Give It Away

The core meaning of "Give It Away" revolves around the philosophy of altruism and the spiritual freedom that comes from selflessness. The song was directly inspired by an experience vocalist Anthony Kiedis had with his then-girlfriend, punk singer Nina Hagen, in the early 1980s. Kiedis admired a jacket in her closet, and she insisted he take it. Her reasoning was, "if you have a closet full of clothes and you try to keep them all, your life will get very small. But if you have a full closet and someone sees something they like, if you give it to them, the world is a better place." This encounter was an epiphany for Kiedis, who had previously believed in a more self-serving approach to life. The song's central, repetitive chant, "Give it away, give it away, give it away now," is a direct distillation of this newfound philosophy. It's a rejection of materialism and the idea that hoarding possessions leads to happiness. Instead, the song posits that true fulfillment comes from giving, creating positive energy and a better world.

The song is a vibrant and energetic declaration centered on a philosophy of selflessness and letting go of material possessions. The narrative begins with a series of commands to share what one has, whether it's with family or by internalizing a positive force. It challenges the instinct to hoard possessions, personified by the figure of the 'Kaiser,' suggesting that such greed leads to a diminished life. The lyrics paint a picture of a world mired in distress where people cling to what they have, and proposes a counter-philosophy: by giving more, you actually receive more in a non-material sense. The singer presents himself as someone who may not be a powerful 'kingpin' or a destitute 'pauper' in the traditional sense, but who is rich in his ability to embrace life, dance with agility, and share his 'fertility' or creative energy. He is unimpressed by material excess and champions the idea that love is a free and abundant resource.

A key verse introduces a specific, heartfelt tribute to a 'river born to be a giver,' a direct reference to the late actor River Phoenix, a close friend of the band. This figure is described as a source of warmth whose benevolent spirit will never fade, urging everyone to follow his example of giving. This personalizes the song's abstract philosophy, grounding it in the memory of a cherished individual known for his generous nature. The recurring, chanted mantra of 'Give it away now' acts as the song's unwavering core, a hypnotic and insistent plea. The song's structure, with its rhythmic, almost stream-of-consciousness verses, reflects a free-flowing, uninhibited state of mind. It mixes playful boasts about personal vitality and rhyming prowess with the central, serious message about the spiritual rewards of generosity. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of living an open-handed, open-hearted life, where the greatest wealth comes not from what you keep, but from what you freely share with the world.

"Give It Away" was born from a jam session between bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante in the early 1990s, prior to the main recording sessions for their fifth album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Flea developed the song's iconic bassline, though he initially felt it was just "another bassline" and was hesitant to use it until his bandmates encouraged him. The song was recorded between April and June 1991 at The Mansion in Los Angeles, with Rick Rubin producing. Rubin had a significant impact on the album's sound, stripping away the heavy reverb of their previous work for a drier, more direct sound. Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics based on his transformative experience with Nina Hagen and her philosophy of giving. He reportedly chanted the titular line spontaneously after hearing Flea's bass riff during a rehearsal. The song was released as the album's lead single in September 1991. Initially, some radio stations refused to play it, claiming it lacked melody. However, heavy rotation from KROQ-FM in Los Angeles helped propel the song to international fame, becoming the band's first-ever number one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The song uses several metaphors to convey its message of altruism. The most prominent is the central act of "giving it away," which symbolizes the rejection of materialism and the embrace of a more spiritually fulfilling, selfless lifestyle. The line "Greedy little people in a sea of distress" paints a picture of a world where materialism leads to unhappiness, with the 'sea' representing a widespread state of emotional turmoil caused by attachment to possessions. The lyric "Keep your more to receive your less" is a paradoxical statement that serves as a core tenet of the song, suggesting that hoarding material wealth ('your more') leads to spiritual poverty ('your less'). The reference to a "river born to be a giver" is a direct and poignant tribute to actor River Phoenix, a close friend of the band who passed away in 1993. Phoenix himself becomes a symbol of generosity and a warm, unwavering spirit whose "heart is never gonna wither." This grounds the song's abstract philosophy in a real-world example of benevolence.

