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".
Everybody's Talkin'
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping staring
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Backing off of the North East winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
Oh
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through' the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Backing off of the North East winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind
The lyrics of Iggy Pop's "Everybody's Talkin'" convey a sense of isolation and detachment from the world around the singer. The opening line, "Everybody's talking at me," suggests that the singer is bombarded with the opinions and chatter of others, but is unable to truly hear or engage with them. Instead, they are only left with "the echoes of my mind."
This sense of disconnection is further emphasized by the lines about people staring but only seeing "shadows of their eyes," suggesting a lack of true human connection or intimacy. In this state of mind, the singer is drawn to escape to a place where they can be free from the pressure and noise of the world around them. They long to go "where the weather suits my clothes" and sail "on a summer breeze," symbolizing a desire for simplicity and ease.
However, the final lines of the song suggest that even in this escapist state of mind, the singer is still haunted by the idea of losing love. They assert that they "won't let you leave my love behind," indicating a sense of loyalty and commitment to someone or something that keeps them grounded.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's talking at me
Everyone around me is talking, but I am not really listening.
I don't hear a word they're saying
I am not paying attention to what people are saying.
Only the echoes of my mind
I am lost in my own thoughts and not really processing what is happening around me.
People stopping staring
People are looking at me.
I can't see their faces
I am not really paying attention to the people looking at me because I am preoccupied with my own thoughts.
Only the shadows of their eyes
I am only seeing the reflection of their eyes, not really connecting with them.
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
I am seeking a place where things are positive and uplifting.
Through the pouring rain
Despite difficulties and challenges, I am persevering to find that positive place.
Going where the weather suits my clothes
I am seeking a place where I feel comfortable and free to be myself.
Backing off of the North East winds
I am moving away from something negative or challenging.
Sailing on a summer breeze
I am moving towards something positive and carefree.
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
I am making my way to my destination quickly, easily, and without fear.
I won't let you leave my love behind
I am committed to holding onto love and not losing it despite the challenges I may face.
No, I won't let you leave
I am willing to fight for love and am determined not to let it slip away.
I won't let you leave my love behind
Love is too valuable to lose, and I will do whatever it takes to hold onto it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fred Neil
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.