Iggy Pop (born James Newell Osterberg, Jr.; April 21, 1947) is an American … Read Full Bio ↴Iggy Pop (born James Newell Osterberg, Jr.; April 21, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though widely known as an innovator and "godfather" of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, hard rock, jazz and blues. Pop became known as 'Iggy' in high school, during which time he served as drummer for local blues band The Iguanas. He is vocalist of influential proto-punk band The Stooges (Pop and the other surviving members of the group reunited in 2003), having become known, since the late 1960s, for his outrageous and unpredictable stage antics.

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".

Howl
Iggy Pop Lyrics

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Howl
Howl
Fuck it
I feel like howling
Got nowhere to turn
They'll kill you
For your spirit
This is what you learn

The music of tomorrow is
What you feel today
The owners of the future
Is not the one they say
A mountain of faces
Is rapin' my ear

I'm glad that my pride is
Stronger than my fear
I'm howling, baby
I'm howling, baby
Howling, baby

I knew the producer
He's got lots of tricks
He is the star maker
The bands are little pricks
The music of tomorrow is
What you feel today
The owners of the future
Is not the one they say
A mountain of faces
Is rapin' my ear

I'm glad that my pride is
Stronger than my fear

I'm howling, baby
I'm howling, baby
I'm howling, baby
I'm howling, baby

Howling, baby
Howling, baby
Howling, baby

Howling, baby
I'm howling, baby

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Iggy Pop's "Howl" is a reflection on the hopelessness of life. The singer is about to break down, and he feels that he has nowhere to turn. He believes that society is corrupt and will "kill you for your spirit." He goes on to talk about the "music of tomorrow," and how it is based on what you feel today. The owners of the future are not the ones they say.

In the second verse, Iggy talks about the producer, who is a star-maker, and the bands are little pricks. He reiterates that the music of tomorrow is based on what you feel today, and the owners of the future are not the ones they say. The lines "A mountain of faces is rapin' my ear" suggest that the singer feels overwhelmed with the noise and pressures he is dealing with.

The chorus of "Howl" is somewhat of a release for the singer. He's howling because he feels that's all he can do in the face of such despair. He's glad that his pride is stronger than his fear, but by the end of the song, it's clear that he is not entirely in control.

Line by Line Meaning

Howl
Expressing intense emotion

Howl
Repeating the expression of intense emotion

Fuck it
Dismissal of societal norms and conventions

I feel like howling
Desire to express raw emotion and be heard

Got nowhere to turn
Feeling of being trapped and without options

They'll kill you
Society will crush your spirit and uniqueness

For your spirit
One's personality and individuality are under attack

This is what you learn
The harsh reality of the music industry and society at large

The music of tomorrow is What you feel today
Artistic expression reflects the present emotions and experiences that create a blueprint for future culture

The owners of the future Is not the one they say
Those in power may not truly represent the future but can use their power to manipulate it

A mountain of faces Is rapin' my ear
The overwhelming presence of media and criticism is smothering and violating one's creativity

I'm glad that my pride is Stronger than my fear
Resilience and self-confidence are necessary to withstand the pressures of the industry

I'm howling, baby
Continuing to express emotion and individuality despite the challenges

I knew the producer He's got lots of tricks
Awareness that those in power use manipulation and games to control artists

He is the star maker The bands are little pricks
The producer holds the keys to success in the industry while the artists are at their mercy

Howling, baby
Continued expression of emotion and defiance

Howling, baby
The repetition of this phrase conveys the passion and desperation of the artist

Howling, baby
Continued defiance and fight against an oppressive industry

Howling, baby
Continued expression of intense emotion

I'm howling, baby
Final statement of the artist's determination to continue creating and expressing despite the odds

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP, WHITEY KIRST, WHITNEY KIRST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind