Red Hot Chili Peppers: Charlie Meaning

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All aboard, stitch in time
Get yours, got mine
In a minute, I'll be there
Sit tight, get square

You could do it at the hippodrome
Slide back, trombone
Anybody got a TV tome
Thats right, unknown.

When I pick up on that smell
Pick it...

1.  

   spot126

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   Jun 1st, 2013 6:55pm report

   
   

   Anthony Kedis has stated that the song is about "creativity" and "Inspiration" because when you get that feeling and that light bulb clicks on, whatever it is, for example, writing a song, poem, movie script, etc..." "When I pick up on that smell
   Pick it up and run like hell---The creative process.
   Little woman save me some
   Better get up on your run"---The inspiration
   
   I also find it interesting that the song is titled "Charlie" because when I think about the lyrics and the meaning according to Kedis. I look for a deeper meaning than most. It's not drugs. Ponder this. Who is the only man in prison for INSPIRING (not conspiring) someone to commit murder. Answer: Charles Manson "Charlie". So I researched a little bit to see if anybody else came to this conclusion but found nothing then I stumbled on this
   http://www.stadium-arcadium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25300
   
   Flea portraying Charles Manson.
   What "inspired" me to do this research?
   Watching a documentary called "Charles Manson Superstar" which can be found on youtube. Think what you want but the pieces fit at least i THINK so"

   
   
   
   

2.  

   anonymous

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   Oct 16th, 2012 10:06pm report

   
   

   it's about coke. the word "charlie" is drug slang for coke.
   
   go to this website and type in "charlie" in the box. then click translate. there ya go. your answer should come out to be cocaine.
   
   http://www.noslang.com/drugs/index.php

   
   
   
   

3.  

   anonymous

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   Sep 10th, 2011 9:30am report

   
   

   Charlie refers to the Viet Cong or VC during the Vietnam war.
   "charlies waking me charlies shaking me" refers to the psycological damage many teenaged conscripted soldiers faced while fighting in the war. They often turned to drugs and alcohol on there breaks (R and R)
   "charlies making me smile" refers to the "hearts and minds" and how the US tried to win allegiance of the rural population of south Vietnam. They often helped the villagers when they were injured etc, which brought happiness to the the soldiers (as they were doing something good). But as guerilla tactics were used by Charlie (VC) the villagers and VC were impossible to tell apart leading the US to mistake VC for villagers

   
   
   
   

4.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 24th, 2011 2:18am report

   
   

   "Charlie" is a name that the Chili Peppers offten use as slang for the word "creativity". The song speaks of ones journey to obtain it and the troubles of keeping focus on it, IE: "When I pick up on that smell, I think of you and run like hell".

   
   
   
   

5.  

   whatshouldiput

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   Jan 6th, 2011 1:18pm report

   
   

   Will you guys shut up with the "I think this song is about drugs" comment on every interperatation of an RHCP song? I mean, this song is about nothing at all...it's just a magician's creation for the mind to let in.

   
   
   
   

6.  

   anonymous

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   May 9th, 2009 5:37am report

   
   

   The song Charlie is about cocaine. "Charlie's making me smile" = he likes cocaine

   
   
   
   

7.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 27th, 2009 2:32pm report

   
   

   I thought at first that it was maybe about an imaginary friend or a person in their head or something, but one of my friends told me its about cocaine...not sure if this is true.

   
   
   
   

8.  

   anonymous

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   Dec 22nd, 2008 12:17pm report

   
   

   I did see the the point that charlie can be inferred as a power of imagination, but i think that alot if not most people do associate that song with the use of herion AKA "charlie". If you know the perils of that lifestyle the metaphors are obvious.

   
   
   
   

9.  

   anonymous

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   Jun 8th, 2008 6:18pm report

   
   

   They are talking about Charles Manson the cult leader. Please respond and tell me < david if I am right

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
   
   
   
   

10.  

    anonymous

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    Oct 15th, 2007 10:02am report

    
    

    Anthony says on a Vh1 interview that "Charlie" is your imagination so the song means different things for everyone...in other words "Charlie" in this song is whatever your imagination wants it to be.

    
    
    
    

11.  

    dmt2jb

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    Sep 24th, 2007 9:52pm report

    
    

    Ak said in an interview about the charlie video that it is "the spirit of imagination. The wierd universe of magic and electicity that exists between your ears that allow you to think and do whatever you want at any time." You can see it on youtube at (http://youtube.com/watch?v=9cBSs1hFpBA).

    
    
    
    

12.  

    anonymous

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    Aug 8th, 2007 8:16am report

    
    

    It's about coke or better yet crack. When I pick up on that smell? Did you retards read Scar Tissue? How do you all know he isn't using the book went up to Californication or By the way. He relapsed a lot in that book and it was mostly coke or crack the heroin was just to come down from the coke what makes you think he didn't again or even singing about it because he misses it once your an addict you live with it forever.

    
    
    
    

13.  

    jukeday

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    Jul 2nd, 2007 7:41am report

    
    

    When I was younger, and I used to ask my dad what to do, because I was bored, he'd tell me to "play with Charlie", meaning use my imagination. Perhaps its something like that? Charlie is your imagination?

    
    
    
    

14.  

    anonymous

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    Jun 28th, 2007 6:59pm report

    
    

    Charlie is a little boy making a doll
    me is the doll

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
    
    
    
    

15.  

    anonymous

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    May 23rd, 2007 5:45pm report

    
    

    Theres a video that comes with the special edition of Stadium Arcadium in which Anthony, John, Flea, and Chad discuss every song on the album..
    
    Charlie's supposed to be your imagination or something like that.