<P> The lyrical meaning behind `` Give It Away '' is centered on the philosophy of selflessness and altruistic behavior . The song is titled after its most prevalent lyrical phrase `` give it away '' , which is taken from an experience Kiedis had with his former girlfriend -- punk rock singer Nina Hagen -- in the early 1980s . Hagen was several years Kiedis ' senior and became a role - model during his drug addiction to heroin : `` she realized how young and inexperienced I was then , so she was always passing on gems to me , not in a preachy way , just by seizing on opportunities . '' When Kiedis was looking through her closet he came across a jacket he liked , and commented to Hagen that it was `` really cool '' . Upon expressing this , Hagen immediately told him to keep it . Her reasoning behind this selflessness was due to an attempt to constantly make her life more enjoyable , and explained to Kiedis that `` if you have a closet full of clothes and you try to keep them all , your life will get very small . But if you have a full closet and someone sees something they like , if you give it to them , the world is a better place . '' </P>
give it away red hot chili peppers meaning
centered on the philosophy of selflessness and altruistic behavior