"Under the Bridge" - Red Hot Chili Peppers 1:1

“Under the Bridge” was released on March 10th, 1992 by the alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was the second single on the Blood Sugar Sex Magik album. The lyrics were first free styled in poetry form by front man Anthony Kiedis while driving back from rehearsal late one night. From there, he transferred them into his notebook in song structure. There it stayed until his producer discovered it and edged him to purpose it as a single to his band mates. Its slower tempo was unlike any previous Red Hot Chili Pepper song; they were known for a mix of hard rock and funk. Ironically, this gentle ballad was the breakthrough into mainstream music. Although it extended their fan base and landed them headlining the 1992 Lollapalooza Tour, band member John Frusciante preferred to remain underground and ultimately left the group.

In Scar Tissue, the autobiography of Anthony Kiedis, he devotes much space to this song and its meaning. It is a very personal song that uses references to Anthony’s own experiences overcoming drug addiction and isolation. The bridge mentioned in the song is in reference to a bridge in downtown Los Angeles he used to shoot heroin under. Anthony had to cover as the fiancé of a gang member’s sister to enter the notorious gang territory. The opening line “Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a partner” shows how lonely Anthony felt. He blames this on drugs and the role they played in his life. Hillel Slovak, former band mate and friend, died of a drug overdose four years before. His remaining band mates, still using drugs, were together growing further from a three year sober Anthony. Anthony regretted choosing a life of drugs over his ex- girlfriend Ione Skye. He stated “the loneliness that I was feeling triggered memories of my time with Ione and how I’d had this beautiful angel of a girl who was willing to give me all of her lover, and instead of embracing that, I was downtown with fucking gangsters shooting speedballs under a bridge.”

Under the Bridge is an extremely emotional song for me. I have witnessed addiction firsthand and have been involuntarily whisked into its thrash. The idea of a person being fully aware of the damage their addiction is causing not only others, but themselves… and yet to still use, is very hard to wrap my mind around; and I have been try to do so for years. The reference to Ione in the ending chorus, where it sings “Under the bridge downtown/forgot about my love.”, has so much meaning to me, as I know what it feels like to have been forgotten because of drugs. Overall, a beautiful song proving that the ugliest of times can inspire a beautiful ending.

Lacking the original personal feeling and depth, All Saints did a cover version of this song. Sung by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, this song is about pain, addiction and loneliness. Sung by All Saints, it is about a bridge. Two thumbs down.