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".
Livin' On The Edge Of Night
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You went off the river
Smoke stacks fade to blind
This town's my own, ridin'free and alone
And I'm looking back
Maybe I know some people
Maybe I break some rules
But this is the street, I've got to compete
*So I take a little bad with the good
It ain't just black and white
(It still ain't black and white)
You've got to deal with the real
Woo, living on the edge of the night
Every wild desire
Beckons from the dark
I've made my bed but I can't risk my head
While I still swim with sharks
Everyone needs something
Sometimes they don't know why
But so much good's been misunderstood
In the blink of the eye
(Repeat *)
You say that you don't like it
Or maybe it's just my life
So you live yours and I'll keep mine
Rolling like a wheel through the city
Living on the edge of the night
And when the black rain's down
In this cold gray town
I'll be waiting
Waiting at the edge of the night
Woo, living on the edge of the night
Woo, living on the edge of the night
The song Livin' on the Edge of the Night by Iggy Pop is about living life on the wild side and taking risks with a rebellious and carefree attitude. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and adventure as the singer describes himself riding free and alone through the town, breaking some rules, and competing on the street. He acknowledges that life is not just black and white and that sometimes he has to take a little bad with the good to deal with the real.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of living on the edge of life, where every wild desire beckons from the dark, but where one has to be careful not to risk their head while swimming with sharks. The singer accepts that everyone needs something, even if they don't know why and that so much good has been misunderstood in the blink of an eye. He challenges those who criticize his lifestyle, saying that they can live their own lives, but he will keep rolling like a wheel through the city, living on the edge of the night, and waiting for the next adventure.
Overall, Livin' on the Edge of the Night is a powerful and inspiring song for those who embrace life with a free spirit, unafraid of taking risks and living on the edge, despite the dangers and uncertainties that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
You went off the river
You left the peaceful and harmonious life that you had by the river.
Smoke stacks fade to blind
The smoke coming from the factories has blinded you to the beauty of the town.
This town's my own, ridin' free and alone
I own and control this town and I'm free to roam around it all by myself.
And I'm looking back
I'm thinking about the past and reflecting on the choices I've made.
Maybe I know some people
Perhaps I'm acquainted with some people in this town.
Maybe I break some rules
It's possible that I sometimes disregard the established rules and norms.
But this is the street, I've got to compete
This is a competitive environment and I have to fight to survive.
Baby, I ain't no fool
I'm not naive or foolish, I know what I'm doing in this town.
So I take a little bad with the good
I'm aware that life isn't all good and I'm ready to face the bad parts too.
It ain't just black and white
The situation isn't simple or straightforward, there are complex and nuanced aspects to it.
(It still ain't black and white)
Even though there are shades of gray, it's still not a clear-cut situation.
You've got to deal with the real
You have to confront the actual problems and challenges you face.
Woo, living on the edge of the night
I'm living life on the edge, in the uncertain and dangerous parts of the night.
Every wild desire
All the intense and reckless urges that I have.
Beckons from the dark
They come from the shadows and unknown parts of my psyche.
I've made my bed but I can't risk my head
I've made my choices and now I have to live with the consequences, but I can't afford to lose my life.
While I still swim with sharks
As long as I'm moving in these dangerous waters, I have to face the risk and danger of predators.
Everyone needs something
Every person has their own desires and wants in life.
Sometimes they don't know why
Sometimes people aren't even sure why they want the things they do.
But so much good's been misunderstood
There's a lot of good in the world that has been unfairly judged or dismissed.
In the blink of the eye
In an instant or sudden moment.
(Repeat *)
Repeats the lyrics from the previous stanza.
You say that you don't like it
You express your dislike or disapproval of my lifestyle.
Or maybe it's just my life
Perhaps you just don't understand or accept the way I live my life.
So you live yours and I'll keep mine
You can live your own life and I'll live mine without interfering with each other.
Rolling like a wheel through the city
Moving around the town like a wheel, quickly and effortlessly.
Living on the edge of the night
Living dangerously and uncertainly, on the edge of the unknown parts of the night.
And when the black rain's down
When there's darkness and gloom all around me.
In this cold gray town
In this desolate and bleak town that's devoid of warmth or joy.
I'll be waiting
I'll be patiently waiting for something, perhaps an opportunity or a better life.
Waiting at the edge of the night
I'll be waiting in the dangerous and uncertain parts of the night for something to happen.
Woo, living on the edge of the night
Reiterating the danger and uncertainty of living on the edge of the night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN ERIC RACKIN, JAY RIFKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nixbondi
You went off the river
Smoke stacks fade to blind
This town's my own, ridin'free and alone
And I'm looking back
Maybe I know some people
Maybe I break some rules
But this is the street, I've got to compete
Baby, I ain't no fool
So I take a little bad with the good
It ain't just black and white
You've got to deal with the real
Woo, living on the edge of the night
Every wild desire
Beckons from the dark
I've made my bed but I can't risk my head
While I still swim with sharks
Everyone needs something
Sometimes they don't know why
But so much good's been misunderstood
In the blink of the eye
So I take a little bad with the good
It still ain't black and white
You've got to deal with the real
Woo, living on the edge of the night
You say that you don't like it
Or maybe it's just my life
So you live yours and I'll keep mine
Rolling like a wheel through the city
Living on the edge of the night
And when the black rain's down
In this cold gray town
I'll be waiting
Waiting at the edge of the night
Woo, living on the edge of the night
Woo, living on the edge of the night
@WhiteEagleS
as a truck driver i can say that this song is one of the best for night driving!!! ... music is a part of our job ;)
@robjones2408
Now you know where Joaquin Phoenix got his moves for "Joker".
Iggy Pop has been a class act since 1969.
@jasna1144
Yeah! Cool!
@The_Eastbound_Hyena
Yup. Iggy is where Michael Jackson got the one glove too.
@FTKLOwner
Iggy is just incredible. His moves, his voice, stage presence ... legendary performer.
@poet1972
There a few iconic artists on this planet nobody has to explain. And among them there is one nobody can explain. Iggy.
@piranhafeast7228
Masterpiece of a song for a masterpiece of a movie.
@rosemarystevenson603
Iggy Pop's dad was my English teacher!
@alvaromontevideo1129
Tell us more about that Rose!!
@yvanpedron5255
2 much coke 2 much smoke........... but...