Deep inside of a parallel universe
It's getting harder and harder to tell what came first
I'm underwater where thoughts can breathe easily
Far away you were made in a sea, just like me

Christ, I'm a sidewinder
I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh
It's everything

Staring straight up into the sky, oh, my, my
A solar system that fits in your eye, microcosm
You could die but you're never dead, spider web
Take a look at the stars in your head, fields of space kid

Christ, I'm a sidewinder
I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh
It's everything
Christ, I'm a sidewinder
I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh
It's everything

Psychic changes are born in your heart, entertain
A nervous breakthrough that makes us the same, bless your heart, girl
Kill the pressure it's raining on, salty cheeks
When you hear the beloved song, I am with you

Christ, I'm a sidewinder
I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh
It's everything
Christ, I'm a sidewinder
I'm a California King
I swear it's everywhere, oh
It's everything


Lyrics submitted by The Marine, edited by bobodude24

Parallel Universe Lyrics as written by John Anthony Frusciante Michael Peter Balzary

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Parallel Universe song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is another song about Dani California. For those unfamiliar with the character, a clip from the wiki:

    "Throughout the song, lyricist Anthony Kiedis laments the early death of Dani, a poor, young Southern girl who eventually lived in California, became a mother and lived a hard, fast, unsettled life.[4] Kiedis has commented that the character of "Dani" is an embodiment of all the women with whom he has had relationships. The song narrates much of Dani's life, starting with her birth in Mississippi and apparently culminating with her death in the badlands of North Dakota.[5]

    Dani appears un several other RHCP songs, including "Californication" and "Scar Tissue".

    I believe that in "Parallel Universe", Anthony is talking about how the idea of the character came to him while he was surfing (underwater where thoughts can breathe easily, far away you were made in the sea). He likens the creative process to a spiritual journey to a "parallel universe" where the character exsists, a universe that he can sees as "a solar system that fits in your eyes microcosm".

    "You could die but you're never dead" is about how he knows how the character dies, but she will be immortalized in song.

    Anthony relates to the character on a personal level ("psychic breakthroughs that makes us the same") He sees how he's similar to her (a nervous breakthrough that makez us the same),how she's similar to others that he has dated, and the emotional connection of how to express this musically (Psychic changes are born in your heart entertain).

    Finally Anthony reflects that even though Dani's story is a sad one (kill the pressure it's raining on salty cheeks), he feels the same energy, the same emotional connection with Dani every time he performs this song (when you hear the beloved song I am with you).

    secretsinson December 23, 2015   Link

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