Snow (Hey Oh)

Album: Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Charted: 16 22
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  • Come to decide that the things that I tried
    Were in my life just to get high on
    When I sit alone, come get a little known
    But I need more than myself this time
    Step from the road to the sea to the sky
    And I do believe that we rely on
    When I lay it on, come get to play it on
    All my life to sacrifice

    Hey, oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    I got your "hey, oh"
    Now listen what I say, oh (oh)

    When will I know that I really can't go
    To the well once more time to decide on?
    When it's killing me, when will I really see
    All that I need to look inside
    Come to believe that I better not leave
    Before I get my chance to ride
    When it's killing me, what do I really need
    All that I need to look inside

    Hey, oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    Come back and hey, oh
    Look at what I say, oh

    The more I see, the less I know
    The more I like to let it go
    Hey, yo, whoa-oa, whoa

    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go
    In between the cover of another perfect wonder
    And it's so white as snow
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    And there's nowhere to go, oh

    When to descend to amend for a friend
    All the channels that have broken down
    Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up
    Just to hear you sing it out
    Step from the road to the sea, to the sky
    And I do believe what we rely on
    When I lay it on, come get to play it on
    All my life to sacrifice

    Hey, yo
    Listen what I say, oh
    I got your "hey, yo"
    Listen what I say, oh

    The more I see, the less I know
    The more I like to let it go
    Hey, yo, whoa-oa, whoa

    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go
    In between the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    And there's nowhere to go

    I said, "Hey, hey-yeah, oh yeah"
    Tell my love now
    Hey, hey-yeah, oh yeah
    Tell my love now

    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go
    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    And there's nowhere to go

    I said, "Hey, hey-yeah, oh yeah"
    Tell my love now
    Hey, hey-yeah, oh yeah Writer/s: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Gaylord Smith, John Anthony Frusciante, Michael Peter Balzary
    Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 75

