenceon July 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:youre so right nicolelovesrhcp

    omg rhcp kicks ass

    kiedis+flea+frusciante+smith= hotness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Flag writtenspikeson February 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The best is when Anthony sings, "im rockin my red hoodd" cause he sounds soooo hot there:] ...and this song is really greatt. and haha yeahhh johhnyy sounds great when he sings the chorus along with wen he sings-"poweerrrr of equalitttyyyy"=]
    Flag nicolelovesrhcpon February 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the original question asked of Mr. Amstrong, "what is swing," but yes, of course, Mr. Armstrong, famous jazz musician, and of course jazz was a strong influence with flea, the bass guitarist and the guy who set the funk grooves for the group//and of course, funk music being in the vein of jazz music, from jazz to soul to funk. Not about any particular of those genres, but just "groovin."
    So, essentially, while the chili peppers were always vocalizing their funk philosophy of life and music in interviews, the louis armstrong quote applies to them, too.
    Flag bestkepsecreton September 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the people in the background are cheering because it took heaps of takes before john got the solo right. they kept the cheering in cause it adds mood to the song. I think the words are nonsense on purpose. the chorus was written and then the verses were written to compliment it. great song still!
    Flag celebraceson May 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love how Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante's voices go so well with each other. I like how the song starts off all dark, then gets all funny and shit "funky motherfuckers will not be told to go..." I like how Kiedis says that, and I love singing John's Part "if you have to ask..." and i love the bass and guitar solos at the end, and if you listen closely, you can hear other people in the background cheering and clapping. they must have really had a good time making this album. obviously, because the Songs off BSSM, are pretty incredible....but yes i agree with ArianeTheFool on the meaning of this song.
    Flag mrs.sideikon April 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the solo is insaane. the breakdown right before the solo is just like a breakdown on Meat Puppets album II. cant remember which song though. anyone?
    Flag robopatroloon April 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Don't bother reading into it, the chorus sums it up pretty well.
    Flag ZEROpumpkinson January 27, 2007   Link

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