Red Hot Chili Peppers: Charlie Meaning

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Charlie Lyrics

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. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   whatshouldiput

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   Jan 6th 2011 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.
2. anonymous

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   Sep 24th report

   The song is about a vietnam war veteran suffering from ptsd.unfortunately with many vets whom have seen war they turn to alcohol,drugs or even commit suicide because of this. Most likely heroine ,this song describes the inner struggles of a drug induced ptsd episode. "Shakes to the core" "tell my story" the struggles of the right or wrong use of drugs to deal with the pain and mental episodes. "Your right i'm wrong" the struggle to let go of the struggle with the love of the feeling heroine gives you. "This love i'm in" this person seems to be doing heroine with someone. "Get yours i got mine" "little woman save me some" I do not pretend to know the hell it must be to be a war vet of any war.bless them and all the troops for their sacrifice. If you disagree with my interpretation then present yours.
3. anonymous

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   Jul 22nd 2020 report

   Could it be about what is called toad? You can see the kids doing it on the van, licking the toad which is a psichedelic experience, like dmt etc.
4. spot126

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   Jun 1st 2013 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"
5. anonymous

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   Oct 16th 2012 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
6. anonymous

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   Sep 10th 2011 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
7. anonymous

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   Feb 24th 2011 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".
8. anonymous

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   May 9th 2009 report

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

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   Feb 27th 2009 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.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
10. anonymous

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    Dec 22nd 2008 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.
11. anonymous

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    Jun 8th 2008 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
12. anonymous

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    Oct 15th 2007 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.
13. dmt2jb

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    Sep 24th 2007 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).
14. anonymous

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    Aug 8th 2007 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.
15. jukeday

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    Jul 2nd 2007 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?
16. anonymous

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    Jun 28th 2007 report

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

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway