Universally Speaking by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Album: By The Way (2002)

Charted: 27

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This song is most likely about heroin use, as you can suss from lines like:

Cut up from the chase
Nothing better, the feeling is so fine
Delicate and wild
Dying to get high
Love stream flow

Lead singer Anthony Kiedis has a long history of drug use that he's been very open about. He kicked the habit in 2000, two years before this song was released on the RHCP album By The Way.
The music video features the cab driver from "By The Way" (David Sheridan reprising his character of Doug Wilson from Ghost World), going through a long way and reaching a Chili Peppers show, just to give Anthony Kiedis a book he forgot in his cab after Kiedis escaped. The book, the biography of Darby Crash, the late frontman of punk band the Germs, can be seen at the very beginning of the "By The Way" music video and at the very end of this one.
The video was directed by Dick Rude, a longtime friend of the band. He also directed the video for "Catholic School Girls Rule" and the live DVD Off the Map.

Comments: 12

Gfunk05 from Sydney Australia I think the song is about a female menstual cycle.
Heza from Australia I reckon it could mean all of the reviews drugs love the joy of life, universally speaking.
Sam from UkIt’s actually about recovery and narcotics anonymous, “nothing better than love and service “ “universally speaking , i win in the long run” it’s about when he finally gave himself up to NA , and his higher power
Nikola from Banja Luka, Bosnia And HerzegovinaI'm with you ziggy, the lines "Still I waited for chance of the lifetime, go and get her, I got on her my mind" make me think that its got a bit of love meaning or something like that
Alyssia from Spring, TxI think this song is about a person wo is a former drug user being around somebody who doing drugs right in front of them. They are tempted and they are remembering what the feeling of the drug was like, but they dont take the drugs, so they "win in the long run".
Layton from Paris, Txgreat song had a great beat.hahaha i did it
Shannon from Hamilton, OhThis is not about drugs. Judging from the lyrics and the intent, it is more than obvious to me that this is about female ejaculation.
Mark from Worcester, MiThe initial inspiration for this song came from Flea. Rob seek help. I'm with Ziggy in that I just don't see the drug references here at all.
Robert from Los Angeles, Cacorrrect young ziggster, a song does mean whatever you want it to. that's the beauty in it all. rob, you're sick. i'm prretty convinced you're the only one who thought that, you pervert.
Rob from Palmyra, Vai always thought this song was about watching a girl pee!!!---"i saw your love stream flow"
but what do i know?
Ziggy from Flagstaff, AzI dont think this one is about drugs. This was written after everyone was clean i think, and most of their drug songs are a little more mellow and reflective. I think this is just about being in love and feeling alive, and living life to its fullest (like many of their songs). Perhaps there are some references with the "cut up form the chase" and other bits, but i dont think drug usage is really the point of the song. Of course, a song means whatever you want it to mean really, lol
Josh from New York, Nydoes the interlude before the 2nd verse sound like something out of the little mermaid? it starts around 1:43 into the song.

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