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".
Tom Tom
Iggy Pop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got the way
I ain't doing nothin'
That's so important
I'd like to know how you deal
Oh when I worry to darken
If I can't get in your show
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
While you were mine
I got so hazy
While you passed by
I found my answer
Is this the best thing in life
The only thing I remember
If I can't get in your show
I'll take my tom tom and go
Pure love, sunshine
Our love is always fine
We are related, you know
I'll take my tom tom and go
We are related, you know
I'll take my tom tom and go
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
The sky is angry
Over this city
Birds fly like devils
Over this city
So many things of no worth
Are being shoved in my face
When all the wealth in the world
May work the faith in one girl
That's why I'm sad to say
Till there can be no hate, oh
The only one they come through
Is absolute
You
The song "Tom Tom" by Iggy Pop seems to be about a man who is in awe of a woman and the way she carries herself. The lyrics suggest that the woman has a way of making the man's worries disappear and making him feel hazy and carefree. The chorus mentions a "tom tom," which could be interpreted as a musical instrument that the man plans to play if he can't be a part of the woman's life. It's unclear what the significance of the tom tom is, but it could represent the man's need to express his emotions in a creative way.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of societal issues, such as the sky being angry and birds flying like devils. Iggy Pop seems to be commenting on the state of the world and his dissatisfaction with the things that are being shoved in his face. The line "When all the wealth in the world may work the faith in one girl" suggests that the man believes that true happiness can only come from a genuine connection with another person, not material wealth.
Overall, the song seems to be about the beauty of human connection and the importance of expressing oneself through art. The tom tom could be seen as a symbol of the man's need to create and express his emotions, even if he can't be with the woman he admires.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little one
Addressing someone who is younger or less experienced
You've got the way
Complimenting their unique style or approach to something
I ain't doing nothin'
Acknowledging a lack of activity or productivity
That's so important
Implying that the person's presence or attention is more valuable
I'd like to know how you deal
Expressing curiosity about their coping mechanisms
Oh when I worry to darken
Start of a hypothetical scenario
If I can't get in your show
Unable to participate or be included in their world
I'll take my tom tom and go
Retreat or withdraw from the situation
While you were mine
Reflecting on a past relationship or connection
I got so hazy
Unclear or confused state of mind
While you passed by
Noticing or observing their actions
I found my answer
Discovering a solution or insight
Is this the best thing in life
Questioning the value or quality of something
The only thing I remember
Memorable or significant aspect of life
Pure love, sunshine
Positive, joyful emotions
Our love is always fine
Maintaining a positive relationship
We are related, you know
Implying a familial or close connection
The sky is angry
Personifying the weather as negative or intense
Over this city
Location or setting of the scene
Birds fly like devils
Metaphor for chaotic or dangerous behavior
So many things of no worth
Lack of value or importance
Are being shoved in my face
Feeling overwhelmed or burdened
When all the wealth in the world
Value of material possessions
May work the faith in one girl
Faith or belief in a specific individual
That's why I'm sad to say
Expressing disappointment or regret
Till there can be no hate, oh
Hope for a better future
The only one they come through
Recognition of a single, reliable source
Is absolute
Unquestioning, all-encompassing certainty
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeroenvanharskamp4962
How I love the guitar play of Steve Jones. Great song.
@robertbrindamour8309
Instinct is a landmark to all Iggy's fans.
@ronaldgordon624
How many people actually remember Iggy back in the day raw power tv eye down on the street back one Iggy Pop played with the Ashton Brothers Steve Jones wasn't there yet
@jjmontes14
Súper temazo pero casi nadie se dio cuenta.
@geremiajonathan1814
Pure rock
@ar9rnr
Badass
@laurentdespeaux601
The best.
@ronaldgordon624
You should hear Iggy Pop when he first started with the Ashton Brothers
@cwblackistonio1641
❤️
@geremiajonathan1814
Che riff della madonna
.