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".
Knocking 'Em Down in the City
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're ready and strong
Knockin' 'em down in the city
We're knockin' 'em down
We don't care where they fall
Knockin' 'em down in the city
We're only here to knock 'em down
We're coming to your house to state our appeal
Knockin' 'em down in the city
It doesn't take long 'cause the message is clear
Knockin' 'em down in the city
You can change situations
Go ahead and knock 'em down
Go ahead and knock 'em down
The world has its problems but I can't see how
Knockin' 'em down in the city
I want expression and I get it now
Knockin' 'em down in the city
And I don't care what your name is
I'm only here to knock 'em down
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
Well, are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
The lyrics to Iggy Pop's song "Knocking 'Em Down in the City" illustrate the desire for change and expression that exists within society. The singer and their "we" group are seeking employment and are ready for action. They propose to "knock 'em down," or to cause change in a bold and assertive manner. They continue to say that they don't care where the previous paradigms fall, indicating that they are willing to risk destruction in order to build a new and better world.
The singer encourages others to join them in their mission to bring about change. They don't care about who you are or what your name is, they are simply there to "knock 'em down." They go on to state that changing situations is easy if you're willing to "knock 'em down." The phrase "knocking 'em down" is used repeatedly to emphasize the power and importance of taking action.
In the final stanza, the singer repeats the question, "Are you ready to knock 'em down?" The repetition of this question serves as a call to action, urging the listener to join the singer and their comrades in their quest for change.
Overall, the lyrics of "Knocking 'Em Down in the City" are a powerful manifesto for social and political change. The singer is urging others to join them in their mission, stressing the importance of taking bold and decisive action in order to bring about a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
We're seeking employment
We're looking for work
We're ready and strong
We're capable of doing the job
Knockin' 'em down in the city
Getting things done in the city
We're knockin' 'em down
We're making progress
We don't care where they fall
We're not worried about the consequences
And we don't care what your name is
We're not concerned with status or identity
We're only here to knock 'em down
Our sole purpose is to accomplish our goals
We're coming to your house to state our appeal
We're making our demands known
It doesn't take long 'cause the message is clear
Our intentions are obvious and don't need much explanation
You can change situations
You have the power to make a difference
Go ahead and knock 'em down
Take action and make things happen
The world has its problems but I can't see how
I don't understand how things got so bad
I want expression and I get it now
I want to be heard and I finally have a chance to speak up
Are you ready to knock 'em down?
Are you ready to make a change?
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vincent Vega
"Knocking 'Em Down In The City"
We're seeking employment
We're ready and strong
Knockin"em down in the city
We're knockin' 'em down
We don't care where they fall
Knockin' 'em down in the city
And we don't tare what your name is
We're only here to knock 'em down
We're coming to your house to state our appeal
Knockin' 'em down in the city
It doesn't take long 'cause the message is clear
Knockin' 'em down in the city
You can change situations
Go ahead and knock 'em down
The world has its problems but I can't see how
Knockin' 'em down in the city
I want expression and I get it now
Knockin' 'em down in the city
And I don't care what your name is
I'm only here to knock 'em down
Are you ready
Are you ready to knock 'em down
Right Weaponry
I love how Iggy Pop moves like a hyper 10 year old boy, he has somehow maintained his childhood angst all these decades and created the punk prototype just being himself
Frontman Video
My favorite Iggy song by far. So good!
GONTIER FRANCOIS
Masterpiece
Vincent Vega
"Knocking 'Em Down In The City"
We're seeking employment
We're ready and strong
Knockin"em down in the city
We're knockin' 'em down
We don't care where they fall
Knockin' 'em down in the city
And we don't tare what your name is
We're only here to knock 'em down
We're coming to your house to state our appeal
Knockin' 'em down in the city
It doesn't take long 'cause the message is clear
Knockin' 'em down in the city
You can change situations
Go ahead and knock 'em down
The world has its problems but I can't see how
Knockin' 'em down in the city
I want expression and I get it now
Knockin' 'em down in the city
And I don't care what your name is
I'm only here to knock 'em down
Are you ready
Are you ready to knock 'em down
Jess
I love how he makes such low budget videos entertaining with his hyperactive, random gestures, especially that crouching dance at around 03:01
Ainê Byrne
Love this! Man I was 17 when this album came out .. mad my life lol I miss you !!
GONTIER FRANCOIS
Masterpiece lyrics
sharon Lee
I want Iggy to live for 300 years!
Edward Przÿdzial
my favorite iggy tune... the guitar is gutter trash can, so cool... its cold metal.
SebsExotics
Love this