  • Heart from First To LastCome to decide that the things that I tried
    Were in my life just to get high on................HUMAN LIFE
    When I sit alone, come get a little known
    But I need more than myself this time..........OPEN
    Step from the road to the sea, to the sky.......SPIRITUAL
    And I do believe that we rely on...................THE SOURCE
    When I lay it on, come get to play it on
    All my life to sacrifice
    Hey oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    I got your hey oh
    Now listen what I say, oh, oh......................I'VE HEARD NOW LISTEN
    When will I know that I really can't go
    To the well once more – time to decide on
    When it's killing me, when will I really see
    All that I need to look inside
    Come to believe that I better not leave
    Before I get my chance to ride..................I FEAR WHAT I SUPPOSE TO ''BECAUSE I'VE WALKED THE VALLEY'' AND STILL ALIVE
    When it's killing me, what do I really need?
    All that I need to look inside....................YES
    Hey oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    Come back and hey oh...........................YES
    Look at what I say, oh
    The more I see, the less I know
    The more I'd like to let it go
    Hey oh
    Whoa-oh-oh-whoa.................................YES WONDER LAND TO SOLID GROUND
    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go.....................CORRECTO ..... LOVE YOUR ATTENTION THO
    In between the cover of another perfect wonder
    And it's so white as snow
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    And there's nowhere to go........................ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BETWEEN DEEP INTO THE COVER
    Ho!
    Went to descend to amend for a friend
    All the channels that have broken down
    Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up
    Just to hear you sing it out
    Step from the road to the sea, to the sky.............RING IT UP
    And I do believe what we rely on
    When I lay it on, come, get to play it on
    All my life to sacrifice
    Hey oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    I got your hey oh
    Listen what I say, oh
    The more I see, the less I know...................YES ERASSING STEPS
    The more I'd like to let it go
    Hey oh
    Whoa-oh-oh-whoa
    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow..................... YES EITHER A FAITH WORLD OR A VISUAL ''THEY RIDE TOGETHER WHEN YOU SEE
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go...................YOU CAN'T STEP ALONE
    In between the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow................. THAT'S THE WORD ''THAT'S THE VISION''
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    And there's nowhere to go
    I said hey-hey yeah, oh yeah
    Tell my love now.............................YES ABROAD
    Hey-hey yeah, oh yeah
    Tell my love now............................TELL MY LOVE... '' YOU '' ... THE CUP RUNS OVER
    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow
    Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go..........................A VISION IN THE DARK
    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow.......................A VISION IN THE LIGHT OF FAITH
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
    There's nowhere to go....................ISN'T THAT GREAT
    I said hey, oh yeah, oh yeah
    Tell my love now''
    Hey-hey yeah, oh yeah...................'''TELL MY LOVE'''!!!!!
  • Rhcp Fan from Joe's HouseI love this song, didn't know it was about drugs.
  • S from Pittsburgh The line, So White as snow is not referring to drugs!! It’s a description of and so called ideal life. Pure as snow. It looks perfect but underneath it is turmoil. He can run and do whatever he wants because he knows the perception will cover his tracks.
  • Dena from Ft Myers I can see these guys, drugs shoved all around them by industry insiders, thinking how dumb they all were, but might as well enjoy the ride. Making major connections, and hiding them in drug lore, like nursery rhymes. Double meanings, allusion, all those possibilities words have, yet these record people just don't see what they were saying at all. To literal and too caught up in the this is in, make money, while you can game, to notice.
  • Jbest from UsaRed Hot Chili Peppers' lead singer Anthony Kiedis stated that the song is about surviving, starting fresh, "I've made a mess of everything, but I have a blank slate - a canvas of snow - and I get to start over."
  • Tiago from TorontoThis song has followed me through my life. Even though it may talk about Drugs, I only think it`s the "second layer'" of what Anthony wanted to say. Ultimately what I believe he is basically talking to his INTUITION, looking inside himself for answers and guidance in life. On and on I think it is a deep song talking about Meditation, Looking Inside yourself, Listening to your true self, following a New life path guided by your trueself and helping the "channels" that were broken down between us on Earth and the Creator/Universe/GOD and looking for ascension.
  • Joey from GonyeaWhen I first heard this song in 2006, I actually thought it was about a slave running away (running through the fields were all my tracks will be concealed) and finding out that on the outside that the world is ran by whites and that's all people know (people need the cover of another perfect wonder where it's so white as snow). As he explores he realized how ignorant he is to urban things (the more I see the less I know). Idk, I guess I read too much into it and I should've figured it was about drugs.
  • Don from CaliforniaAs a full-blooded Swede on all sides of the family tree, I am amazed at the number of interpretations in regards to the lyric "Snow Hey Oh." My brother and I immediately associated the lyrics to the story our grandmother Helga told us about using reindeer to search for snow peppers. The snow peppers were exceedingly rare but some herders such as her father owned a reindeer that could find them in the fall season under the first snow falls. The peppers were snow white and possessed a very distinct peppery flavor with a bit of heat to them. There is even a hot sauce company in the US which uses these very hard to get snow peppers in their Just Right Heat sauce. Anyway, who is to say what the band was thinking when they wrote the song, but to us and our family, it is all about the elusive snow peppers of "norland".
  • Circe Kerry from Dfw Texas"It's about the repeated failure to start your life anew and how difficult it can be to get rid off old ways of thinking, and destructive ideas we become so attached to." Anthony Kiedis

    I can see Anthony and fellow writes sitting down to write a song that would seem to be referring to drugs. That is the easy and obvious answer isn't it? However, I believe this ambiguous song is filled with innuendos! There are certain things these artists can say and things they cannot come out and just tell you. This is unfortunately why some of them are suicided. Or they actually do give up because it seems humanity does not hear them. They hide the truth in plain sight as not to get killed, and sit back hoping people will have the capacity to hear messages they are conveying in their cleverly written lyrics.


    Here is my suggested meaning of the song:

    Come to decide that the things that I tried
    Were in my life just to get high on

    This means that the things in our lives are put there not by chance but decided on pre-birth. In our soul agreements. We set up clues in our lives to remind us of why we are here. Our purpose. Many old souls will turn to drugs because this path is one which they can learn from the most. Especially when they kick that habit.


    When I sit alone
    Come get a little known
    But I need more than myself this time

    This is referring to self contemplation in meditation. Meditation and reflection are paramount in determining your true identity and purpose.


