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