Though his popularity has fluctuated through the years, many of Pop's songs have become well-known, including "Lust for Life", "The Passenger", "Real Wild Child", "Candy" (a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52's), "China Girl", "Nightclubbing", "Search and Destroy" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog".
In 2010, The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Pop was the lead singer of The Stooges, a late 1960s/early 1970s band that featured brothers Ron and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander and was highly influential in the development of hard rock. The debut album was produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale. The band's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is a garage punk standard.
Raw Power was first released in1973, perhaps the first record that could truly be called punk. It was the confluence of The Stooges ages, hormones, creativity, ability, experience, tastes, lack of supervision, contempt for authority and ambition that has made Raw Power one of the most influential albums of all time.
The Stooges were infamous for performances in which Pop leapt off the stage (hence, the "stage dive"), smeared raw meat or peanut butter over his chest and cut himself with broken bottles. A glimpse of the vibrating intensity of Iggy live can be seen in the Ramones movie "End of the Century." Guitarist James Williamson became a key collaborator, a partnership documented on the 1978 album Kill City.
In 25 years as a solo artist, Pop's best-known songs have included the thumping Lust for Life, to be heard on the soundtrack of the find-a-vein, shoot-it-up movie Trainspotting, I'm Bored and The Passenger (the latter based on a poem written by Jim Morrison). David Bowie played a key role in reinvigorating Pop's post-Stooges career and was a collaborator on the albums Lust for Life and The Idiot. Iggy may be under-rated as a songwriter. Bowie and Tina Turner covered his "Tonight". Bowie also put out his own version of "China Girl," while Grace Jones covered the icey "Nightclubbing".
Bang Bang
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young girls they know what they're after
Young girls don't kiss me goodbye
Rockets shooting up into space
Buildings they rise to the skies
Bang bang I got mine
I keep a good friend on video tape
He'll drive his sports car until it's too late
But we'll have a hot time on the town tonigh
Cause love is my bet and it's the best yet
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Bang Bang you all angels
Bang Bang now you all ought to be in pictures
Oh girl
Oh girl my problems can't follow me
Phone calls I take my machine
I wander lonely to the sea
Lonely ha Ha ha what does it mean
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang and you are next in line
Bang bang reach for the sky
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Rise buildings
Rise to the sky
Young girls they know what they're after
I said, young girls don't kiss me goodbye
The lyrics of Iggy Pop's Bang Bang describe a carefree attitude towards life, love and the pursuit of pleasure. Iggy speaks to the thrill of chasing one's desires, even if they may be considered taboo or dangerous. The opening line, "Well this ain't the right thing to do, so let's go," captures this attitude perfectly as it suggests that the actions that follow may not be socially acceptable, but are still worth pursuing. The focus on young girls in the lyrics could be interpreted as a nod to his own youth and the rebellious lifestyle that he embraced in his early career.
The line "Bang bang I got mine" is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that the pursuit of pleasure and the amassing of material possessions are the most important things in life. Iggy also references love as his "bet", indicating that he sees it as a game, something to be won or lost.
The song speaks to the idea of living life on one's own terms, without regard for convention or the opinions of others. It celebrates the reckless abandon of youth, encouraging listeners to embrace their own passions and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this ain't the right thing to do, so let's go
We should stop doing whatever we are doing as it is not the right thing to do
Young girls they know what they're after
Young girls have a clear idea of what they want in life
Young girls don't kiss me goodbye
I don't get emotional attachments with young girls and they don't want to say goodbye with a kiss either
Rockets shooting up into space
Rockets going up into space as a symbol of ambition and taking risks
Buildings they rise to the skies
Buildings are getting taller and taller, which symbolizes the progress and growth of urbanization
Bang bang I got mine
I have achieved my goals through hard work and persistence
Bang bang reach for the sky
Keep aiming higher and reaching for greater success
I keep a good friend on video tape
I keep a memory of a good friend recorded on tape
He'll drive his sports car until it's too late
He is living his life to the fullest, enjoying all pleasures, till he can't anymore
But we'll have a hot time on the town tonight
We will have a great time enjoying the nightlife
Cause love is my bet and it's the best yet
I believe love is the best gamble, and I am all in for it
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Life is not always bright and sunny; there are ups and downs
Bang Bang you all angels
People are full of potential, have good nature, and are angels in disguise
Bang Bang now you all ought to be in pictures
Everyone has the potential to be famous or successful in their own way, and take on the world
Oh girl
Addressing someone as a girl
Oh girl my problems can't follow me
Problems should not be allowed to hold you down, one must move on from them
Phone calls I take my machine
I don't want to talk to anyone at the moment, I'll let the answering machine handle it
I wander lonely to the sea
I walk alone to be with my thoughts and to refresh my mind
Lonely ha Ha ha what does it mean
Feeling lonely can sometimes be funny or amusing
Bang Bang and you are next in line
Everyone has the potential to be successful and could be next in line for that success
Rise buildings
Buildings are getting taller and more modern as time passes
Rise to the sky
As buildings are getting taller, they are seemingly touching the skies and symbolize overall growth and development
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Iggy Pop, Ivan Kral
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
533K3R
Well this ain't the right thing to do, so let's go
Young girls they know what they're after
Young girls don't kiss me goodbye
Rockets shooting up into space
Buildings they rise to the skies
Bang bang I got mine
Bang bang reach for the sky
I keep a good friend on video tape
He'll drive his sports car until it's too late
But we'll have a hot time on the town tonigh
Cause love is my bet and it's the best yet
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Bang Bang you all angels
Bang Bang now you all ought to be in pictures
Oh girl
Oh girl my problems can't follow me
Phone calls I take my machine
I wander lonely to the sea
Lonely ha Ha ha what does it mean
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang and you are next in line
Bang bang reach for the sky
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Rise buildings
Rise to the sky
Young girls they know what they're after
I said, young girls don't kiss me goodbye
Songwriters: Iggy Pop / Ivan Kral
Bang Bang lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Drax65
I adore Bowie's version but this one is an atomic bomb. Iggy's is one of the remaining rock's geniuses. Hail to him!
P Mc
@JPCP M David saved Iggy when he was fucked up!. They had a core musical love for each other. Bowies ver runs past this. Its subjective.
JPCP M
Iggy and David needed each other. This song is an explosion of energy. Trademark of Iggy.
Manuel Montiel
Iggy Pop eclipses Bowie
Mark OBLAZNEY
he got ours
533K3R
Well this ain't the right thing to do, so let's go
Young girls they know what they're after
Young girls don't kiss me goodbye
Rockets shooting up into space
Buildings they rise to the skies
Bang bang I got mine
Bang bang reach for the sky
I keep a good friend on video tape
He'll drive his sports car until it's too late
But we'll have a hot time on the town tonigh
Cause love is my bet and it's the best yet
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Bang Bang you all angels
Bang Bang now you all ought to be in pictures
Oh girl
Oh girl my problems can't follow me
Phone calls I take my machine
I wander lonely to the sea
Lonely ha Ha ha what does it mean
Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang and you are next in line
Bang bang reach for the sky
Bang Bang sun don't shine
Rise buildings
Rise to the sky
Young girls they know what they're after
I said, young girls don't kiss me goodbye
Songwriters: Iggy Pop / Ivan Kral
Bang Bang lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
RainPoetry
What a beautiful perfect mix of punk and glam. No one is like Iggy
Nuke Dukem
Iggy Pop. Living Legend.
FRENTE de Estudiantes Marxistas
Excelente tema!
john sullivan
god. I loved dancing to this song at Spit in Boston in the very early 80's. I totally forgot about it until recently.