Can't Stop

"Can't Stop" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their eighth studio album, By the Way (2002). It was released as the third single from the album on February 3, 2003. The song was the band's eighth number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it spent three weeks topping the chart, and peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Can't Stop" performed moderately well on international charts as well as on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock charts. Artwork for the single cover was provided by Julian Schnabel, as noted by guitarist John Frusciante. Composition and lyrical denotation The song is instrumentally composed in 4/4 standard time and in the key of E minor. The verse plays twice before the bridge, as well as the chorus. During the bridge, Frusciante plays sparsely in a reggae style, only strumming on the up-beat. Following the bridge, Frusciante utilizes a fuzz (Big Muff Pi by Electro Harmonix) in his solo. He also makes extensive use of a tone-bend. Lyrically, "Can't Stop" is a prime example of the band's occasional use of writing lyrics to an established rhythm, rather than rhythms to established lyrics. Kiedis writes in his typical circumlocutory style. Nonetheless, the predominant theme of cultivating an inner, personal energy (evidenced in the title and the final line: "This life is more than just a read-through.") can be understood in almost every line. The verses are addressed to the listener (or perhaps to himself), in an instructional tone, with references to Kiedis's own life, as well as citing the inspiration of Defunkt ("Defunkt, the pistol that you pay for") and Julia Butterfly Hill ("J. Butterfly is in the treetops"). The bridge marks a slight departure, as Kiedis suggests he had temporarily forgotten this philosophy, and looks to a new girlfriend to help himself back on his feet.