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Image source: coub.com
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The band was working on the album in Los Angeles. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis at the time was emotionally distraught. He had just finished battling his heroin and cocaine addiction during his relationship with Ione Skye. Even during recording sessions, Keidis felt isolated as band members Flea and Frusciante often smoked marijuana and ignored him. His loneliness triggered memories of Skye and left him musing for companionship.
Keidis would find that companionship in the City of Los Angeles. Ignored by his bandmates, he felt like the city was his only companion. He wandered through the streets of LA and hiked the Hollywood Hills on his own. It was then when the lyrics "Sometimes I feel like / My only friend / Is the city I live in / The City of Angels / Lonely as I am / Together we cry" came to him.
Some lyrics also pertained to Keidis’ former bandmate. The lines ""sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner" refers to Hillel Slovak, former guitar player who died of a drug overdose.
The song verses depicted Keidis’ harsh experiences while he was battling addiction. The verse in Under the Bridge depicted his efforts of purchasing drugs under a bridge in gang territory.
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| Image source: wikimusica.info |
