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".
My Baby Wants To Rock And Roll
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My baby wants to rock and roll
She wants ta rock rock rock
She's shoppin' wild and she's comin' down
Superman couldn't turn her around
Rock rock and roll
Rock it on down till she cures her soul
She wants ta rock her way right outta the hole
She don't believe the way they lay things out
She wants information and she wants it raw
She's gotta try it till she's too fucked up
I was the same way once myself
I hadda rock...
Goin' down those empty streets
He doesn't deserve it-screw him-rock and roll
You know what other guy's got all the money
Bodies murmur under blankets
The party's in full swing
Car crash on the grey highway
The boys are high and ready for fucking new blood
Boddies are needed constantly
Voyagers in tehe animal state-whoops!-
Escapees from all history
The meanest little bitch in 13 states-
Here come the assholes they can smell the money-
Rock and roll...
She's what God creates-
Nobody knows if she'll live or die
He wishes he was the cute one
He needs to rock and roll
But he's just the big one
The song "My Baby Wants To Rock And Roll" by Iggy Pop revolves around a rebellious and wild girl who is passionate about rock and roll. The lyrics depict her as someone who wants to live life on her own terms, breaking free from the societal norms and straitjacket of rules. The line "She don't believe the way they lay things out, she wants information and she wants it raw" hints towards her desire for unfiltered information, free from any manipulation or control. She indulges in the wild lifestyle, shopping uncontrollably, and taking risks that Superman himself couldn't handle. The line "She wants to rock her way right outta the hole" suggests that music and rock and roll are her ways of escaping from the mundanity of life.
The second verse talks about the intoxicating power of rock and roll that draws people towards it. The lines "Bodies murmur under blankets, the party's in full swing, the boys are high and ready for fu*king new blood" give a glimpse into the dark side of the rock and roll party culture. The phrase "escapees from all history" signifies the freedom that rock and roll offers from the past and present- a wild and carefree world where anything is possible. The line "She's what God creates, nobody knows if she'll live or die" suggests that the life of a rock and roll enthusiast can be treacherous.
Line by Line Meaning
She likes pictures and thoughts control
My baby enjoys visual stimulation and having control over her own thoughts and emotions.
My baby wants to rock and roll
My baby desires to let go and indulge in the free-spirited nature of rock and roll music.
She wants ta rock rock rock
My baby craves the unbridled energy and liberation that comes with rocking out to music.
She's shoppin' wild and she's comin' down
My baby is indulging in spontaneous and reckless behavior that may lead to negative consequences.
Superman couldn't turn her around
My baby is so determined to live life on her own terms that even someone as powerful as Superman couldn't influence her behavior.
Rock rock and roll
Chanting the phrase 'rock and roll' to celebrate and emphasize the importance of the genre and attitude it represents.
Rock it on down till she cures her soul
By rocking out to music and letting go of her inhibitions, my baby seeks emotional healing and rejuvenation.
She wants to rock and rock and roll
My baby yearns for the boundless freedom and expression that comes from fully embracing rock and roll culture.
She wants ta rock her way right outta the hole
My baby believes that embracing rock and roll values will help her escape the mundane and unsatisfying aspects of her life.
She don't believe the way they lay things out
My baby is skeptical of conventional or socially accepted beliefs and desires to forge her own path.
She wants information and she wants it raw
My baby desires unfiltered and honest insights into life and the world around her.
She's gotta try it till she's too fucked up
My baby is driven to experience the intensity of life, even if it leads to self-destructive behavior.
I was the same way once myself
As someone who was once similarly rebellious and adventurous, I understand and can relate to my baby's behavior and desires.
Goin' down those empty streets
The singer is reminiscing about wandering aimlessly through vacant streets, potentially seeking excitement or a sense of purpose.
He doesn't deserve it-screw him-rock and roll
The singer is expressing a defiant and dismissive attitude towards someone who has wronged him, suggesting that rock and roll is a superior way to cope or express frustration.
You know what other guy's got all the money
The artist is resentful towards someone who is more financially successful, perhaps implying that true fulfillment comes from living a passionate and liberated life.
Bodies murmur under blankets
The scene described portrays a sensuous or eerie atmosphere, suggesting that bodies are either engaging in intimate behavior or concealing something.
The party's in full swing
The singer is describing a lively and engrossing party scene, where people are indulging in vices and pleasures.
Car crash on the grey highway
This line paints a bleak or violent picture, evoking the image of a car accident on a desolate road.
The boys are high and ready for fucking new blood
The artist presents an ominous or aggressive tone, suggesting that the boys may be seeking new targets for violence or exploitation.
Boddies are needed constantly
The artist is portraying a harsh and uncaring world where bodies are disposable or necessary for sustenance.
Voyagers in tehe animal state-whoops!-
The artist is describing animalistic or primal behavior, with the 'whoops!' suggesting either a careless attitude or a sudden shift in tone.
Escapees from all history
The singer is suggesting that these voyagers represent a departure from tradition or history, perhaps implying a sense of anti-establishment or unorthodoxy.
The meanest little bitch in 13 states-
The artist is portraying a woman with a fierce and unyielding demeanor, potentially using this image to represent independence or strength.
Here come the assholes they can smell the money-
The singer is expressing disdain towards greedy or opportunistic individuals, suggesting that rock and roll is a way to rebel against such behavior.
She's what God creates-
The singer is portraying his baby as a divine or natural force, perhaps using this image to emphasize her significance or beauty.
Nobody knows if she'll live or die
The singer is acknowledging the potential dangers or risks associated with living a life ruled by passion and self-determination, suggesting that their baby's fate is uncertain.
He wishes he was the cute one
The artist is describing a feeling of envy towards someone who is more appealing or attractive, perhaps suggesting that rock and roll is a way to compensate for feelings of inadequacy.
He needs to rock and roll
The artist is asserting the importance of indulging in the energy and expression of rock and roll music, perhaps seeing it as a way to overcome personal struggles or hardships.
But he's just the big one
The singer is portraying a sense of resignation or acceptance towards their physical size or limitations, perhaps suggesting that rock and roll is a way to transcend or cope with such limitations.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAMES NEWELL JR OSTERBERG, SAUL HUDSON
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.