Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I saw a star spangled banner yet wave
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I cry, I cry
I was born in a land, I don't think you understand
God damn, what I am
I'm a native of this place, please don't kick me in my face
My race has been disgraced
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I wonder why, why
Put us in your pumpkin shell
Where you keep us very well
It's hell, where I dwell
When history books are full of shit
I become the anarchist, I'm pissed at this
What this country claims to be
It's a lie, no place for me, I bleed
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I decide to defy
Kill my trust if you must, but in my blood there is the lust
For life, that's right
Apache blood is in my heart, thrashing through me like a shark
Crashing through the dark
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I confide, confide
What am I supposed to do, I feel like I'm cut in two
Confused by rules
Do these two cultures clash or am I living in the past?
I ask, please, tell me fast
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I thats right
To what do I belong and if I change will I be wrong
Be wrong, thats wrong
I took my foot and kicked a hole in the sky
I proceeded to plead, forefathers, help me decide
A jagged flash of light struck me in the eye
I turned around and found that I was still alive
Snakes rise high from the purple black sky
The red cloud rains and the black horse rides
Then it dawned on me like the mornin' sun
I'm a part of two worlds and the mornin' comes
Glowing embers tend to remember when
The power that is peace was treated as a friend
I am a master of adaption and I've got to take action
I'm a man, the animal man
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I cry, I cry
I was born in a land, I don't think you understand
God damn, what I am
I'm a native of this place, please don't kick me in my face
My race has been disgraced
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I wonder why, why
Put us in your pumpkin shell
Where you keep us very well
It's hell, where I dwell
When history books are full of shit
I become the anarchist, I'm pissed at this
What this country claims to be
It's a lie, no place for me, I bleed
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I decide to defy
Kill my trust if you must, but in my blood there is the lust
For life, that's right
Apache blood is in my heart, thrashing through me like a shark
Crashing through the dark
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I confide, confide
What am I supposed to do, I feel like I'm cut in two
Confused by rules
Do these two cultures clash or am I living in the past?
I ask, please, tell me fast
Won't somebody testify kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Slap a liar in his eye, kick a hole right in the sky
(Testify, testify, kick a hole right in the sky)
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I thats right
To what do I belong and if I change will I be wrong
Be wrong, thats wrong
I took my foot and kicked a hole in the sky
I proceeded to plead, forefathers, help me decide
A jagged flash of light struck me in the eye
I turned around and found that I was still alive
Snakes rise high from the purple black sky
The red cloud rains and the black horse rides
Then it dawned on me like the mornin' sun
I'm a part of two worlds and the mornin' comes
Glowing embers tend to remember when
The power that is peace was treated as a friend
I am a master of adaption and I've got to take action
I'm a man, the animal man
Lyrics submitted by PrismPuck, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky Lyrics as written by John Frusciante Michael Balzary
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's basically Anthony's feelings about how him and his people have been treated in America. He's saying someone should stand up to the government and protest and do something about the harsh treatments of the past/present. He also states that most of history is full of shit about Native Americans and he wishes no one would believe them. He also wishes that America wasn't seen on a pedestol (sp?) and of high glory, but rather for the truth.
yes, he has some native blood in him i believe. great interpretation, jookilicious.
I think it is ridculous that we should hide in embarassment about how we founded this country. How do you think all the other countries got their current people in them. They were all probably at one point viciously taken over by non-indigenous people. Since America's take over was most recent, we get bashed for it. It is unfair. If you hate how our ancestors took over this land then get the hell off of it.
It's an uncomfortable feeling, isn't it? That's called shame. Your inclination to run from the truth is understandable, but it's futile. And it isn't for you to decide who will stay in their own native land.
The song Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky from Mother's Milk is about the plight and affliction of the Native American Indians and this particular song made the public see Kiedis (erroneously) as part-Native.
In reply to Marky Markstyle -
Why are all you right wing nut jobs so paranoid? No one should "hide in embarrasment" about the massacre of native amercians. We should talk about it and what happened. And actually, most places "got their current people in them" by migration. That's when tribes go somewhere, like England, then settle down to live there. Of course there's always wars, invasions, etc. and that's why there is History - so we can learn why these things happened, and avoid them in the future.
Anthony is Mohican
yes anthony has some native american in him, can't you tell, just look at some pics of him from the early days, and it's kind of self explanitory, i mean look at all his "body beautification" tatoos, that represent his love for the native american culture. And duh he even says "Apache blood is in my heart, thrashin through me like a shark..." he's also mohican and lithuanian.
I know excactly what this song's lyrics refer to because I gave Anthony the title. My friends and I were on a patio in Toronto around 1987 and two first nations guys came up to us. One guy was incredibly hot...long black hair...gorgeous. Anyway we all bonded about being from Alberta, turns out they were Cree. One guy's name was Cody Cardinal and the really cute guy's name was johnny kick a hole in the sky. They joined our table and Johnny said "buy me a beer and I'll tell you how I strangled my first cougar!" (this was long before "cougar" entered the lexicon..he meant a real cougar, aka mountain lion) we all had a good time and for a while it was code among my girlfriends "Is he as cute as Johnny kick a hole in the sky?" Anyway, long story short the Chili Peppers used to play Calgary a bit and I told Anthony about this cute first nations guy I met in Toronto. I always wonder if the real "johnny Kick a Hole In the Sky" heard the song, and if he did, what he thought. HOw it came up is that Anthony asked me about first nations...I didn't know it then but it turned out I have first nations people in my family. Anyway, never liked the Chilis music that much by=ut thought it was cool that he rememberd the guys name I told him.
I think you've nailed the song right in the balls.
but is anthony native american? dont think so.