Flea Releases Soulful New Original Song “A Plea” (Listen)

After a nearly five-decade career as one of his generation’s defining rock bassists, time and space have finally allowed Flea to work with a dream band of modern jazz visionaries, returning to his first instrument and musical love, the trumpet, for a new album that will be released in 2026 on Nonesuch Records. A preview, Flea’s original song, “A Plea,”is available today. Further details of the album will be announced in early 2026.Written and performed by Flea, “A Plea” urges listeners to “build a bridge, shine a light, make something beautiful and see somebody, give it to somebody.” Featuring Flea on electric bass, vocals, and trumpet, the ensemble also includes double bassist Anna Butterss and guitarist Jeff Parker, as well as drummer Deantoni Parks, percussionist Mauro Refosco, alto flutist Rickey Washington, and trombonist Vikram Devasthali. Chris Warren joins on vocals, as does the song’s producer Josh Johnson, who also plays alto saxophone. 

The music video, directed by Los Angeles-based photographer and filmmaker Clara Balzary, and featuring choreography by Sadie Wilking, was also released today.

Listen to “A Plea”

Flea describes the song’s lyrics, which reflect on the divisiveness in our country and our world, as “yearning for a place beyond, a place of love, for me to speak my mind and be myself. I’m always just trying to be myself.” He continues, “I don’t care about the act of politics. I think there is a much more transcendent place above it where there’s discourse to be had that can actually help humanity, and actually help us all to live harmoniously and productively in a way that’s healthy for the world. There’s a place where we meet, and it’s love.”

“A Plea” Lyrics

(Civil War)

I hear it in the air

I feel it in the air

Who’s your neighbor, who’s your friend?

Ahh there’s hate all around

I don’t care about your fucking politics

I don’t wanna hear about your politics

Well, he said boo

She said hooray

Now we are human beings right here

Human beings

We’re here together 

Come on

Whatcha gonna do?

Whatcha gonna do when it falls on you?

You’re scaring the kids

The beautiful kids

Ah yeah they wanna know

The children wanna know

Is the ugly coming, and the guns?

Is the army coming, blotting out the sun?

The blood red sun, the blood red sun

Ahhhhhhh concentration camps?

(Peace and Love)

My blood runs cold

I’m feeling hate all around

It’s no solution

It’s never been a solution

Come on

Are you with me?

We all know what it is

Build a bridge

Shine a light

Make something beautiful

I don’t care if it’s a little scrap of squiggly crayon on a paper

Make something beautiful and see somebody

Give it to somebody

I’m not being corny this shit is real

Live for peace

Live for love

It’s all we got

See the god in everyone

See the god

Come on with me

(The Æther)

Everyone just wants to be loved

See the god in everyone

Everyone leaves out no-one

And everything besides love is cowardice

You wanna be brave,  you wanna be tough?

Peace and love is the toughest hardest thing you can do

Build a bridge that’s where the courage is

Shine your light

Shine it true

Yeah

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