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".
Success
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over my hill (over my hill)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes my car (here comes my car)
Here comes my Chinese rug (here comes my Chinese rug)
Here comes success (here comes success) yee-ha
I'll think of you (I'll think of you)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
I will be true (I will be true)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Oh, hoo-ray success (hurray success)
(Here comes success, hurray success)
Oh, oh success (oh, oh success)
I can't help myself ( I can't help myself)
I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to (I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to)
Can't stand it (got-to, got-to, got-to)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
It's plain desire (it's plain desire)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
Out of the crowd (out of the crowd)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes success (here comes success)
I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
And, oh baby, I'm wiggged (oh baby, I'm wigged)
I'm crazy, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go crazy
Alright, baby, let's blast off (oh, baby let's blast off)
Blast off on success (blast off on success)
Oh, you slay me (oh, you slay me, baby) ooh
(Oh, you slay me, baby) I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
I'm gonna hop like a frog (I'm gonna hop like a frog)
I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything I want
(I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything)
Oh, shit (oh, shit)
The lyrics to Iggy Pop's song Success are an ode to the concept of success and everything that it brings - material possessions, fame, and glory. The repetition of "here comes success" emphasizes the singer's excitement and eagerness to receive all the trappings of success. He mentions his car and Chinese rug, both symbols of wealth and luxury.
The lyrics take a turn in the second verse when the singer states that he will think of someone special in the "last ditch," suggesting that despite his pursuit of success, he has not forgotten his roots and those who have supported him. He also declares that he "can't help himself," conveying a sense of obsession with achieving success.
The final lines of the song indicate that the singer is ready to let go and go wild. He says he will do the twist, hop like a frog and do anything he wants. The use of the expletive "oh, shit" at the end reinforces the sense of abandon and freedom the singer is embracing.
Overall, the lyrics to Success are a commentary on the desperate desire for success and the temptations and thrills that come with it. The repetition of the title phrase highlights the allure of success while the second verse suggests that there may be a more emotional component to the singer's pursuit of it.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes success (here comes success)
I am confident in my success and it is approaching fast
Over my hill (over my hill)
I have surpassed my struggles to achieve success
Here comes my car (here comes my car)
I am successful enough to own a car
Here comes my Chinese rug (here comes my Chinese rug)
I can afford luxury items like an expensive rug from China
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
When I am in my worst situation
I'll think of you (I'll think of you)
I'll remember you
I will be true (I will be true)
I will remain honest in the face of adversity
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
I am letting you know, my love
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
Chaos and frenzy come with my success
Oh, hoo-ray success (hurray success)
I am excited and happy about my success
I can't help myself ( I can't help myself)
I am uncontrollable with my emotions
I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to (I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to)
I am overwhelmed and can't resist my urges
Can't stand it (got-to, got-to, got-to)
I am uncomfortable with how I am feeling
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
People will recognize me and my success
It's plain desire (it's plain desire)
My success comes from my strong desire for it
Out of the crowd (out of the crowd)
I stand out from others with my success
I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
I am going to celebrate my success with dancing
And, oh baby, I'm wiggged (oh baby, I'm wigged)
I am deliriously happy and excited
I'm crazy, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go crazy
I feel insane with excitement
Alright, baby, let's blast off (oh, baby let's blast off)
Let's celebrate and enjoy our success
Blast off on success (blast off on success)
We will propel forward with our success
Oh, you slay me (oh, you slay me, baby) ooh
You impress me and make me feel great
I'm gonna hop like a frog (I'm gonna hop like a frog)
I am going to celebrate my success with silly actions
I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything I want
I am going to enjoy my freedom and success
Oh, shit (oh, shit)
Surprise or disbelief of my success
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie, Ricky Gardiner, Iggy Pop
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexander Mendoza
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Sobre mi colina (sobre mi colina)
Over my hill (over my hill)
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Aquí viene mi auto (aquí viene mi auto)
Here comes my car (here comes my car)
Aquí viene mi alfombra china (aquí viene mi alfombra china)
Here comes my Chinese rug (here comes my Chinese rug)
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito) yee-ha
Here comes success (here comes success) yee-ha
En la última zanja (en la última zanja)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Pensaré en ti (pensaré en ti)
I'll think of you (I'll think of you)
En la última zanja (en la última zanja)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Sere verdad (sere verdad)
I will be true (I will be true)
Cariño, te lo digo (cariño, te lo digo)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Aquí viene el zoológico (aquí viene el zoológico)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Oh, hoo-ray éxito (hurra éxito)
Oh, hoo-ray success (hurray success)
(Aquí viene el éxito, hurra el éxito)
(Here comes success, hurray success)
Oh, oh éxito (oh, oh éxito)
Oh, oh success (oh, oh success)
No puedo ayudarme a mí mismo (no puedo evitarlo)
I can't help myself ( I can't help myself)
Solo-solo-solo-tengo-que-tengo-que-llegar-a (solo-solo-solo-tengo-que-tengo-que-llegar-a)
I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to (I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to)
No puedo soportarlo (tengo que, tengo que, tengo que)
Can't stand it (got-to, got-to, got-to)
Aquí viene mi cara (aquí viene mi cara)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
Es simple deseo (es simple deseo)
It's plain desire (it's plain desire)
Aquí viene mi cara (aquí viene mi cara)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
Fuera de la multitud (fuera de la multitud)
Out of the crowd (out of the crowd)
Cariño, te lo digo (cariño, te lo digo)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Aquí viene el zoológico (aquí viene el zoológico)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
En la última zanja (en la última zanja)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Aquí viene el éxito (aquí viene el éxito)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Voy a hacer el giro (voy a hacer el giro)
I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
Y, oh nena, estoy movido (oh nena, estoy movido)
And, oh baby, I'm wiggged (oh baby, I'm wigged)
Estoy loco, voy a volverme loco
I'm crazy, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go crazy
Muy bien, nena, despeguemos (oh, nena, despeguemos)
Alright, baby, let's blast off (oh, baby let's blast off)
Despegue con éxito (despegue con éxito)
Blast off on success (blast off on success)
Oh, me matas (oh, me matas, nena) ooh
Oh, you slay me (oh, you slay me, baby) ooh
(Oh, me matas, nena) Voy a hacer el giro (voy a hacer el giro)
(Oh, you slay me, baby) I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
Voy a saltar como una rana (voy a saltar como una rana)
I'm gonna hop like a frog (I'm gonna hop like a frog)
Voy a salir a la calle y hacer lo que quiera
I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything I want
(Voy a salir a la calle y hacer cualquier cosa)
(I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything)
Oh, mierda (oh, mierda)
Oh, shit (oh, shit)
IngotAU
Utterly fantastic! Thanks for posting! 🙏
Genevieve Antoinette
Iggy still has it!
trfesok
In my Duran Duran with their cover. Thanks for the upload!
Rocha Leandro
Anyone noticed this song has the same chord progressions as in "Heroes", roughly?
Rocha Leandro
And according to Eno, in " Lodger" they did that intentionally in two of the songs: " Boys Keep Swinging" ("Fantastic Voyage") and even "Move On", that was "All The Young Dudes" backwards.
Vidar Bonsak
Not a bad song, but it's impossible for me to understand why this was the choice for the first single from the album, with The Passenger being its b-side.
Peter Hamsun
If they had only known...
Joseph Rumbaugh
The passenger is one of my least favorite on this album tbh
Stoney Baloney
I kind of don't like lust for life.... And im guessing this was the firsr single because they wanted to reiterate that this album was going to be successful
Joseph Rumbaugh
@Stoney Baloney So many great tracks on that album imo. Some of them have too much repetition. But it's easy to over look the
T