Purple Stain

Album: Californication (1999)
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Songfacts®:

  • According to Anthony Kiedis: "Purple stain refers to a double entendre of a girl's hair dye staining your pillow and a girl's menstrual flow staining your everything." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    DJ - Peoria, IL
  • On Live In Hyde Park, John Frusciante introduces this song by saying, "I really like blueberries. I eat them every morning," which could indicate that the purple stain is from blueberry juice. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sully - Newport, VT
  • The lyrics to this song contain vague pop culture references. Among them:

    "Python power straight from the Monty" - refers to Monty Python, a comedy troupe from England formed in 1969. They are best known for the television series Monty Python's Flying Circus and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian.

    "With Dracula and Darla Hood" - refers to Dracula, the title character of the classic horror story by Bram Stoker, with hundreds of movie titles bearing his name listed in the Internet Movie Database. Darla Hood was a child actress best known for being the leading lady of the Our Gang kids from 1935 to 1941 and died from natural causes in 1979 at age 47. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alec Thorp - Yorktown Heights, NY

Comments: 26

  • Eloquentracer92 from Somewhere. Yes, I Am From Somewhere. Wait, Don’t Stalk Me, No Wait—Guys, I hate to break it to you, but Purple Stain isn’t actually about blueberries…
  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganIt also name-checks comedian Chris Farley, "Farley is an angel and I can prove this.". Farley was yet another victim of addiction who died in 1998.
  • Anna from Seattle, WaI was introduce to the RHCPs by my bf (later husband, now ex) my freshman year in college. His frat partied a lot to their music. The girlfriends (not the party chicks for the night) LOVED the music but we'd actively ignore the raunchy lyrics. I'd prefer to think this is about blueberries but given certain lyrics and their history of lyrics, I think it would be denial to accept that explination. It's sh*t like this that disturbed us. When I was that young, I found it threatening and embarrassing for males to comment on certain biological processes that are factual but, to be honest, embarassing. I'm older now and male sexuality does not threaten me like it did, but I still feel embarrassed when males vocalize about "monthly" processes. I am not a prude, I love sex, but I put "monthly" topics in the same catagory as urination and defication. Has to happen but no need to discuss.
  • Bay from Weaverville, CaBass line is AWSOME!!!
  • Mikael from Espoo, FinlandTo all the people who say this song makes no sense: newsflash many RHCP songs makes absolutely no god damn sense.
  • Ben from Ocean City, NjHate to break it to all the deep thinking enthusiasts out there (I'm one of them) but this song might just be about him fingering a girl..
    Musically - Great fun to play on drums, Bass and guitar are really catchy and sound awesome.
  • Tello from Boston, Mahold on. i get the monthly blood thing but how is it about the blood getting all over everything?
  • Olivia from Perth, AustraliaI love this song! So catchy.
  • John from Pittsburgh, Pai love this funky song man it rocks
  • Corey Maller from Roslyn Heights, NyLove the guitar riffs in this song. I play it every single time I pick up a guitar.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaUpon further review, this song makes NO sense. "Let's get it on with the Alligator Haters"
  • Bert from Pueblo, Nmpossibly their best song ever. cannot get enough of this song
  • Dawson from Draper, UtThis song is the greatest song ever, I love it!
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI really like the funky sound of the song. It's great. I really hope that's not what it means.
  • Gary from Manchester, Englandmonty pythons are brilliant, now THAT'S what makes this song!! RHCP should cover i'm a lumberjack! woot!
  • Ty from Hudson, WiIt's about the Purple hair dye / menstrual cycle thing. Not frickin' blueberries.
  • Chris from Poole, EnglandIts Flea that says about Blueberries, not John
  • Mark from Latham, NyActually, in Live In Hyde Park...It is Flea that says "I really like blueberries. I eat them every morning," before they start playing.
  • Louise from Durhamif u havnt already heard this song u must. its a fab song. xxxx
  • Louise from Durham, United StatesAs much as i love this song and indeed the legondary chili peppers i cant help wanting to vomit when i hear the line "to finger paint is not a sin i put my middle finger in ur monthly blood" great song though xx
  • Dori from Budapest, Hungaryaz hyde park, actually Flea (Michael Balzary) was the one who introduced the song ("I really like...").
    The song is really funky, and live its even better than the album version.
  • Sully from Newport, VtOn the Chili Pepper's album Live In Hyde Park, John Frusciante introduces the song by saying, "I really like blueberries. I eat them every morning." Possibly the purple stain is blueberry juice.
  • Marko from Melbourne, Australiathe first time you hear this song you can say its trippy, but no way afterwards i mean there is something very good in this song, not lyric wise though, its got that insane jam at the end which makes the song what it is, the song finishes, then just the bass line goes and the crazy crazy mad drums come in and get harder and faster and madder makes you jump
  • Nick from Southampton, EnglandPurple stain is about screwing birds on helium
  • Mistik from Sydney, Australia" to finger paint is not a sin i put my middle finger in, monthly blood is what i win" artistic, feminine yet kinda gross. John's guitars funky in this, real simple and funky. AK's rapping is hypnotic and makes you bop around, but i tend to sway from side to side or spin around in circles while listening to Purple stain. Its Infectious... but i reckon " Falling into grace" and "The Zephyr song " is way more trippy.
  • Craig from Guildford, EnglandI haven't actually heard this, but my friend, who is a big RHCP fan says this song sounds really trippy and relates back to their drug usage
see more comments

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