Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

Charted: 9 73

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• Oh, oh
  
  What I got, you got to give it to your mama
  What I got, you've got to give it to your papa
  What I got, you got to give it to your daughter
  You do a little dance and then you drink a little water
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  Reeling with the feeling, don't stop, continue
  I realize I don't wanna be a miser
  Confide with sly you'll be the wiser
  Young blood is the lovin' upriser
  How come everybody wanna keep it like the Kaiser?
  
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper
  
  Greedy little people in a sea of distress
  Keep your more to receive your less
  Unimpressed by material excess
  Love is free, love me, say, "Hell yes"
  Low brow but I rock a little know how
  No time for the piggies or the hoosegow
  Get smart, get down with the pow wow
  Never been a better time than right now
  Bob Marley, poet and a prophet
  Bob Marley, taught me how to off it
  Bob Marley walkin' like he talk it
  Goodness me, can't you see I'm gonna cough it?
  
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Oh, oh yeah
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper
  
  Lucky me swimmin' in my ability
  Dancin' down on life with agility
  Come and drink it up from my fertility
  Blessed with a bucket of lucky mobility
  My mom, I love her 'cause she love me
  Long gone are the times when she scrub me
  Feelin' good, my brother gonna hug me
  Drinkin' my juice, young love chug-a-lug me
  Ah, there's a river born to be a giver
  Keep you warm won't let you shiver
  His heart is never gonna wither
  Come on, everybody, time to deliver
  
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper
  
  What I got, you got to give it to your mama
  What I got, you've got to give it to your papa
  What I got, you got to give it to your daughter
  You do a little dance and then you drink a little water
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  What I got, you gotta get it put it in you
  Reeling with the feeling, don't stop, continue
  I realize I don't wanna be a miser
  Confide with sly you'll be the wiser
  Young blood is the lovin' upriser
  How come everybody wanna keep it like the Kaiser?
  
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  Give it away, give it away, give it away now
  
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now
  Give it away now Writer/s: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante, Michael 'Flea' Balzary
  Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 57

• Vince from ManchesterWhen the credits for the sleeve notes were being written, "Jew's Harp" was misheard, and written down as Juice Harp, and correctly credited to Pete Weiss.
  Nobody spotted the mistake and it went to print.
  This mistake has created a new name for this little instrument, as it was never called Juice Harp before this album!
• Someone from Somewhere"At the end of the song, is the Axel Rose's voice that I heard??"
  
  nope, that's the voice of anthony kiedis
• Jake from MontrealBob Marley poet and a prophet
  Bob Marley TOE THEY HAD TO OFF IT
  Bob Marley walkin like he talk it
• Leo from ArgAt the end of the song, is the Axel Rose's voice that I heard??
• Kate from MichiganThe lines "There's a River born to be a giver, Keep you warm won't let you shiver, His heart is never gonna wither" is referring to River Phoenix who was best friends with Flea of the RHCP. Flea rode with River in the ambulance when he died and also acted with him in the movie My Own Private Idaho. The RHCP song Transcending on One Hot Minute was written about River and how much of a great person he was. He was a vegan and had a different view on Hollywood than most people if the time did. He was very much a beautiful, pure soul. Rest in peace, River
• Michael from Deridder, La@Tom: How did I miss that episode?!?! p.s. the parody is hilarious too lololololololololololol
• Ryan from Killer County, Pagreat song....gotta good riff and loud right away
• Theo from Johannesburg, South AfricaAnthony never dated Nina Hagen. They were just reall good friends and she was a mentor/ maternal presence to him. its mentioned in Scar Tissue.
• Gabriel from Curitiba, BrazilI've found, that Cosmic Slop, song from Hardcore Jollies(Funkadelic-1976),has a similarity with Give it Away,only in the beggining but you can't say that is a copy, Frusciante is one of the greatest!! And of course, a Funkadelic fan. Hardcore Jollies has strong guitars. Heard both songs and enjoy!
  -Gabriel,Curitiba,Brazil
• Jim from Kennett Square, PaWhat a fun song...love it! I became a big fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers early on when they released a tune called "Fight Like A Brave", which is also listed on Songfacts. My first thought was that this group did great rock with a sense of humor. Can't wait for what comes next from Anthony, Flea and the gang.
• Gabriel from Curitiba, BrazilI was searching for an information about this song and had discovered songfacts. Nice to meet you.
  There's a song, I don't know, if it's
  Sly's or Funkadelic, that I've heard once in a party, but when I've heard it I've tought that give it away was inspired on that, the riff is not totally equal, but it has the same style(the beggining one), so if there is somebody who knows this song, please tell us.
  About backward recordings it seems there's some in Tomorrow Never Knows(Revolver).
• Matt from Houston, TxSeriously,a lot of bands in thearly 60's used backwards messages as a sign that people should enjoy music-not rant on about the "demonic following"
• Craig Lee from Valdosta, GaScott,I believe there was another band that used backward recordings before Hendrix... let me think. Oh yeah, The Beatles. Have you heard of them. Perhaps you should acquire a copy of 'Rubber Soul' (1965) and give it a good listen while you're brushing up on the history of rock n' roll.
• Silverfox from N/a, TxGet Audacity and reverse the Whole Song. You hear the original solo + it Sounds cool
• Scott from Boston, MaRecording instruments backwards was first done by Jimi Hendrix in the song "Are You Experienced". The guitar, bass, and drums are all backwards in that song.
• Luke from Manchester, EnglandTo Louside Durham, learn to spell please - noone can understand you
• Glen from High Level, AbRiver Phoenix was also a good friend of Fleas, to the point in fact that flea personally requested him to interview him for the master sessions tape, which can be seen on youtube. If your a bassist i recommend you check it out
• Mirna from Portoviejo, Ecuadori luv flea (best bass ever)
  i luv anthony
  i luv chad
  but i love john the most..
  in the video..i think one kiss another quikly..
• Steven from Penarth, WalesThis song was written after the band were jamming to Black Sabbaths sweet leaf. They played with the Sabbath riff and came up with the riff to give it away. You can hear the Sabbath riff at the end of the song. Thats why its called "give it away". They put the source of the riff in the song.
• Corey Maller from Roslyn Heights, NyProbably one of their best songs and definately flea's best bass riff. I heard that this song was created in a jam session and tat when flea came up with the riff, Anthony started yelling "give it away give it away give it away now" into the microphone.
  
