Lyric discussion by a1stbornunicorn 

Cover art for By the Way lyrics by Red Hot Chili Peppers

i think the chorus is about him choosing a prostitute over the perfect girl. the prostitute is "singing her song" and trying to get him to pick her up and he feels overloaded. the heavy glow refers to the decision he has to make - stay waiting for the girl of his dreams or just be drawn into the pleasures of sin. it goes on to describe his dream girl while also refering to what he does involving the prostitute and sin. let me explain my reasoning.: steak knife card shark con job boot cut -all have to do with sin and lust. the hooker might have been wearing boot cut jeans. the rest of them are kinda self explanitory.

Skin that flick she's such a little DJ to get there quick by street but not the freeway

  • what he wants his dream girl to be like - he wants to take his time to find her (by the street) and isnt in a hurry (not the freeway) turn that trick to make a little leeway beat that nic but not the way that we play
  • refers to the prostitute and sin.. he ussually doesnt get involved in sin but was persuaded and has gotten into trouble

dogtown blood bath rib cage soft tal

  • describe the trouble that came with lust and sin orr maybe ribcage refers to his heart wanting the dream girl but i think he just got hit int he rib or something. black jack dope dick pawn shop quick pick
  • more sin

kiss that dyke i know you want to hold one not on strike but I'm about to bowl one

  • with the prostitute bite that mic I know you never stole one girls that like a story, so I told one -wants his girl to be a rocker - shes loving and has never steals emotions... shes just a fairy tale hes dreaming up. song bird main line -dream girl - maybe refering to the main line of the song - by teh way i tried to say id be there waiting for...[her, his dream] cash back hard top -paying the prostitute aster satisfying his lust in a car.

i would think that the last chorus would be like the others except for the "of her soul" instead of "overload". this leads me to believe that he wishes the prostitute could be the girl of his dreams and that she would sing to him from her soul but shes really just a prostitute and hes still waiting for his true love.