    Step from the road to the sea to the sky
    And I do believe that we rely on

    This is referring to stepping beyond what we think we know, and to perceive what is really there. Beyond the 5 senses and sensed with your third eye.


    When I lay it on
    Come get to play it on
    All my life to sacrifice

    This means that we have our whole lifetime to serve our soul purpose. Sole purpose. This is a play we are acting out and our scripts have been written before we came.


    When will I know that I really can't go
    To the well once more time to decide on?
    When it's killing me
    When will I really see
    All that I need to look inside
    Come to believe that I better not leave
    Before I get my chance to ride

    There are many souls here living out their purpose. No one here now on a soul level can leave the "game" (polarity integration) without completing their purpose(s) or missions. Humans are eternal in nature, water beings. This is a water planet. (plan it) It takes a lot of poison to kill us, hence all the GMO's and poisoned water supply. When our very lives are killing us, we need to look inside (our DNA), water it (repair) and then we will find our purpose. Going within for answers. If we do not fulfill our reason for being here before we cross back over, we will likely be back another lifetime.


    Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder where it's so white as snow,
    Privately divided by a world so undecided and there's nowhere to go;
    In between the cover of another perfect wonder and it's so white as snow,
    Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed and there's nowhere to go.

    Deep beneath the cover is our new lifetime, white as snow because it is brand new. The color white represents something clean, and pure like snow. The world is privately divided, meaning the cabal or team dark sits behind closed doors playing their roles. They pit one side against the other (religion, false flags, fake news, etc.) While we sit and bicker at who is right or wrong, we are blind to the true goals. Our truth. (which is hidden in plain sight). Running through the field where tracks are concealed and nowhere to go. Once again we cannot leave earth until we all wake up and we can leave together. (frequency fence put in place to keep us here at an etheric level) We leave clues hidden under the snow, hoping we will realize we've been here before and have a purpose for being here.


    Went to descend to amend for a friend all the channels that have broken down.
    Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up - just to hear you sing it out.

