This early release song from one of my favorite dudes on the planet was released this week, and I cannot get enough of it.
When I was in high school learning to play the bass guitar, I had Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother’s Milk album on repeat. When Blood Sex Sugar Magic released, I was both disturbed and intrigued. That era was my “most Christian” and my most exploratory. There were songs on that album that broached sexual topics that made me uncomfortable. As if I were holding a dirty magazine in my hands and both repelled and engorged by the visuals of women’s naked bodies.
Flea, if you didn’t know, is the bass player for Red Hot Chili Peppers, and his persona has been iconic for me. He’s a kinda little dude with a HUGE aura. His presence and talent is almost limitless. He also plays the trumpet. He’s acted in several movies in his career, and he’s played on other people’s projects, including Jane’s Addiction, Thom Yorke and others.
In a few words: I love Flea.
This song means so much to me as an artist who is struggling to find goodness and inspiration in the political climate. I’m tired of the idea that we Americans are so moved by political differences to allow these ideas to trickle into our love lives. It’s separating families and friends, all because it’s a shit show with no known end point. When are the credits going to roll on the insanity of people arguing over what dipshits do and say in Washington DC?
Anyway, give the song A Plea a listen. I’m going to put the lyrics below the fold. But my favorite parts are these:
“I dont care about your f*cking politics
I don’t wanna hear about your politics”
You’re scaring the kids
The beautiful kids
Ah yeah they wanna know
The children wanna know
Is the ugly coming, and the guns?
Is the army coming, blotting out the sun?
The blood red sun, the blood red sun
Ahhhhhhh concentration camps?
And everything besides love is cowardice
You wanna be brave, you wanna be tough?
Peace and love is the toughest hardest thing you can do
Build a bridge that’s where the courage is
Shine your light
Shine it true
Build a bridge
Shine a light
Make something beautiful
I don’t care if it’s a little scrap of squiggly crayon on a paper
Make something beautiful and see somebody
Give it to somebody
I’m not being corny this shit is real
Live for peace
Live for love
Le Café Witteveen 