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".
No Shit
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it hit me
I was really alone
And there wasn't a hell a lot of time left
Every laugh and touch that I could get
Became more important
Strangely, I became more bookish
As I considered the circumstances of my death
I wanted to find a balance between joy and dignity
On my way out
Above all, I didn't want to take any more shit
Not from anybody
The lyrics to Iggy Pop's song No Shit are deeply introspective and poignant. The song speaks of the realization that comes with age - that time is running out and one is left feeling alone in the world. Iggy's distinct voice lends a certain edge to the lyrics, making them even more impactful.
The opening lines of the song paint a picture of Iggy in the winter of his fiftieth year. It is a time of reflection and contemplation. He is hit by the realization that he is truly alone in the world, and time is running out. The lyrics capture the sense of urgency that comes with this realization.
As the song progresses, Iggy speaks of how every laugh and touch becomes more important. It is as if he is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life, and is desperately trying to hold onto every moment of joy. Strangely, he becomes more bookish and introspective, finding solace in his home and study.
The most poignant lines of the song come towards the end, where Iggy speaks of his desire to find a balance between joy and dignity. He doesn't want to take any more shit from anybody and wants to leave the world on his own terms. The song is a powerful testament to the human experience and the inevitable realization that comes with the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
It was in the winter of my fiftieth year
At age fifty, during the winter season, I had a realization.
When it hit me
This realization struck me suddenly.
I was really alone
I felt deeply lonely.
And there wasn't a hell a lot of time left
I realized that my time was running out and I didn't have much left.
Every laugh and touch that I could get
I cherished every moment of happiness and physical contact I could experience.
Became more important
These moments became increasingly significant to me.
Strangely, I became more bookish
Oddly enough, I became more interested in reading and gaining knowledge.
And my home and study meant more to me
My home and intellectual pursuits became even more valuable to me.
As I considered the circumstances of my death
As I faced the reality of my impending death.
I wanted to find a balance between joy and dignity
I sought to strike a balance between living joyfully and maintaining my dignity even in death.
On my way out
As I approached the end of my life.
Above all, I didn't want to take any more shit
Most importantly, I refused to tolerate any more mistreatment from anyone.
Not from anybody
I was determined not to be mistreated by anyone, regardless of who they were.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP
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.