    This is referring how WE FELL or descended to help humanity and the earth to break free from chains. Humans and our Mother (earth, Gaia, leviathan or living ship, etc) however you want to look at it...have been imprisoned for a long time, we just aren't able to tell unless we wake out of the dream. This is all for a higher purpose, but many souls came to assist in repairing all the channels that have been broken down. Not only is the planet being saved but her inhabitants as well. Our DNA is a lot of things, including the chains binding us here. When we search our DNA also contains information and the strands can be reconnected and realigned. We are here saving ourselves.
  • Casey from Boston, Maoh and how could I forget these lines..
    The more I see the less I know- when I got into the program I thought I knew it all but was I ever wrong
    the more id like to let it go- aa saying, let go and let god maybe?
  • Casey from Boston, MaIt's definitely got mad drug references but it's also got a lot of recovery references...
    come to decide that the things that i tried were in my life just to get high on- we have this disease where we r not ok, we have a void, we are restless irritable and discontent and we use drugs and alcohol to fix it, we try all kinds of crazy things to fix us.
    when I sit alone- again restless, irritable, discontent. I sure as s--t can't sit with myself without drugs or the solution of aa.
    but I need more than myself this time- aa/na is a we program
    when will I know I really can't go to the well once more, time to decide on- I think hes talking about the allergy that's in the big book of aa. we get high or drunk on the first one. One is too many a thousands never enough.
    When it's killing me, when will I really see all that I need to look inside- It's a fatal disease and the problem is not drugs/alcohol, the problem is me.
    Come to believe that I better not leave before I get my chance to ride- the second step uses the language come to believe in a power greater than ourselves. And I better not leave.. in aa they always says don't leave before the miracle happens.
    When to descend to amend for a friend- 9th step amends process.
    I don't know I could be wrong but as someone who is in the program these lines really stick out to me. And yes the drug references are clear. Before I got clean (heroin and coke addict here) all I heard was the drug references... snow- coke or china white heroin.. where all my tracks will be concealed- track marks.. but now that i'm clean and in the steps it's the recovery references that I hear.
  • Dan from Newton, KsI hate to be the ONLY person that doesn't want to write about drugs, but I think the whole musical concept of the song is genius - including (but not limited to) the excellent, catchy guitar riff, the melotron keyboard that comes in half-way through, the rhythm of the lead vocal, & the background vocals. If any song can get lodged in your cranium hours after listening to it, it would have to be this one!
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlI have to say this is probably my favorite Red Hot Chilli Peppers' song. I just love the vocals and lyrics and the bass is kickin' it! WOOP! WOOP! lol
  • Alayna from Gainesville, FlIt bothers me that people comment that the fact about it being about drugs is wrong.Everything is an interpretation. Its no better a song whether it is or isnt.
  • Ivy from Springfield, Ne@Mark - Dude I think you're right. That's the best theory on this page. Btw, fave song eva.
  • Ivy from Springfield, NeOne of my favorite songs ever.
  • Ivy from Springfield, NeThis is my absolute favorite song ever. This annoying kid in my class says "That's a terrible song. There's no variety in the voice! He stays on the same note the whole time!" Dude, do you hear the frikin gymnastics he's doing on the guitar? Just putting that out there, in case you were wondering. =) HEYYYOOOO . . .
  • Remington from Whitehall, PaI think when he says "Come to decide that the things that I tried were in my life just to get high on." I take that to mean, everything hes been through was there to make him a better person. And when he says "Step from the road, to the sea, to the sky, and I do believe that we rely on." I think hes saying that he tries to take everything up a notch, and moving on and becoming wise. But thats what i think.
  • Megs from Seavale, South AfricaI think that this song shouldn't be taken on face value with the lyrics. It's metaphorical... its about life and what people go through.
  • Tommy from Old Forge, Pa This song is kick ass. Top to bottom. Chase(dallas) hit it pretty squarely on the head. Right? When an artist releases something...it's out on the table. Open to interpretation. There is no right or wrong. Is it about drugs? I don't think so. Noway-0. Not for me. Maybe it is for you.
  • Clay from Henagar, AlI love the fact that almost all of there songs are drug related thats probably why most of their lyrics don't make sense but you gotta love RHCP!
  • Aj from Campton, KyNo doubt the lyrics are about Anthony's addiction to coke and heroin. I'm not sure if he meant for the "hey oh" to represent "hayo" slang for heroin, but he's a deep guy so who knows...coincidence or not it's GREAT. I love this song. It goes a lot deeper though...if you listen to the main riff, it sounds very frantic almost like John is winding down and maybe crashing or coming off the buzz. The riff, like the lyrics, symbolize the craziness of drugs and then when it mellows out for the chorus I think it shows that Anthony has found transcendence and peace through rehab. This is my second favorite song off of Stadium Arcadium..."Especially in Michigan" is by far by first. Keep the comments coming ya'll, it's fun to read your interpretations.
  • J from Sv, Akwhile this song can definsntly apply to drugs, I think it is also a song that can apply to any personal situation in your life where you are stepping up. The first line can be a realization that a person has been a sitting blob all their life getting high on tv and braindead entertainment , suddenly out to change his life. The snow could represent drugs, but I'd like to think it could go deeper than that. Snow is pure white, cleansing all in it's path. The snow could also represent the cleansing of the person who is abandoning his old highs and starting a clean slate.

