Won't somebody come along
And teach me how to keep it alive?
To survive

Come along and show me something
That I never knew in your eyes
Take away the tourniquet

I used to be so full of my confidence
I used to know just what I wanted
And just where to go
More than ever I could use a coincidence
But now I walk alone and talk about it when I know

Hey, oh yeah, how long?
I guess I ought to walk away
Hey, oh yeah, so long
What you gonna do today?

I don't wanna have to, but I will
If that's what I'm supposed to do
We don't wanna set up for the kill
But that's what I'm about to do

Let it on, I'll cut you off
When you're screaming into the phone
Hard to own
Anyway, I wanna let you know
That everything is on hold
What you gonna do to me?

You used to be so warm and affectionate
All the little things I used to hear my fairy say
But now you're quick to get into your regret
I'll take the fall and now you got to give it all away

Hey, oh yeah, how long?
I guess I ought to walk away
Hey, oh yeah, so long
What you gonna do today?

I don't wanna have to, but I will
If that's what I'm supposed to do
We don't wanna set up for the kill
But that's what I'm about to do

I don't wanna have to, but I will
If that's what I'm supposed to do
We don't wanna set up for the kill
But that's what I'm about to do

Hey, what would you say if I stayed?
Stayed for a while, if I may
Say it again and I'll come around
But not for the last time
Hey, what would you say if I changed?
I'll change everything but my name
Play it again and I'll come around
Come around, but not for the last time, not for the last time

You used to be so warm and affectionate
I used to know just what I wanted
And just where to go
And now you're quick to get into your regret
And now I walk alone and talk about it when I know

Hey, oh yeah, how long?
I guess you gotta walk away
Hey, oh yeah, so long
What you gonna do today?

Hey, oh yeah, how long?
I guess you gotta get away
Hey, oh yeah, so long
What you gonna do today?


Lyrics submitted by drza2000

Hey Lyrics as written by John Anthony Frusciante Michael Balzary

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Hey song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • +2
    My Opinion

    song is the best on the album and one of my personal favorite rchp songs of all time.

    in my opinion two songs off SA that are probably the most overlooked in terms of their brilliance and how they contribute to the peppers canon as a whole are

    Wet Sand, because that song is a whole nother beast,

    and this one. it's kiedis at his most heartfelt - and best, and frusciante does some things with a guitar in this song that will make your jaw drop.

    "come along and show me something that i never knew in your eyes", indeed

    keeganrhon January 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Re: "Take away the tourniquet" - some good thoughts already into a great line.

    Another interesting fact about tourniquets is that generally speaking in usage outside of a hospital they are a last ditch effort to save a life. They are only to be used when there is going to be enough blood loss from a limb to potentially kill someone because using this method ultimately cuts off all blood flow to the limb, leaving no choice but amputation.

    Sooooo possibly AK is suggesting that he'd rather die than live without this aspect of his life. Overall a straightforward song, but this first verse is a little trickier than meets the eye.

    r1verson August 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Man, this is one of my favorites on the new album. The bass is so chill and catchy at the same time. Love it.

    lavkianon May 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    gotta agree, so chill, so great

    i think it may be about AK's relationship that ended fairly recently, it seems to be about splitting up, and the bit about what the singer used to be, sounds like what he used to be

    i think he's saying that he doesn't want it to be over, and he's gonna try and stay with her, even though she doesn't really want him to.

    Avatar-rockon May 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Very good song, this whole album is just amazing.

    Great music to go along with the lyrics.

    This song is definately about his relationships, but i dunno if it is a recent one. It makes me feel like its about a lot of his relationships, he is struggling to want to stay with the girls he dates and he ends up cutting them off.

    NDAHLon May 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about a part of his life thats ending, maybe a bad rerlationship with a girl, and a new one is begining and he is having a good time with these new people he meets, but it is bittersweet because he is still bummed about the other chapter in his life ending. I think this song is just saying that when it comes down to it he is happier than before and just doesnt realize it.

    shaun050on May 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about a part of his life thats ending, maybe a bad rerlationship with a girl, and a new one is begining and he is having a good time with these new people he meets, but it is bittersweet because he is still bummed about the other chapter in his life ending. I think this song is just saying that when it comes down to it he is happier than before and just doesnt realize it.

    shaun050on May 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    he needs help or love from someone. he wants to see something in someone that he never saw. he used to be so confident about the fact that he could always get a girl but he realizes that he's just alone. he knows he doesn't even care about this girl because she changed. he no longer loves her. he wants to see what she would do if he changed- which he knows he must. or maybe he's just saying now that he's gonna change so he can be committed and stay with this girl and proove himself.

    Laurz208on May 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Anybody else thinks this is one of the saddest albums by the RHCP? OHM was funky and it had a sad background, but this album is just plain sad: slow music, melancholic lyrics... Dont get me wrong, dont judge me yet, i love stadium arcadium, but i remember anthony saying they would deliver hardcore funk, and they did, but only in a few songs. i think SA is mostly mid-tempo, but it's still pretty close to perfect... if i lost the album, i would buy it again.

    "But love and music could save us... and did"

    Powerful_Zeroon May 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I AGREE POWERFUL ZONE...its sorta melancholy..but man is it gd!

    tell_me_babyon May 19, 2006   Link

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