• Jamie from San Diego, Caokay, i read thru and haven't seen anyone suggest that hes not talkin about money/things (how shallow); rather hes talkin about LOVE!
  
  the song is MUCH better in that light. why write a song about giving money/things to your momma, poppa and "dawta'!"
  
  "what I got, you gotta get it put it in you"... how do you put things "in you". You gotta feel his love and "get it in you"... we all do.
  
  easily one of my favorites songs once I saw it this way (use to hate it what I thought it was purely sexual). it'd be a damn shame to see an actual comment from RHCP stating otherwise (anybody found one?)
• Handah Jane from Grafton, United Statesthis song kinda speaks about against materialism
  'the more you give the more you receive' so y not GIVE IT AWAY
  this song rocks!!!!!!!!!
• Justin from Sierra Vista, Aznorman, detroit. Keidis and Flea did kick the habit, but Kiedes relapsed 6 months later. And i think the quit after writing this song.
• Justin from Sierra Vista, Azi think the part, "Look at me swimming in my ability" refers to when Keides was experience back problems much after he broke his back jumping off of a house into a pool as a kid. A doctor told him to swim to keep his back healthy.
• Allyson from In My Own Little World, TxThe Weird Al parody was "Bedrock Anthem". It wasn't that funny IMO, but then again the original videos were already too goofy to even parody. :p Not that that's a bad thing.
• Brandon from Peoria, IlWow...noone referenced Weird Al's Parody of this song. He did a two-part parody of Red Hot Chilli Peppers songs. The intro was from "Under the Bridge" (City of Angels) and the main part was from "Give it Away Now". I can't remember the title of the song, but Weird Al sings it as Fred Flinstone singing Yabba Dabba Yabba Dabba Dabba Do Now...Its really good...so good i can't remember the title :) Anyone know?
• Norman from Detroit, Mii always thought the "put it in you" line was a sexual reference. and i though flea and keidis kicked the habit in 88, so i dont think its a drug reference.
• Mischa from Winnipegfunkiest bassline ever
• Mark from Fort Worth, Txthis song is about harogene. what i got you got to get it PUT IT IN YOU. the chili peppers were really big into harogene.
• Caius from Ballarat, AustraliaFunky guitar and great lyrics. Amazing song, ranks in their top 5 of all time.
• Chris from Poole, EnglandThe guitar solos are not performed by John playing the guitar backwards, because thats impossible! He recorded the guitar playing the solo on to tape, and then played the tape backwards, which is what you hear on the CD.
• Louise from Durhamme n me m8 becka spazzed out to this song on the bus and no1 even looked at us! id like 2 say hello 2 mr walker, my geography teacher! also lockeyyy HAHA Maths teacher. u go lockey!
• Will from Moval, CaI think part of it is about drugs "Bob marley poet and a prophet
  Bob marley taught how to off it
  Bob marley walkin? like he talk it
  Goodness me can?t you see I?m gonna cough it"
• Jeanne from Corsicana, Txthe line about river phoenix ends in wither, per his new book scar tissue - jeanne, texas
• A from Scarborough, CanadaGive it away was written before River died. Yeah it's abt giving before receiving and what not..great song.
• Zach from Kerrville, Txi didn't even know that they sang that song
• Jt from Tullahoma, TnWhen I heard these lyrics back in '96, my dad said they're singing about AIDS. But, who the hell knows.
• Lyzette from Moorpark, CaHe does this THING with his tongue...how does he do it?? :-P
• Billy Ross from Hagerstown, Mdthis is my favorite RHCP song ever. 2nd is Universally Speaking.
• Matt from Millbrae, CaFlea is the best bassist of all time.
• Mark from San Antonio, TxThis verse:
  
