top of page

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop



For this song, lead singer Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics around the music. The words are a somewhat random collection of thoughts, with some creative rhyming thrown in to fit the rhythm of the song ("Can I get 2 maybe even 3 of these, come from space to teach you of the pleiades"). The song encourages the listener to live with passion and individuality ("This life is more than just a read-through"), something the Chili Peppers have done throughout their career.




Lyrics



Can't stop, addicted to the shindig


Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big


Choose not a life of imitation


Distant cousin to the reservation



Defunct, the pistol that you pay for


This punk, the feelin' that you stay for


In time I want to be your best friend


East side love is living on the West End



Knocked out, but, boy, you better come to (Oh, oh-oh)


Don't die, you know, the truth as some do (Oh-oh)


Go write your message on the pavement (Oh-oh)


Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant



White heat is screamin' in the jungle (Oh, oh-oh)


Complete the motion if you stumble (Oh-oh)


Go ask the dust for any answers (Oh-oh)


Come back strong with fifty belly dancers



The world I love, the tears I drop


To be part of the wave, can't stop


Ever wonder if it's all for you?


The world I love, the trains I hop


To be part of the wave, can't stop


Come and tell me when it's time to



Sweetheart is bleeding in the snow cone


So smart, she's leadin' me to ozone


Music, the great communicator


Use two sticks to make it in the nature



I'll get you into penetration


The gender of a generation


The birth of every other nation


Worth your weight, the gold of meditation



This chapter's gonna be a close one (Oh, oh-oh)


Smoke rings, I know you're gonna blow one (Oh-oh)


All on a spaceship, persevering (Oh-oh)


Use my hands for everything but steering



Can't stop the spirits when they need you (Oh, oh-oh)


Mop tops are happy when they feed you (Oh-oh)


J. Butterfly is in the treetop (Oh-oh)


Birds that blow the meaning into bebop



The world I love, the tears I drop


To be part of the wave, can't stop


Ever wonder if it's all for you?


The world I love, the trains I hop


To be part of the wave, can't stop


Come and tell me when it's time to



Wait a minute, I'm passin' out


Win or lose, just like you


Far more shockin'


Than anything I ever knew


How 'bout you?


Ten more reasons why I need


Somebody new, just like you


Far more shockin'


Than anything I ever knew


Right on cue



Can't stop, addicted to the shindig


Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big


Choose not a life of imitation


Distant cousin to the reservation



Defunct, the pistol that you pay for (Oh, oh-oh)


This punk, the feelin' that you stay for (Oh-oh)


In time I want to be your best friend (Oh-oh)


East side love is living on the West End



Knocked out, but boy, you better come to (Oh, oh-oh)


Don't die, you know, the truth is some do (Oh-oh)


Go write your message on the pavement (Oh-oh)


Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant



Kick start the golden generator


Sweet talk but don't intimidate her


Can't stop the gods from engineering


Feel no need for any interfering



Your image in the dictionary


This life is more than ordinary


Can I get two, maybe even three of these?


Comin' from the space to teach you of the Pleiades



Can't stop the spirits when they need you


This life is more than just a read-through

Comments


bottom of page