View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Song Lyric Sunday #18
Thoughtful Jim Adams of Song Lyric Sunday Challenge gives us plenty of notice about each Sunday’s prompts. For today, I needed to think what tracks are in my record library with Begin/End/Finish/Start in the lyrics. There are lots of candidates but I don’t want to pick one of the more obvious ones. I’ve chosen “Can’t Stop” one of the better-known singles from The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an LA-based rock band that incorporates elements of rap, funk, punk and rock into their work, mainly classified as an alternative rock band. They made it mainstream off the success of their 1991’s fifth studio album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. After losing popularity following the release of the less successful One Hot Minute, the band reunited for 1999’s Californication. These were followed by 2002’s solid release By the Way and 2006’s double-disc Stadium Arcadium and I’m With You in 2011.
The band’s lyrical content was mostly centered around sex, drugs, and the Los Angeles lifestyle, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis mostly rapped them as he wasn’t confident as vocalist. Most members of the band also suffered from drug addiction and had to check themselves into rehab at various points in their lives. But Californication marked a change in the band’s content matter and lifestyle. The band was sober for the most part, and the lyrics had shifted to songs about love and the pains of addiction, the title even criticized the city they loved so much. In addition, Kiedis had started to sing his lyrics much more often as he finally felt comfortable with his voice. That change has allowed the band to stick around for over 20 years despite multiple changes to their lineup and is part of why they remain relevant.
Released as a the third single from By The Way, “Can’t Stop” is known for its simple but catchy guitar riff, pulsating bass and thoroughly cryptic lyrics. Throughout the track, Anthony Kiedis highlights the predominant theme of nurturing an inner, personal energy. He addresses the verses to the listener in an instructional tone, whilst referencing inspirational figures.
A 2002 Interview with Spin Magazine revealed that the song is one that uses the band’s technique of writing lyrics to establish a rhythm, rather than making a rhythm to establish lyrics.
The track was accompanied by a surreal music video inspired by the “One-Minute Sculptures” of Austrian artist Erwin Wurm, in which the four band members perform random abstract actions worthy of display in an art gallery.
Lyrics: Can’t Stop
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 feeling that you stay for
In time I want to be your best friend
East side lovers living on the west end
Knocked out but boy you better come to
Don’t die, you know the truth as some do
Go write your message on the pavement
Burn so bright I wonder what the wave meant
White heat is screaming in the jungle
Complete the motion if you stumble
Go ask the dust for any answers
Come back strong with fifty belly dancers
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
So smart, she’s leading 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 going to be a close one
Smoke rings, I know your going to blow one
All on a spaceship persevering
Use my hands for everything but steering
Can’t stop the spirits when they need you
Mop tops are happy when they feed you
J. Butterfly is in the treetop
Birds that blow the meaning into bebop
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
Win or lose, just like you
Far more shocking
Than anything I ever knew
How about you?
Ten more reasons
Why I need somebody new just like you
Far more shocking than anything I ever knew
Right on cue
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 feeling that you stay for
In time I want to be your best friend
East side lovers living on the west end
Knocked out but boy, you better come to
Don’t die you know the truth as some do
Go write your message on the pavement
Burn so bright I wonder what the wave meant
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?
Coming from space
To teach you of the Pleiades
Can’t stop the spirits when they need you
This life is more than just a read throughSource: LyricFind
Songwriters: Anthony Kiedis / Chad Smith / Michael Balzary / John Frusciante
Can’t Stop lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Universal Music Publishing Group
Challenge Rules
- Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not. If it does not fit, then please explain why you chose this song.
- Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
- Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
- Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
- Ping back to Jim’s post or place your link in his comments section.
- Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
- Feel free to suggest future prompts.
- Most of all, have fun and enjoy the music.
View from the Back 
Nice song and a very strange surreal video, good choice Sheree. Lyrics like, Kick start the golden generator, East side lovers living on the west end makes me wonder what this song is about.
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Thanks
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Good one Sheree ☺️👍
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I listened to this song on a loop along with the whole double CD box set.
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Fantastic
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I do not like this band at all! I was never a fan!
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