Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

In this song, the artists refer to drug use, singing, “Under the bridge downtown is where I drew some blood.” This is suggestive of injecting drugs and perhaps of being homeless or on the streets from drug abuse.

Unfortunately, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have experienced their challenges with addiction. Original member Hillel Slovak succumbed to a heroin overdose in 1988, and singer Anthony Kiedis has admitted that “Under the Bridge” describes one of his darkest points during his addiction. Kiedis is reported to be clean today.

Lyrics
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angels
Lonely as I am, together we cry
I drive on her streets 'cause she's my companion
I walk through her hills 'cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy
Well, I never worry, now that is a lie

I don't ever wanna feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all the way
I don't ever wanna feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all the way
Yeah, yeah, yeah

It's hard to believe that there's nobody out there
It's hard to believe that I'm all alone
At least I have her love, the city, she loves me
Lonely as I am, together we cry

I don't ever wanna feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all the way
I don't ever wanna feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all the way

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, no, no-no, yeah, yeah
Love me, I say, yeah yeah
One time

Is where I drew some blood
(Under the bridge downtown)
I could not get enough
(Under the bridge downtown)
Forgot about my love
(Under the bridge downtown)
I gave my life away
Yeah, yeah
Oh, no, no-no-no, yeah, yeah
Oh, no, I said, oh, yeah, yeah
Where I stay