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".
I Need Somebody
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey I'm sure to steer you wrong
I am dying in a story
I'm only living to sing this song
(Just the same, baby...)
[Chorus:]
I need somebody, baby
I need somebody, baby
Just like you, just like you, just like you.
Well I'm losing all my feelings
And I'm running out of friends
You know you lied to me in the beginning
Baby, and now you're gonna try to bring me
Try to bring me to the end.
[Chorus]
Well now it's time to leave this signal
The interference is too strong
Yeah I got my reputation
Ride them airwaves, now too long.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Iggy Pop's "I Need Somebody" are a desperate plea for companionship and understanding. The opening verse finds the singer proclaiming their madness and admitting that they are likely to steer their partner in the wrong direction. It seems that they are mourning some sort of loss or tragedy, as they state that they are "dying in a story." Despite this, the only thing that keeps them going is the need to express themselves through music.
The chorus reiterates this need for someone to share their burden with. It's a simple phrase, but one that carries a powerful emotional weight. The repetition of "just like you" suggests that the singer is looking for someone who can identify with their struggles and offer comfort.
The second verse suggests that the singer has been betrayed by someone close to them. They feel isolated and alone, with nobody to turn to. The idea of running out of friends is particularly poignant, highlighting how difficult it can be to maintain relationships when dealing with personal issues.
The final verse offers some hope, as the singer decides to leave behind the "signal" of their suffering. They acknowledge that their reputation has been irreparably damaged, but are ready to move on and make a fresh start. The song ends on the repeated plea for someone who can understand and support them.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I am your crazy driver
I am the one who is leading you through life in a reckless and unpredictable way.
Honey I'm sure to steer you wrong
My decision-making is often flawed and I am likely to take us in the wrong direction.
I am dying in a story
My life is like a tragic tale that is coming to an end.
I'm only living to sing this song
The only thing keeping me going is my passion for music and performing.
(Just the same, baby...)
Despite all this, I am still the same person you fell in love with.
[Chorus:]
Repeating the chorus throughout the song emphasizes that the singer needs someone who understands them.
I need somebody, baby
I am desperately searching for someone who can connect with me emotionally.
I need somebody, too
I need someone who also needs me, so we can support each other.
I need somebody, baby
The repetition emphasizes the urgency of the singer's need for companionship.
Just like you, just like you, just like you.
The singer is looking for someone exactly like the person they are singing to in the song.
Well I'm losing all my feelings
The singer is becoming numb to their emotions and is struggling to feel anything.
And I'm running out of friends
The singer is losing the people they used to rely on for support and companionship.
You know you lied to me in the beginning
The singer's current loneliness is partly due to being betrayed by someone they trusted.
Baby, and now you're gonna try to bring me
The person who betrayed the singer is now trying to win them back.
Try to bring me to the end.
The singer is concerned that this person will ultimately hurt them again in the long run.
Well now it's time to leave this signal
The singer is ready to move on from their current situation and find a new beginning.
The interference is too strong
There are too many barriers and distractions preventing the singer from finding what they need.
Yeah I got my reputation
The singer has built up their fame and image through their music career.
Ride them airwaves, now too long.
The singer has been in the public eye for a long time and is ready for a change.
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus once again emphasizes the importance of finding someone the singer can connect with.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES OSTERBERG, JAMES WILLIAMSON
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.