1969
Dave Alexander/Iggy Pop/Ron Asheton/Scott Asheton Lyrics

The lyrics to Dave Alexander/Iggy Pop/Ron Asheton/Scott Asheton's song 1969 reflect the sense of boredom and lack of direction that characterized the youth culture of the late 1960s in America. The repetition of the year "1969" underscores a sense of monotony, while the repeated refrain of "another year with nothing to do" reinforces the aimlessness and sense of disconnection that many young people felt during this time period. The lines "Last year I was 21 I didn't have a lot of fun / And now I'm gonna be 22 I say oh my and a boo-hoo" suggest a sense of disillusionment with the idea that adulthood would bring fulfillment or purpose. The repetition of the word "baby" at the end of the song, meanwhile, reflects a kind of listlessness or apathy, a shrugging off of the boredom and lack of direction that the song describes.

Overall, the song captures the sense of disaffection and malaise that characterized American youth culture in the late 1960s, before the emergence of more overtly political movements like the counterculture and the anti-war movement. By highlighting the mundane aspects of day-to-day life, the song suggests that the problems facing young people were not just political or economic, but also existential, a sense that life lacked meaning or purpose.