This song is an introspective reflection on vocalist Anthony Kiedis' drug addiction. The title comes from the lyric, "Under the bridge downtown/Is where I drew some blood," reportedly referring to an experience in which Kiedis used drugs under a bridge with a member of a Mexican gang, although Kiedis himself refuses to reveal the exact location. The song almost did not make the album, because the lyrics and nature of the song made Kiedis reluctant to show it to producer Rick Rubin and also to record it. It has been noted that the bridge shown in the "Under the Bridge" video is the same one shown in the "By The Way" video. Some fans believe that the man in the taxi that took Keidis to the bridge in "By The Way" was being portrayed as a drug dealer trying to get him back into drugs by stirring up old memories from under the bridge.

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