Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way - Meaning of the song
Much of the lyrics are just Anthony Kiedis's fun wordplay, but it does mention a girl named "Dani," who was the "Teenage bride with the baby inside" on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1999 song "Californication," and also appeared in their 2006 song "Dani California." Kiedis claims that "Dani" is a representation of every girl he's ever met in his life.
"Waiting 4," an electro-house track by Peter Gelderblom, became one of the most popular songs in clubs around the world in 2007, peaking at #29 on the UK singles chart. It was heavily based on a sample from "By The Way," and despite their usual hardline stance on the use of their music in samples, The Red Hot Chili Peppers enthusiastically approved its release.
The music video does not depict any of the events described in the lyrics, but rather tells its own story. In it, Anthony gets into a taxi, and when the driver realizes who he is, he begins to drive recklessly and crashes into a bridge. Anthony summons Flea and John for assistance, and they come to his aid. Chad eventually gets into that same taxi, much to the delight of the driver.
By the way - Lyrics
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
To 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
Dogtown, blood bath
Rib cage, soft tail
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
Black jack, dope dick
Pawn shop, quick pick
Kiss that dyke, I know you want to hold one
Not on strike but I'm about to bowl one
Bite that mic, I know you never stole one
Girls that like a story, so I told one
Song bird, main line
Cash back, hard top
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, oversold
By the way, I tried to say
I'd be there waiting for
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah, guess you never meant it
Ooh, ah
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, oversold
By the way, I tried to say
I know you from before
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
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way - Live