    I'll need to read the lyrics more, but this is my opinion on the meaning. A drug song is never JUST a drug song, what's on the surface is never the full package. All songs, even perhaps "jizz in
    My pants" have a deeper meaning that even the artist might not be aware of.
  • Jillian from Gadsden, AlI was on my way to detox when this song started playing and it was really heavy to me at that moment it was an vindicated feeling and believe it or not on my way back home a few days later it was sonwing and i had my first natural high that day. (I wasn't on herion or coke me drug of choice was xanax clonazepam ativan just anything and weed of course)love the song
  • Jason from Massillon, OhThis song is also featured as the ending song for the live action version of the manga/anime of Death Note. Rather, it's the ending theme to the second movie: Death Note 2: The Last Name
  • Jason from Massillon, OhThis song is also featured as the ending song for the live action version of the manga/anime of Death Note. Rather, it's the ending theme to the second movie: Death Note 2: The Last Name
  • Airk from Skagway, AkHow the hell can John play this and sing at the same time?!? It's inhuman!!!!!
  • Mark from Portland, OrWell, it's hard to deny this song references drugs when the first two lines are:
    "Come to decide that the things that I tried
    Were in my life just to get high on"
    I agree, it's about that moment of clarity where you decide whether you want to go on doing this and how hard it is to make that decision when it's so easy to just do one more. And yet you know it's killing you and you can't go on forever:
    "When it's killing me
    When will I really see
    All that I need to look inside"
    On the other hand, that last line is deeply spiritual, seeking the inner strength and wisdom needed to change his life. Keidis is a truly gifted lyricist and his lyrics have many layers of meaning, yet there are some dominant themes in this song that are impossible to ignore.
  • Jono from Detroit, MiFrom a recovering heroin, methadone and coke addict, I think this song is real simple. This song speaks to us suffering addicts in metaphors. For those of you who question what the song is about- The title of the song tells you. Snow is about China White heroin only. He did coke yes but this song is about the heroin. Snow ( hey ohh..) Heyyo---means heroin on the streets. Trust me. Just like yayo is coke. replace with an H and wamo! you got heroin. More importantly, its about the struggle to get high or not. its very hard to live with the desese. I struggle every day with it. "All that I needs to look inside." All of anthonys songs, teach spiritual growth and most importantly, "Love." Give your love no matter what. Even to the less experianced person. Thats what he wants us to learn through all of his songs. By the way, all of your interperetations are great. Really fun to read. By the way, Stephen, were on the same page, you rock bro.
  • Excell from Sydney, AustraliaThe song may be about drugs (and I read it as such - as someone who does know) but it is also about flying, if you want it to be :) Step from the road to the sea, to the air - go hang gliding, it's a natural high!
  • David from Montpelier, VtI believe just about one thousand percent that the song is about searching for the one big fix for all the world's various problems, be it drugs, a new world leadership, a new philosophy, or even a new God. If a person wants drugs as representation of an antidote for all the problems in oneself and existence, then fine. However, another perfect wonder CAN BE ANYTHING, EVEN THE PRESIDENT. In addition, life can be a journey for some that never has a real ending, rather constant quest for seeking the ultimate resolution of things, which may in fact be life's journey. The End.
  • Robert from Glasgow, United KingdomYou know this is the second song I've compared to a Thomas Hardy novel today - the first was When You Were Young by The Killers. I thought that the power of nature as a healer - seen in Return Of The Native - is evident in this song. As well as being about drugs, I think that this song references the fact that nature and the seasons have a way of dwarfing the ups and downs of a mans life. No matter what we do to the world and ourselves, there will always be a layer of snow to come along and cover it up. I think that the main theme of the song in fact is the worlds ability to allow us to be reborn, and that the drugs mentioned are really just what we are trying to leave behind.
  • Austin from Smallsville,new England, --John plays very quick aprogys for the verse while Flea lays down a simple bass line.
  • Matt from Mansfeild, OhThis song is interesting I like it is all that matters
  • Cj from Vermont, Vti think its about how Anthony Kiedis matured and looks back on his life and the things hes grown out of, like drugs.
  • Mark from Worcester, MiBryan is correct, and I'm as Christian as anyone, but just check out the live stuff and the word is clear. LOVE. It does sound more like Lord in the album version though IMO, but it's clearly not. Good job Bryan in correcting in a non judgemental manor IMO.
  • Bryan from Edwardsville, IlI hate to break it to you Jean from Seattle, but he says "tell my love now." If you want to apply this song to your religious beliefs, thats fine. But not everything in this world has been inspired by christianity, and this definitely wasn't. You can apply a song to your life and musical artists expect that. But don't come on here changing the lyrics to suit your tastes.
  • Mark from Worcester, MiIronic how it seems the bands most committed fans are the ones who want to sell this song so woefully short as just a "drug" song. It's so much more than that.
