Red Hot Chili Peppers: Charlie Meaning
No tags, suggest one.

Charlie Lyrics
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...
-
spot126 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" -
anonymous 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 -
anonymous 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 -
anonymous 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".
-
whatshouldiput 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.
-
anonymous May 9th, 2009 5:37am report
The song Charlie is about cocaine. "Charlie's making me smile" = he likes cocaine
-
anonymous 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.
-
anonymous 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.
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
anonymous 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.
-
dmt2jb 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).
-
anonymous 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.
-
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
anonymous 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.
More Red Hot Chili Peppers song meanings »
Submit Your Interpretation
Trending:
Just Posted
Tupelo Honey | anonymous |
Woman In Chains | anonymous |
Time | anonymous |
Come on Get Higher | anonymous |
Wish You Were Here | anonymous |
Round and Round | anonymous |
My Name Is Human | anonymous |
Blank Space | anonymous |
I'll Be Waiting | anonymous |
Breakaway | anonymous |
Take Me Home, Country Roads | anonymous |
Hostage | anonymous |
We Belong Together | anonymous |
Over Now | anonymous |
Six Feet Under | anonymous |
Weekly Most Popular
1 | Queen |
---|---|
2 | Billie Eilish |
3 | Michael Jackson |
4 | Beatles |
5 | Ed Sheeran |
6 | Eminem |
7 | Post Malone |
8 | Lady Gaga |
9 | Twenty One Pilots |
10 | Alan Walker |
Latest Releases
Big Plans Why Don't We |
God And Country Music George Strait |
Rainbow Kacey Musgraves |
You Are Aaron Goodvin |
Kuch Kuch Tony Kakkar |
Are You Bored Yet? Wallows |
Rednecker HARDY |
still feel. half alive |