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".
Starry Night
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like them better than you
Stars in the sky
They tell me what to do
I don't care about your city
Or your fat income
I don't care about your Vanity Fair
Or your fucking sitcom
Starry night
Starry night
That starry night
Makes me feel alright
I heard a lotta mean talkin'
I met a lotta tough guys-they all look
Pretty ugly under the stars
Go out to the desert
And just look up
You can feel yourself
Under the stars
All man's buildings
Will soon be gone
'Cause something here
Is absolutely wrong
Starry night
Starry night
That starry night
Makes me feel alright
Like a human being
Take your building and your income and
Shove it up your ass
Take your building and your income and stuff
It with your cash
I heard a lotta big talk-met a lotta tough guys
That shit looks ugly under a starry night
Which country is the strongest?
Who plays the best guitar?
Who fucking cares
Under the stars
In Iggy Pop's song "Starry Night", the singer talks about his love for the stars in the sky over human relationships and material possessions. He boasts about how the stars tell him what to do and how under that starry night sky, he feels alright and like a human being. He dismisses the superficial things that people often strive for, like a big income or a fancy job, and encourages listeners to go out into the desert and gaze up at the stars to feel the essence of life. He suggests that all of man's buildings will soon be gone because there is something wrong with the world, and under the vastness of the starry sky, all those things seem insignificant.
Pop talks about the people he has met, the tough guys with their big talk, and how they all look ugly under the stars. The starry night seems to strip away everything that is materially valued and leave behind only what truly matters – the essence of humanity. The song is a powerful ode to nature and the simple things that make us human, and a condemnation of a world that often values things that have no meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars in the sky
The stars in the sky are more appealing to the singer than the person they are addressing in the song.
I like them better than you
The singer prefers the beauty of the stars in the sky over the person they are speaking to in the song.
They tell me what to do
The stars in the sky guide the singer in a way that the person the singer is addressing cannot.
I don't care about your city
The artist does not value the city that the person the artist is addressing considers important.
Or your fat income
The artist does not consider the wealth of the person they are addressing in the song impressive or worthwhile.
I don't care about your Vanity Fair
The singer does not find Vanity Fair magazine or the culture it represents interesting or relevant.
Or your fucking sitcom
The singer does not value the person the song is addressed to because they watch television and talk about mainstream entertainment.
Starry night
The artist admires the beauty of the night sky and stars.
That starry night
The specific night sky that the artist is referring to is extremely beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Makes me feel alright
Gazing at the beautiful night sky makes the artist feel better and more at peace.
I heard a lotta mean talkin'
The singer has heard a lot of negative and hostile speech.
I met a lotta tough guys-they all look
The artist has met many individuals who are intimidating, but they do not appear as impressive when viewed under the stars.
Pretty ugly under the stars
Individuals who are imposing in cities and under artificial lighting do not have the same impact when seen under the natural beauty of the night sky.
Go out to the desert
The singer suggests going to a remote, natural location devoid of city lights and technology to view the stars without interference.
And just look up
The singer suggests taking the time to appreciate the magnificent night sky and the stars above.
You can feel yourself
Looking up at the stars can be a humbling and awe-inspiring experience, making one feel small in comparison to the vastness of the universe.
Under the stars
The beauty and magic of the night sky and stars are the central focus of the song.
All man's buildings
The singer is referring to the modern structures and architecture of human civilizations.
Will soon be gone
In the grand scheme of things, the structures and creations of humans will eventually cease to exist and be overtaken by nature.
'Cause something here
The artist alludes to an unidentifiable force or feeling that seems off or wrong about modern human society.
Is absolutely wrong
There is an inherent flaw in human civilization that makes the artist question its value and purpose.
Like a human being
The artist expresses that appreciating the beauty of the stars and night sky is a natural way to connect with humanity and the larger universe.
Take your building and your income and
The singer dismisses the importance of modern constructions and material success, suggesting that they are not valuable or lasting.
Shove it up your ass
The artist is expressing disdain and disregard for materialism and societal expectations.
Take your building and your income and stuff
The singer repeats their previous message that material wealth and modern buildings are not important or meaningful.
It with your cash
The idea of stuffing buildings and wealth up one's rear end is elaborated upon as a way to emphasize its absurdity and emptiness.
Which country is the strongest?
The singer mocks those who are focused on societal power structures and competitiveness between nations, as it is not important in the grand scheme of things.
Who plays the best guitar?
The artist mocks those who are focused on trivialities, such as debating who is the best musician in a certain genre.
Who fucking cares
The artist dismisses societal norms and conventions in favor of appreciating and admiring the natural beauty of the stars and the night sky.
Under the stars
The singer reinforces the idea that the beauty of the night sky is the central focus and message of the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES OSTERBERG
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.