10 Upbeat Rock Songs With Darker Meanings
9. Knock Me Down - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989)
Knock Me Down was he first single the Red Hot Chili Peppers released after the death of their former guitarist Hillel Slovak.
It was a track indicative of the developing sound the band was exploring with new guitarist John Frusciante. With Flea thumping out a bass line that was just as funky as anything they had done previously, the song incorporated move heavy rock guitar elements, resulting in a sound that helped the band explode from the LA music scene to a more national and international stage.
Despite this funky number having all the musical elements of your typical, sticking it to the man, rock track, the subject matter of Anthony Kiedis's lyrics were a far cry from his usual self-aggrandising references to casual sex and his anti-authoritarian way of life.
The song was the first time Kiedis would reflect on the death of Hillel Slovak, and his own drug use. The line "If you see me getting high, knock me down" had a two pronged meaning. Metaphorically expressing a need to be put in his place when his ego took over, and literally asking for help if he started using heroin again.
The irony being, that Kiedis's cautionary drug sentiment's would be ignored by new guitarist John Frusciante, who would go on to fall victim to the allures of heroin.