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".
T.V. Eye
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See that cat
Yeah I do mean you
See that cat
Yeah I do mean you
She got a TV eye on me
She got a TV eye
She got a TV eye on me, oh
Down on her back
See that cat
Down on her back
She got a TV eye on me
She got a TV eye
She got a TV eye on me, oh
See that cat
Yeah I love her so
See that cat
Yeah I love her so
She got a TV eye on me
She got a TV eye
She got a TV eye on me, oh
Right on, right on, right on
See that cat
Yeah I love her so
See that cat
Yeah I love her so
She got a TV eye on me
She got a TV eye
She got a TV eye on me, oh
The lyrics of Iggy Pop's song "T.V. Eye" are about being watched by someone, specifically a woman represented by a cat, who has a "TV eye" on the singer. The phrase "TV eye" can be interpreted in different ways, but it likely refers to someone who is constantly watching and possibly judging the singer, perhaps through the lens of television or media representation.
The repeated lines "See that cat" and "Yeah, I do mean you" are meant to emphasize the feeling of being watched or surveilled. The singer also expresses affection for the woman/cat, stating "Yeah, I love her so," despite the discomfort or unease caused by being under her constant scrutiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord
Acknowledging a higher power or authority
See that cat
Referring to a woman, possibly with feline characteristics such as agility or grace
Yeah I do mean you
Directly addressing the woman in question
She got a TV eye on me
The woman is constantly watching or monitoring the artist, possibly through technology
She got a TV eye
Further emphasizing the woman's close observation
She got a TV eye on me, oh
Tone of resignation or acceptance towards the situation
See that cat
Reiteration of the woman's presence
Down on her back
Possibly referring to the woman being in a submissive or vulnerable position
She got a TV eye on me
Repetition of the woman's watchful behavior
She got a TV eye
Further emphasis on the woman's keen observation
She got a TV eye on me, oh
Continued acceptance of the situation
See that cat
Reiteration of the woman's presence once again
Yeah I love her so
Despite the woman's intense scrutiny, the singer still loves her
See that cat
Repeat reference to the woman
Yeah I love her so
Reiteration of the singer's intense feelings for the woman
She got a TV eye on me
Final repetition of the woman's watchful behavior
She got a TV eye
Final emphasis on the woman's intense observation
She got a TV eye on me, oh
Final acceptance of the woman's behavior
Right on, right on, right on
Possible exclamation of agreement or excitement towards the situation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALEXANDER, JAMES OSTERBERG, RONALD ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
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.