The Past Recedes

i'm disappointed that no one takes the time to crack open a dictionnary when they don't understand words like recede... the song says quite the opposite, the character is more comfortable living in the past than breaking free from it... the character doesn't want to make that effort because then there's nothing to hold on to..

I love songs that have lines that embrace opposites...

"I can't play it safe, but I might just in case"

The overall tone of this song is very upbeat from the get-go, but there is something else...maybe a bit of experience? not necessarily in the guitar playing, obviously john frusciante is very experienced in that, but in life?

the "voice" of this song sounds like it is coming from someone who is full of life experience and is pondering the everyday struggles that we all go through. remembering mistakes in the past, wishing for them to go away, and then finally realizing that you have to move on and can't dwell in the past.

"And things come back you see, to where they don't belong"

the best part of the song in my opinion is the closing verse

"I'm disguised as a reaching hand, I'm a working man, I don't understand why clockout comes so slow, everytime that's one line I stay right behind"

The simple acknowledgement that there is never enough time to do what you want in life but always enough time to work...brilliant

In my opinion, this song is about John leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and his history with the band.

"And then the past recedes And I won't be involved The effort to be free Seems pointless from above"

The past recedes, his past with the band has receded. When he was really addicted to heroin and cocaine, he often got in fights with Anthony and the band. He would mess up purposely on shows, as he didn't like how famous they were becoming. And I won't be involved: He literally won't be involved with the band anymore. The last two lines are kinda hard. Maybe he's thinking about how he wanted to be free from the band at that drugged out time in his life, and now looking back, or looking above, he sees it as pointless.

You're looking down at me I'd rather stay below Than have you staring up at me There's nowhere I want to go

I think these lines can be attributed to John's desire not to be famous. He left the band for the second time, on good terms, but because he wanted to pursue different paths and wasn't really comfortable around all the fame they were getting. So he says "You're looking down on me, I'd rather stay below". Than have you looking up at me" He'd rather stay below, as an audience member (not literally). He doesn't want them looking up at him, he doesn't like the fame. "There's nowhere I want to go", I guess he doesn't want to go anywhere with the band now?

"Ay, this business of how long we try to stay alive Why to be here you first got to die So I gave it a try And what do you know Time was so long ago And things come back you see To where they don't belong"

To me, these lines chronicle John's drug use. You have to "die" to go on later in live, and come to peace with yourself, according to these lyrics. John "died" when he started getting addicted to heroin and other drugs. I guess, looking back, he knows it was pretty much death. He says that time was so long ago, and how things come back. In my opinion, it's about how his drug addiction can come back to haunt him. Things come back to where they shouldn't be. I dunno if he went into relapse after he got clean, but if so this could possibly be talking about this. Or maybe he still feels the shame of his addiction years later.

Have any of you guys seen the video for this? It pretty much kicks madonna right in the nuts

100% agree with Relapser. ESPECIALLY on this song :)

I agree with Zephyr47. This was the first John Frusciante solo song I heard, and I was just happy out of my mind the rest of that day:)

It's about his life, and how he doesn't and didn't intend to be famous or anything like that at all.

'You're looking down at me I'd rather stay below Than have you staring up at me There's nowhere i want to go'

--In his interviews he said he never intended to get popular. To me he is one of the most humble musicians ever.

'Ay, this business of how long we try to stay alive Why to be here you first got to die So I gave it a try And what do you know Time was so long ago'

--He reflects upon his drug addiction and how he now sees things in a different light and embraces things in a different way. He was pretty much dead when he was addicted to drugs.

'I can't play it safe But I might just in case'

--Refering back to his drug addiction and how it might be a better idea to stay off drugs.

I put that "yea" in at the end because I think it might be the most exciting point of the whole song, I don't really know where to start when describing what I like about it though.

Very complex song to say the least, in my opinion. Sorry, having trouble coming up with anything provacative to say here - it would be nice to eventually get a grasp on the songs meaning though.

I agree with you guys. What I don't get though, is figuring out who "you" is? Is it the past itself, the "risk" (as in drawing it up as a person), or simply just a pal whom he speaks to(in that case, what does he imply with: "Seems pointless from above. You're looking down at me....")?

Needless to say; this song rocks. I can't stop listening to it :) I am really happy that musicians still can make these kind of contribtions to help keep music alive. I am getting worried about the future of music with all that crap on the tv/radio...

Btw, has any1 figured the solo out? :)

i think its about when the past disappears or goes away, he doesn't want to be a part of it and hes happy where he is.