  • Jean from Seattle, WaI so totally agree with Barbara, Chicago! But I think what makes the song so great is that it is describing a person's life caught up in drugs while at the same time it describes wanting out of that lifestyle using the same words as metaphors to describe the only way to get out is to look to the Lord...the lyrics mingle both messages in a beautiful and meaningful song of struggle and hope...also, he says "tell my Lord now" (not tell my love now)...a prayer that he's aware that there is a higher power to answer to and call out to for deliverence and to get himself right with things that confuse him..."the more I see the less I know the more I like to let it go" says he is feeling pretty small in comparison to God and he feels like maybe God wouldn't accept him with such a broken past so he questions should I "let it go", how many times can he "go to the well" and and then fall back in the sin of the drugs? Just a great song! And I hope he finds the truth and the life...the God of the bible.
  • Jon from West Bend, IaI don't think that this song is about drugs, per se. It seems to me that it's more about the clean start after Anthony's (and John's) very heavy drug addictions.
  • Dylan from Oneida, Wiwhoever thinks this ISNT about drugs..it so is...snow is the name of it, they use hey oh to discretely say yayo...and most all their songs have to with drugs and a lot of them have struggled with drugs, explain to me how its not
  • Dylan from Oneida, Wii feel like he wrote lyrics that mean more than what he was intending, like "So white as snow... Privately divided by a world so undecided" yea that makes sense dividing the coke lines before snorting, but it could be which is the better or 'right' world; just because you dont see whats going on is that bad? it is out of control but we dont have to get stressed. and its so undecided if it is bad..and 'so white as snow' can be translated as it does look like snow (snow could be reality or satisfaction)but it just looks like snow, its really the drug youre about to do.
  • Danny from Sacramento, CaIts about starting fresh. He uses his use with drugs as an example
  • Mirna from Portoviejo, Ecuadordrugs?
  • Adam from Columbia, MdIf you don't think this song has anything to do with drugs (as many of their songs do) then read Anthony Kiedis's autobiography. So maybe no words actually directly mean heroin, cocaine, etc. but the song itself is about his struggle with drugs. He went through rehab several times, and is the writer of most of their lyrics. Put it together.
  • Mariah from Colorado Springs, CoPeople who say this song isnt about drugs realy doesnt know the band. Almost all of their songs (more recent ones especialy) have some kind of relevence to it. Songs like these show what they have been though as a band (more to anthony with this one) but it shows what they have been through and how theyve overcome it and learned from it.
    This song IS about drugs...but its in a deeper sence then most people take it as. The "snow" is not meant to be refered to as coke or heroin. The snow is sybolic of purity and starting fresh. People go through their lifes and they make mistakes, they screw up. But the tracks they leave behind are all covered up by the snow.
    "people need the cover of another perfect wonder where its so white as snow"
    People need the snow to cover their past and start fresh.
    This is what Anthony is refering to in this song. About how his whole life he was looking for that high ("come to descide that the things that ive tried were in my life just to get high on") and how his past is covered by the purity of this white snow. SNOW! NOT HEROIN!
  • Chase from Dallas/ft. Worth, TxIf you are only thinking of the music as about drugs and drugs only, I really think you are not allowing the music to reach it's full potential. It can be so so so much more to you than just another song if you allow it to adjust and you are able to apply and think of it in relation to your own personal situation.
  • Chase from Dallas/ft. Worth, TxTo the band personally, and to alot of ya'll, it's about drugs. It's the meaning of it to Kiedis and his struggles to kick the habit are the inpiration behind it. But, it can mean to each one of us something completely different. It's the beauty of music- the beauty of this song. We've all had our "drug" at some point in our life. We've all have struggled at some point with something. We've all gotten ourselves into something we shouldn't have. We've all done things we might regret. The song brings about the fact that we're all in this together, we're not that different from one another in the big picture, and we're all going through our own, personal issues and that is perfectly ok. You shouldn't feel like you alone, it's apart of life and if handled correctly, you can learn and grow from it like you never could have imagined. Brilliant song by a brilliant band.
  • John from Melbourn, Australiathe first line is come to decide that the things that i tried were in my life just to get high on
    sounds like something to dowith drugs
  • John from Melbourn, Australiano this is definitely about drus has anybody els noticed that the first line is Come to decide that the things that I tried
    Were in my life just to get high on.
  • Emi from Dallas, TxBeing familure with the "drugs" that are supposidly being talked about in this song I can understand why people think that thats all this song is about. But you should think deeper.
    "The more I see the less I know
    The more I like to let it go" - could mean the way he feels about the government, and the war. that there is so much that we dont know about it, and we just want there to be peace.

