The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
The California animal is a bear
Angeleno, but the devil may care
Summer time to talk and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
I'll take you to the movies there
We could walk through Leicester square
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
Hesitate but don't refuse
The choice was yours but you said choose
The look she used was green and sharp
Stabbed that boy all in his heart
Come what may the cosmos will
Take me up and down on Primrose hill
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright, yeah
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
It's alright now
Call me now, use the satellite
It's alright, it's alright
Down and out and it'll sound alright
It's alright now
Down and out and it'll sound alright
It's alright
The California flower is a poppy, child
Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
Drift away from anyone you can
Nothing ever goes according to plan
Though I know that every river bends
Time to say hello to snow on the Thames
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
Hey hey, hey hey hey
Oh oh
Angeleno, but the devil may care
Summer time to talk and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
I'll take you to the movies there
We could walk through Leicester square
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
Hesitate but don't refuse
The choice was yours but you said choose
The look she used was green and sharp
Stabbed that boy all in his heart
Come what may the cosmos will
Take me up and down on Primrose hill
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright, yeah
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
It's alright now
Call me now, use the satellite
It's alright, it's alright
Down and out and it'll sound alright
It's alright now
Down and out and it'll sound alright
It's alright
The California flower is a poppy, child
Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
Drift away from anyone you can
Nothing ever goes according to plan
Though I know that every river bends
Time to say hello to snow on the Thames
What could be wetter than
An English girl, American man
London in the summertime
Call me now, use the satellite
London in the summertime
Cuss me out and it'll feel alright
Hey hey, hey hey hey
Oh oh
Lyrics submitted by The Marine
Emit Remmus Lyrics as written by John Anthony Frusciante Michael Peter Balzary
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i heard this song was about mel c from the spice girls.
Emit Remmus is summer time backwards
all you people saying you how beautiful london is... tss, try seeing the slums.
I really hate to burst your bubble, i love JF, but it is indeed about Melanie Chisholm. If you're unsure, check the evidence of Anthony Kiedis' book, Scar Tissue, in which he gives an account of his relationship with Mel C. and how Emit Remmus was partly inspired by her. If you need more proof, and do not have the book, feel free to go to RHCP.com, and check out an archived online chat interveiw in which he states about Mel. C. And still, if that's not enough proof, see a little of this line... Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
It's a well known fact, that during the time Melanie and Anthony met, she did indeed have a gold tooth. She's since gotten rid of it, I do believe.. I also thought it was cute how Anthony,Flea, and John dressed up like the Spice Girls for Clara's birthday.
Have a nice day.
Ok, I think this is pretty obvious. Or at least in my opinion. The song is about and English girl dating and American man, and how different England and California are, and how screwed up thier relationship is. It's basically a metophor to Anthony and Mel C's relationship and Anthony's thoughts on it after it ended.
fuck shaun050 why!?!?!
every song by RHCP is about drugs apperently to you people, they might as well be renamed "heroin"
just cause they have had drug problems doesnt mean that its all they think about, i mean if you can name every rockstar that has had drug problems i'll pay you cash money
so its clear what the song is about, found out about the backwords guitar, thank you every1 now leave it there!
@RedHotFlea sure, the mention of the poppy as the flower of california, do poppys grow in california?
EMIT REMMUS IS SUMMER TIME BACKWARDS SILLY BILLY'S
This song is about kiedis being good friends with mel c. They met back stage at a gig due to flea's daughter's love for the spice girls. The became very good friends and were virtually inseperable during the summer time they spent together.
i love this song im surprised its not more popular with the chili pepper fans and im the only comment to its a great song listen to it youll like it and if u dont u shouldnt be readin the comment on the rhcp song cause this is some of their very good work
Oh this song has been a soundtrack to my summer :) i went to London recently and it was so beautiful. It mentions places in London and i was singing along while visiting and it made me so happy. This song is brill-o and a agree with you up there..... rhcprule, more people need to like this song!!!!