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 Wanna Live
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A shaky step at a time
I got no choice but careful
Thank God I've done my crime
The tools I see on TV
Can't stand it when they fake
A prick's a prick at any age
Why give one a break?
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live live live live live
The soul is in the eyeball
For anyone to see
I'm better than a Pepsi
I'm cooler than MTV
I'm hotter than California
I'm cheaper than a gram
I'm deeper thar the shit I'm in
An' I don't really give a damn
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live a little bit longer now
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live live live live live
Step up it's fight time
Kick scratch and bite time
Ain't talking about no more fun
But that don't bother my bad ass none
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live a little bit longer now
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to live live live live live
Just a little bit longer
I want to live live live live live
The lyrics of "I Wanna Live" by Iggy Pop express a person's desire to live longer, to fight for their survival, and to face the challenges that may come their way. The first verse refers to the singer's uncertainty about their future, taking it "a shaky step at a time." They have no choice but to be careful, having done a crime before. The second verse highlights the singer's confidence, comparing themselves to different products like Pepsi and MTV, emphasizing their worth. The third verse calls for a fight, stating that it's time to kick, scratch, and bite, but not for fun's sake.
Overall, "I Wanna Live" is a call for survival - trying to fight for life, be confident and move forward, and face challenges without backing down. The song advocates for living fiercely and freely.
Line by Line Meaning
I see my future shuffling
I am uncertain about my future, taking small steps forward, cautiously.
A shaky step at a time
Each step I take is unstable.
I got no choice but careful
I am forced to be careful in my decisions, as I have limited options.
Thank God I've done my crime
I have made mistakes in the past, but I am grateful to have learned from them.
The tools I see on TV
The people and products I see advertised on television.
Can't stand it when they fake
I dislike inauthenticity in advertising and media.
A prick's a prick at any age
No matter how old someone is, if they are unpleasant, they will always be unpleasant.
Why give one a break?
Why should we make excuses for someone's bad behavior?
The soul is in the eyeball
One's true character can be seen in their eyes.
For anyone to see
It is evident to all who look.
I'm better than a Pepsi
I am more valuable than a popular soda brand.
I'm cooler than MTV
I am more trendy and impressive than a popular music channel.
I'm hotter than California
I am more attractive and desirable than a popular state in America.
I'm cheaper than a gram
I am more affordable than a small amount of a drug.
I'm deeper thar the shit I'm in
I have more depth and complexity than the problems I am facing.
An' I don't really give a damn
I am apathetic towards the opinions of others.
Step up it's fight time
It is time to confront and overcome challenges.
Kick scratch and bite time
We must use aggressive tactics to succeed in this fight.
Ain't talking about no more fun
The situation is serious and requires urgency.
But that don't bother my bad ass none
I am not afraid or intimidated by this difficult situation.
I want to live a little bit longer
I want to continue living for a longer period of time.
I want to live a little bit longer now
I desire longevity in my life right now.
Just a little bit longer
I am not asking for an excessive amount of additional time.
I want to live live live live live
I am passionate about continuing to experience life to the fullest.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP, WHITEY KIRST
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.