The predominant emotional tone of "Give It Away" is one of euphoric energy, celebration, and spiritual liberation. The song is relentlessly upbeat and funky, designed to be physically and emotionally freeing. This atmosphere is created through the driving, danceable rhythm section of Flea's slap bass and Chad Smith's powerful drumming. Anthony Kiedis's vocal delivery is exuberant and confident, a mix of playful rapping and energetic chanting that conveys a sense of joyous revelation. The inspiration for the song—a moment of epiphany about the power of giving—translates into a proselytizing zeal in the performance. There are no shifts into melancholy or anger; the emotional landscape is consistently positive and high-spirited. Even the tribute to River Phoenix is framed as a celebration of his giving spirit rather than a moment of mourning. The overall feeling is one of catharsis achieved through generosity, a vibrant and infectious joy that invites the listener to join in the act of 'giving it away'.

"Give It Away" was a major breakthrough single for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, catapulting them from a well-regarded alternative band to international superstars. It became their first-ever number one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and helped make its parent album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, a massive commercial success. The song won a Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal. The accompanying music video, directed by French filmmaker Stéphane Sednaoui, was crucial to its success. Its unique, visually striking style—featuring the band in a desert landscape covered in silver paint—was put into heavy rotation on MTV and became iconic, cementing the band's image as energetic and artistically adventurous. The song has been widely recognized, included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock" and ranked highly on numerous "greatest songs" lists. It was famously parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Bedrock Anthem" and the band performed a censored version on an episode of The Simpsons. The song remains a staple of the band's live shows and one of their most recognizable tracks.

"Give It Away" features a rhythmic structure heavily influenced by funk and hip-hop. Anthony Kiedis's vocal delivery is largely a form of rap, with a conversational flow and an emphasis on rhythmic precision over complex melodic contours. The rhyme scheme is often loose and internal, relying on assonance and consonance to create a percussive lyrical feel. For instance, in lines like "Lucky me swimmin' in my ability / Dancin' down on life with agility," the rhymes are playful and drive the rhythm forward. The song operates in a standard 4/4 time signature, but its funkiness comes from the syncopation between the instruments. Flea's bassline provides a relentless, grooving pulse filled with ghost notes and slides that locks in with Chad Smith's drumming. The chorus is a simple, powerful chant that provides a rhythmic anchor and a memorable hook. The overall effect is a dense, polyrhythmic texture where the vocal rhythm, bassline, and guitar riff all play off each other to create the song's signature infectious energy.

Musically, "Give It Away" is a prime example of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' signature funk rock style. Producer Rick Rubin's influence led to a "dry" production sound, removing much of the reverb and layering present on their previous album, Mother's Milk, which highlighted the raw instrumentation. Flea's iconic bassline is the song's backbone, a complex and funky slap-bass riff that he almost discarded. John Frusciante's guitar work is equally distinctive, characterized by a dry, percussive, single-note riff that requires significant string muting to achieve its fat, rhythmic sound. His guitar solo is famously a reversed recording, creating a disorienting and unique texture. Anthony Kiedis employs a unique vocal style that blends rapping, spoken-word verses, and melodic singing, a technique that adds rhythmic complexity and dynamic energy to the track. The song is played in a 4/4 time signature and maintains a high-energy, danceable groove throughout, driven by Chad Smith's powerful drumming.

What is the meaning behind Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Give It Away'?

The song is about the philosophy of selflessness and altruism. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis was inspired by his ex-girlfriend, Nina Hagen, who gave him her favorite jacket, explaining that giving things away creates positive energy and makes the world a better place.

Who is the 'river born to be a giver' mentioned in the lyrics?

The line 'There's a river born to be a giver' is a tribute to the late actor River Phoenix, who was a close friend of the band, particularly of Flea and John Frusciante.

How was the guitar solo in 'Give It Away' created?

The distinctive guitar solo by John Frusciante was created using a backwards guitar recording effect in the studio. For live performances, he typically improvises a solo using scales that match the song's harmony.

Who directed the iconic music video for 'Give It Away'?

The highly influential music video was directed by French photographer and filmmaker Stéphane Sednaoui. The band, painted in silver and set against a desert backdrop, created a visually unique piece that became a huge hit on MTV.

Did 'Give It Away' win any major awards?

Yes, 'Give It Away' won a Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal. It was the band's first Grammy win and a significant marker of their mainstream success.

What is the story behind the famous bassline in 'Give It Away'?

The iconic funk-slap bassline was written by Flea during a jam session. He initially didn't think much of it and considered discarding it, but his bandmates and producer Rick Rubin convinced him it was great and should be used.

Why did some radio stations initially refuse to play 'Give It Away'?

When the single was first released, some rock radio programmers rejected it, telling the record label to 'come back to us when you have a melody in your song.' They felt its rap-funk structure was not suitable for their formats at the time.