Album: Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Play Video
  • Uh

    All aboard, stitch in time
    Get yours, got mine
    In a minute, I'll be there
    Sit tight, get square (tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic)
    You can do it at the hippodrome (one, one, one, one, one, one more)
    Slide back, trombone (wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait)
    Anybody got a TV at home? (one, one, one, one, one, one more)
    That's right, unknown

    When I pick up on that smell, pick it up and run like hell
    Little woman, save me some, better get up on your run
    (Huh)

    So much more than
    Charlie's wakin' me
    To my core and
    And Charlie's shakin' me
    And tell my story
    And Charlie's makin' me
    And Charlie's makin' me smile
    Oh, whoa, now

    (Tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic)
    (One, one, one, one, one, one more)
    (Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait)
    (One, one, one, one, one, one more)

    Everybody do the twist
    Get the message on Flea's fists
    Move around like a scientist
    Lay down, get kissed (tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic)
    Big picture and it never lies (one, one, one, one, one, one more)
    Big daddy will advice (wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait)
    EverReady in disguise (one, one, one, one, one, one more)
    Sunset, sunrise

    When I pick up on that smell, pick it up and run like hell
    Little woman, save me some, better get up on your run

    Huh

    So much more than
    Charlie's wakin' me
    To my core and
    And Charlie's shakin' me
    And tell my story
    And Charlie's makin' me
    And Charlie's makin' me smile
    Whoa-whoa, now

    My heart, your skin
    This love, I'm in
    We don't arrive without a surprise
    You're right, I'm wrong
    Be free, belong
    Intimate sight has come into light

    When I pick up on that smell, pick it up and run like hell
    Little woman, save me some, better get up on your run
    All I ever wanted to was pick it up and run with you
    Slip into a summer spell, double up and run like hell

    Huh

    So much more than
    Charlie's wakin' me
    To my core and
    And Charlie's shakin' me
    And tell my story
    And Charlie's makin' me
    And Charlie's makin' me smile
    No, whoa, now

    My heart, your skin
    This love, I'm in
    We don't arrive without a surprise
    You're right, I'm wrong
    Be free, belong
    Intimate sight has come into light
    My heart, your skin
    This love, I'm in
    We don't arrive without a surprise
    You're right, I'm wrong
    Be free, belong
    Intimate sight has come into light Writer/s: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Anthony Frusciante, Michael Balzary
    Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

  • Rick Oh! Riletone from CaliforniaDrugs? Nope. Of course this song is about any small, perky, amped up breed of dog. Ours is a Yorkypoo named Charlie. Listen from that perspective. Pretty sure Anthony had a dog named Charlie once.
  • Charlie The SongI'm a song about drugs, my music video has underaged children in it.
  • AnonymousIt’s about pot.
  • Junior from Dallas, Txholy crap as soon as i started looking at this page the song played on my music player
  • Scotty from Tokyo, Japanwhen i hear this i think of charlie bit me video on youtube
  • Bobbilyn from Jacksonville, FlCHARLIE was the name of one of his ex-girlfriends when he was using drugs. He was really into her and she was really into dope and he was trying to get clean. He used to shoot coke and then use heroin, one to up him the other to bring him down. Then he got clean and when he started using again he smoked crack cause he couldn't get coke. He's clean now. He's into "ozone" Read his book Scar Tissue, please because it explains all of his bizarre lyrics.
  • Nicole from Chicago, IlEveryone keeps referencing Cocaine, despite Anthony Kiedis denying it, and saying the song's about inspiration and creativity. But if you notice, he says "When I pick up on that smell, I double up and run like hell," as in, he could be running away from cocaine because it hinders his creativity.
  • Davy from Hammonton, NjSome great comments but I still think of Charlie Manson whenever I hear it.
  • Mariah from Colorado Springs, CoThis is realy a great song. For people who might be wondering what its about...it could realy be anything. Anthony intened "charlie" to be your imagination, your muse, something that gets ideas going in your head. Charlie could be refering to drugs if you think about it. I dont think that the actualy name "Charlie" is drugs...but like i said...its something that gets ideas going in your head. And that could lead to so many different things. When he was batteling his addiction...there would always be this little voice in the back of his head telling him to go get high. So that could very well be "charlie" whos "making me smile"
    The great thing about this song though, is that charlie could be anything to anyone...its up to you to find out what it is to you.
  • Madalyn from Greensburg, Pai think the meaning is clear...but i think music, lies in the eye of the beholder...so we should make it what we want...a memorie...a story...whatever...all the while tring to figure out what he meant by it
  • Dylan from Charlotte, Vt"Charlie" is in fact a reference to cocaine, but Anthony Kiedis has stated in interviews that the song is about a person's imaginative spark or inspiration.
  • Tricia from Edinburgh, ScotlandCharlie is also a slang term for cocaine ,Charlie was also a slang term toward Vietcong soldiers in the Vietnam war, being over 40 both I understand but I think coke is the correct one
  • Angela from Naples, FlAlso mentioned in the Rolling Stone article was John Frusciante explaining that he wanted every song on the Stadium Arcadium to feel like it was "constantly evolving". This concept is particularly evident on this song. (And really, with that in mind, you can pick that out on the rest of the album, too.)
  • Sanja from Zabok, Croatialove the song a lot. it reminds me on our last summer when we smoked pot every day. we were listening to Stadium, and that's when our 'dealer' got a nickname-Charlie :)
    you know, 'Charlie's making me smile...'
  • Handah Jane from Grafton, United Statesi love the third 'love' bit in this song
    its one of my fav songs
    and the meaning is so right
    love red hot chili peppers
    u guys rock
  • Krysten from Odessa, TxI love this song. It's quite bittersweet and reminds me of swimming in my pool in the summertime.
  • Chris from Ithaca, NyCharlie is also a slang term for cocaine which would make sense for the chorus:

    So much more than
    Charlie's wakin' me
    To my core and
    Charlie's shakin' me
    And tell my story
    And Charlie's makin' me
    And Charlie's makin' me smile
  • Brian from Winchester, MaCharlie was also a slang term toward Vietcong soldiers in the Vietnam war.
    e.g "Look, there's Charlie in the bushes!"
  • Shelly from Loserville, Nclove this song.its reall clever of him to still keep that old bi rumour going by calling it charlie.but cmon we all know his not
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.