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".
Brick by Brick
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With no chance to live before you die
You get pretty sick if you have to
Keep it inside
I wanna build a house where an ad don't scream
I wanna live in peace-quietly
I wanna have a place of love and safety
People ought to have respect in front
People ought to get along pretty O.K.
So get off my dick
I'm building it brick by brick
Brick by brick
I'm building a house where I can think
And have some balance and dignity
I'm building a house where no one can hurt me
I'm building a house where the weak are strong
I'm building a house with a real song
I'm using faith that is immortal
I'm building it with simplicity
And the way that we feel, you and me
I'm building it with what I believe in
So get off my dick
I'm building it brick by brick
Brick by brick
Now I'm looking at just a little time
So be it I want to
Be true to my simple heart
And not put nothing else above it
Brick by brick [Repeat: x4]
Brick by brick by brick
In Iggy Pop's song "Brick by Brick," he does not shy away from commenting on a pressing social issue - unhappiness in people. In the opening few lines, Iggy acknowledges that people are sad, and he knows why. He believes that people struggle when they have no chance to live life to the fullest, and they are forced to keep their emotions bottled up inside. Thus begins Iggy's quest to build a happy place where people can live the way they desire, where they can be respected, and where they can live peacefully.
Iggy's quest is not easy, and he reveals this through the lyrics. He faces detractors who criticize and dismiss him while he aspires to build a house where an advertisement does not scream. He fights to build a place of love and safety where no one can hurt him, where the weak are strong, and where respect is a norm. All this he wishes to achieve with simplicity and sincerity, using his unwavering faith to accomplish his mission. The closing lines express Iggy's determination to stay true to his heart and his mission, no matter what the consequences may be.
Line by Line Meaning
People are so sad and I know why
I understand the reason behind the sadness of people.
With no chance to live before you die
Life is short, so we need to make the most of it before we die.
You get pretty sick if you have to
Keep it inside
Holding in your emotions can make you emotionally and mentally unwell.
I wanna build a house where an ad don't scream
I want to live somewhere where the constant bombardment of advertising is not present.
I wanna live in peace-quietly
I want to live a quiet, peaceful life.
I wanna have a place of love and safety
I want to live in a place where love and safety are the norm.
People ought to live how and where they want
People should have the freedom to live their life in a way that suits them, without restrictions from society.
People ought to have respect in front
People should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their background.
People ought to get along pretty O.K.
People should strive to get along and find common ground with each other.
So get off my dick
I'm building it brick by brick
Brick by brick
Leave me alone, I am working hard to achieve my dreams and goals.
I'm building a house where I can think
I am creating a space where I can think and reflect.
And have some balance and dignity
I want to live a balanced life with dignity and self-respect.
I'm building a house where no one can hurt me
I am creating a safe space where I am protected from the harm caused by others.
I'm building a house where the weak are strong
I am creating a place where the powerless are given the power and strength they need to thrive.
I'm building a house with a real song
I am creating something authentic and meaningful.
I'm using faith that is immortal
I am using faith in something everlasting to guide me in my journey.
I'm building it with simplicity
And the way that we feel, you and me
I am creating something that is simple and honest, based on our true feelings.
I'm building it with what I believe in
I am creating something based on my beliefs and values.
Now I'm looking at just a little time
I am aware that time is running out.
So be it I want to
Be true to my simple heart
And not put nothing else above it
I want to stay true to my values and do what makes me happy, even if it means sacrificing other things.
Brick by brick [Repeat: x4]
I am working hard and making progress, one step at a time.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAMES OSTERBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R Robinson
on Livin' On The Edge Of The Night (edit)
Here are corrections to incorrect lyrics - outrageously, stupidly incorrect: The first line is, "ILL WIND off the river". (And that's ill, not I'll.) The second line is, "smoke stacks fade to BLACK". Second verse: "I've made my bed but I can't REST my head". And "so much COULD be misunderstood". Bridge: "WELL maybe it's just my life". An artist crafts his work meticulously , then this is what happens to it. Disgusting.