  "There's a river born to be a giver.
  Keep you warm, don't let you shiver.
  His heart is never gonna wiver.
  Come on, everybody, time to deliver."
  
  is a reference to the late actor River Phoenix. the band was friends with him and Flea was with Phoenix at the clubthe night he died.
• Truerhcpfan from Hamilton, AlActually, to the person who said this song seemed shallow...it is not at all...this song was not planned out..rhcp was in the studio and john was playing guitar and anthony heard the guitar and just came over and started singing 'give it away..give it away now'..it was after a girlfriend of his gave him one of her favourite jackets when anthony was looking through her closet and said 'wow i like this jacket' and she said 'oh you can have it'...i guess anthony was really touched!
• Luke from Manchester, EnglandOf course you can hear the intros to the next track - The album was done in one complete take.
• John from Perth, AustraliaI could be wrong but this is my favortie rock album ever: What you hear at the end is just the intro to the next song BoodSugarSexMagic each song in the album leads into the next one. For example at he end of Rightous and the Wicked you can hear had counting in Give it Away and Keidis says "crank it up, this is it". And backing up the idea at the very top, lines like "greedy little people in a sea of distress""unimpressed by material excess"giving their point of view of materialism and consumerism and that sh^t
• Wendy from Wiltshire, EnglandThis song also features on Plasma shaft - IN PROGRESS! Pretty cool to listen to! Oh! By the Way - Pete Weiss plays the Juice harp.
• Johnnyt from Aurora, IlThat beeping or "boingy" sound is actually a Juice Harp (or a Jew's Harp). I don't know who plays it but it is in the liner notes to BloodSugarSexMagik.
• Kelvin from Vancouver, CanadaNow another friend is arguing with me over whether the cost of parking + gas is $3 or $4. I didn't feel like arguing, cuz whether he gives me $3 or $4, I'll "Give it Away, Give it Away, Give it Away NOW!"
• Kelvin from Vancouver, CanadaThis song is definitely one of my favourites - super addictive and just can't get off my mind!
  
  It reminds me of my friends who owe me money, in fact only $21 for one of my friends - How come everybody wanna keep it like a kaiser?
  
• Derek from Raleigh, Ncthey performed this at MTVs twentieth aniversery celebration thing in 2001 as the closing song
• Alex from Edmonton, Canadadude brush up on your history a kaiser is a german king
• Billy from Cape May, NjI didn't really think about the lyric before I read the meaning of the song here, but "How come everybody wants to keep it like the kaiser?" seems to call upon the Jewish stereotype of being cheap, something sort of shallow I wouldn't expect from RHCP. Maybe I'm wrong though.
• Eddie from Lachine, Mi yes, i hear the beeping. it's kinda boingy.
  John Frusciante says that the guitar riff was inspired by "Sweet Leaf" and that's why the end features it.
  They also mention Bob Marley. . this is a truly unique song. Nobody's ripped it off yet. Amazing.
• Louis from London, Englandanyone else hear persistant random beeping noises throughout this song?
• Tom from Canberra, AustraliaThe intro riff to black sabbath's Sweet Leaf can be heard at the end of Give it Away, at about 4:11.
• Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandHow come it didn't do very well in America?
• Nick from Paramus, NjThe solo in the middle is a recording of John playing the guitar played backward.
• Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandThe Red Hot Chili Peppers performed this when they appeared on the Simpsons!

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