    "Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
    Where it's so white as snow"- Means a new beginning. Pure and peaceful.

    "Privately divided by a world so undecided
    And there's nowhere to go" - There is really no where that is truely peaceful without thoughts of war or poverity.

    "Running through a field where all my tracks will
    Be concealed and there is nowhere to go" - He just wants to run away, and get away from all the problems and everything that brings him down.

    "Step from the road to the sea to the sky
    And I do believe that we rely on" - There are some things that we have to rely on, no matter what.

    thats what i think about that.
  • Courtney from Cleveland, Ohim sorry, actually that quotes from a song, though still- anything to do with the particular lne in this song?
  • Courtney from Cleveland, Ohtheres a quote from john lennon if youve heard it "the more i see the less i know for sure"
    i know it doesnt necessarily explain the song, but did anyone in the band think of that quote particularly? i wonder...
  • Allen from Hoquiam, WaI don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but there is a nickname for cocaine, "yayo" I have heard the term, and it is also mention in "Scarface" the movie. If you listen to the song, when "hey oh" it sounds like "yayo" Something to chew on.
  • Elmo from San Francisco, Cafor those of you who contend this isn't about drugs, you need to read scar tissue (the book).

    any lyrics written by kiedis pertaining to a "fresh start" or "covering ones tracks" has to do with getting clean.
  • Zack from Erie, Pawow its blatantly obvious that anytime RHCP talks about something its either about sex drugs or both. this song is about doing cocaine and how bad it f*cks you up.
    Remember,
    The devil aint red its white
  • Robert from Melbourne, FlIt's interesting to read the opinions of all you tards... fact is its all speculation. who cares, its a great song.
  • Sanja from Zabok, Croatiathink whatever you want. the song can be about anything. i mean, every person will interpreting it on its way. the only persons who knows exactly what it is all about are Peppers. and you can't arguing about it. so if you cant normally discuss about it, leave your opinion for yourself.
  • Kaitlin from Greer, ScI think when he says, "step from the road to the sea tot he sky" he is drowning.
    "all my life to sacrifise" he is just taking it
    "hey oh listen what i say oh" he is telling someone to stop
    "the mroe i c the less i know the more i like to let it go" he wants to quit
    "so white as snow" coke
    "running through the feild where all my tracks will be conseeld and there no where to go" running from the police
    and its not properly divided by a world so undicided, its privatly -.- i saw it on the lyrics website
    "tell my love now" he wants them to tell his gf or wife that he loves her cause he is about to die
    "hey oh" means help me something like that
    XD
  • Brian from Houston, TxI am sorry "Sam", but the opening to this song is not exactly like Baba O'Reilly. Play them both at the same time, listen really close, u can tell tehy are different. Snow uses different notes, and you can tell that.
  • Barbara from Chicago, IlI believe that this song is about the forgiveness and purity that he feels under the "cover" of another "perfect wonder"... Jesus, the one who is white as snow. It is about the sins that Jesus takes from us and frees us from the bondage. He mentions going back to the "well" as in the bible story of the woman at the well, who came there for forgiveness and met Jesus there. "Step off the road, from the sea to the sky is about taking that leap of faith towards heaven. "Privately divided by a world so undecided.." is his own doubt and struggle with a faith that is so looked down upon my popular culture today. There is so much more...but my kids say I find "Jesus" in everything! This is true, but it is why I love this song!
  • Sam from Portsmouth, VaI'm surprised that no one has mentioned the fact that this song's guitar intro is the exact same intro (except played on a keyboard) of Baba O'Riley. Don't get me wrong I love RHCP but they still shouldn't given Pete Townshend credit.
  • Stephen from Denver, CoThank you Jono. You can articulate it better than me.
  • Jono from Detroit, Mi This song is about drugs and sobriety. Even if its about a new start, its about starting new in sobriety.- from drugs. I'm a recovering heroin addict myself and this song and "Otherside", explains perfectly the struggle between your overwhelming cravings to get high and the fight to get sober and live a meaningful life. So not to be a slave to the poppy plant. More importantly it shows that devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other thing, arguing weather to get high or not in his head all the time. Lyric: " When will I know that I really can go to the well once more now to decide on, when its killin me, when will I really see, all that I need's to look inside.-- Going to the well is being at the point of making the decision (jump in, or not)then he asks: when its killing him--how much (if any) will it take for him to change. "All I needs to look inside" means he knows the right path but something tells him to get high anyway and he needs to look inside and get back to his foundation of sobriety. By the way, I give it a 99% chance that by now anthony has relapsed on heroin, even if for a brief time, just by listening to his lyrics.
  • Stephen from Denver, CoI'm all for the song about starting anew. But you would have to be pretty ignorant to just blatently state that it's not about drugs. Kiedis was a heavy drug user and even the other members of the band were. (They gave River Phoenix the speedball that killed him) This song is about starting anew like a sheet of snow from the dirty life of drugs. RHCP are not just gonna come out and say it's about drugs. Do they have to spell it out dumbasses?
  • Nikie from Stockholm, SwedenDerek, I appologize for my previer comment. I was very irritated when I typed it, so I'm not surprised I "sounded" rude. I was more thinking about the line "privately divided by a world so undecided" behing about splitting cocain and heroin, which, to me, sounds a little bit far-fetched.
    Of course I agree with you, everybody has to make their own ideas about things.
  • Derek from Columbus, OhMusic is an art, and any type of art is open to individual interpretation. For example, nobody will ever know the real reason Mona Lisa has that goofy grin on her face. Therefore, I find it very rude to discount, negate, or belittle ANYone's opinion regarding this or any other song/art.

    That said, I find it hard to overlook the implications of drug use in this song. the very first line "Come to decide that the things that I tried were in my life just to get high on" says this quite plainly, I think. I realize Anthony was reported as denying it, for what reason i don't know. He was an addict, maybe song is the only way he can express feelings but doesn't wish to talk publicly about it; maybe admitting to a song about drug addiction was viewed as bad press. Could it be about other things as well? CERTAINLY!

    The bottom line here is that interpretation is subjective--your conclusion can be miles off the mark from mine, and that's okay. That's the cool thing about art--and RHCC as the artists get to sit and laugh at how wrong we all might be! ...think how Don McClean must feel with American Pie!
  • Nikie from Stockholm, SwedenI have been sitting here, just laughing at this. I don't get it. You guys WANT this to be about cocaine and (deleted), but it's not, as most of us already figured out.. Anyways.. I love this song. I love the lyrics, love the melody, I love everything about it. I also think the vid is very nice.
  • Brad from Philadelphia, Pa"properly divided by a world so undecided..." about cutting cocain? HAH, NO! Think deeper Yoni.
  • Dawson from Draper, UtThis song has nothing to do with drugs. Period.
  • Samandar from Atl, GaI dont care what you think I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers no matter what.
  • Yoni from Brooklyn, NyIt has to habe a double meaning then, because to discount is being about cocaine would be insane. I mean, look at the song title (Snow...Hey Oh= Yayo) and lyrics: "properly divided by a world so undecided..." what do you divide? coke!It just can't be a coincidence...can it?
  • Bert from Pueblo, NmYeah, according to Wikipedia this songfact is completely wrong. On the RHCP page, under Musical Style/Themes it says...

    The song Snow (Hey Oh) from Stadium Arcadium is refering to the metaphor of covering ones tracks and starting fresh, like a fresh sheet of snow. It does not refer to cocaine use
  • Ethan from Mt. Pleasent, ScIn my defense, I was only restating something I had read about the lyrics, didn't mean to upset anyone, simply giving the opinion of some people. no need to be hostile rob.
  • Rob from Sugar Land, Txthis song has nothing to do with drugs and heroin. its jsut a very misinterpreted song. in an article that i read in an australian magazine anthony said that the song is about a fresh start and has no connection at all to drugs. im tired of people misinterpreting those lyrics. i think the fact needs to be changed to something that is a real fact
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