Lust For Life
Iggy Pop (Lust for Life 1977) Lyrics


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Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get
That lotion, I been hurting
Since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah something called love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan
I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah I'm through with sleeping on the
Sidewalk, no more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
A lust for life
I got a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get
That lotion? Your skin starts
Itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh love love love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Oh a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life




A lust for life
Lust for life, lust for life

Overall Meaning

In Iggy Pop's 1977 song "Lust for Life," the lyrics describe the lifestyle of the singer, who is a modern man with a desire for the highs of living, like liquor, sex and drugs. The character is fascinated by the whole ideology of love and is eager to experience it for himself. The character is seen as someone who is aware of his habits and is willing to admit them. He recognizes that his lust for life has been the cause of his actions and choices, but he does not want to stop living life to the fullest. He is proud of himself, his talents and the things he has accomplished. Like other people, he is driven by his desires and is a product of the society he lives in.


The idea of the song was to celebrate life and to acknowledge the highs and the lows. It was a reflection of the new wave of artists and musicians who were rebelling against the traditional understanding of art, culture, music and society. The song was also a reaction towards the commercialization of music and of society, in general. It was a way to remind people that life was about living their lives to the fullest and about finding and embracing their own individuality.


Line by Line Meaning

Here comes Johnny Yen again With the liquor and drugs And the flesh machine He's gonna do another striptease
A familiar character named Johnny Yen arrives once more, with alcohol, drugs, and some sort of sexual object. He plans on performing a striptease.


Hey man where'd you get That lotion, I been hurting Since I bought the gimmick About something called love Yeah something called love That's like hypnotizing chickens
The singer asks where someone obtained a certain lotion, amending that they have been in pain ever since they subscribed to the idea of 'love'. The singer believes this concept is akin to hypnotizing feeble-minded individuals.


Well I am just a modern guy Of course I've had it in the ear before 'Cause of a lust for life 'Cause of a lust for life
The singer declares that they are a modern person with a better understanding of things. They have been warned about the potential dangers of excess living before, but they continue to embrace such conduct because they have a strong desire for life.


I'm worth a million in prizes With my torture film Drive a G.T.O. Wear a uniform All on a government loan
The artist boasts about being rich enough to afford expensive things such as a high-end car and a uniform. However, they let on that they have acquired their wealth through a government loan.


I'm worth a million in prizes Yeah I'm through with sleeping on the Sidewalk, no more beating my brains With the liquor and drugs With the liquor and drugs
The artist acknowledges that they have achieved success and no longer have to suffer on the streets or indulge in substances to alleviate their hardships.


I got a lust for life Got a lust for life Oh a lust for life Oh a lust for life A lust for life I got a lust for life I got a lust for life
The singer reiterates their strong desire to live life to the fullest, repeating the phrase 'a lust for life' multiple times.


'Cause of a lust for life 'Cause of a lust for life 'Cause of a lust for life
The singer explains that their yearning for an exciting and fulfilling existence is what drives them to live recklessly despite any warnings against it.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IGGY POP, DAVID ROBERT JONES, DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@philippeceline984

à vous seul


le Mystérieux garçon au pouce doré



peu de gens peuvent me comprendre
autant que vous *
je l’aime de plus en plus votre pouce doré
J’aime aussi votre façon de m’obliger à dépasser mes p'tites limites à me pousser toujours plus loin
et aussi à me remettre en question sur
ce que je veux dire
Vraiment dire
Avec vous
je n’ai aucun répit
aucune certitude
mais j'Aime ça
D'autant qu'avec vous
je n'ai ni routine ni ennui ni chagrin
que la joie de voir votre pouce doré
si souvent présent
et j'aime que vous aimiez
"mon" AMI gentil au pouce DORÉ
je VOUS espère si souvent
Bien à vous
corinne Cl
[you knew it? 'bout 'philippe' C?]



@mnmlstellar

#LYRICS

Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease

Hey man, where'd you get that lotion?
I've been hurting since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before
Been on a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life

I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan

I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
'Cause of a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause of a lust for life (ooh)
I've got a lust for life (ooh)
Got a lust for life (ooh)
Oh, a lust for life (ooh)
Oh, a lust for life (ooh)
A lust for life (ooh)
I got a lust for life (ooh)
Got a lust for life

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life

Well, here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
I know he's gonna do another striptease

Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion?
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh, love, love, love
Well, that's like hypnotizing chickens

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before
And I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause I've a lust for life (lust for life)
Got a lust for life
Yeah, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Oh, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Yeah, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
A lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life
Lust for life



@guilhermepreviati2517

LYRICS

Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get that lotion?
I been hurting
Since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah something called love
That's like hypnotizing chickens
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I got a lust for life
I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan
I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah I'm through with sleeping on the
Sidewalk - no more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life
I got a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Lust for life
I got a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Well I am just a modern guy
Of course I've had it in the ear before
I got a lust for life
You know a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Lust for life
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
I know he's gonna do another striptease
Hey man where'd you get that lotion?
Your skin starts
Itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh love love love
About something called love, called love
Love, love, love
Songwriters: David Bowie / Iggy Pop



All comments from YouTube:

@JackM12345100

Iggy Pop eternally:
face of a 50 year old
body of a 30 year old yoga instructor
energy of a 20 year old
One of a kind.

@CringeAnimations69420

A few years later: dog with a stand

@kirby711

One of a kind..
The best kind

@philippeceline984

No ! ... Think twice !... Before "talking taping" "writing" ! you're 3 Billion Miles Beneath your Brain

@ceesdirks9507

More like the energy of a 6 year old. He is just pure emotion, he shows you everything is feeling. He may well be naked up there. He is one talented and crazy singer/ poet and no can take that away from.

@philippeceline984

à vous seul


le Mystérieux garçon au pouce doré



peu de gens peuvent me comprendre
autant que vous *
je l’aime de plus en plus votre pouce doré
J’aime aussi votre façon de m’obliger à dépasser mes p'tites limites à me pousser toujours plus loin
et aussi à me remettre en question sur
ce que je veux dire
Vraiment dire
Avec vous
je n’ai aucun répit
aucune certitude
mais j'Aime ça
D'autant qu'avec vous
je n'ai ni routine ni ennui ni chagrin
que la joie de voir votre pouce doré
si souvent présent
et j'aime que vous aimiez
"mon" AMI gentil au pouce DORÉ
je VOUS espère si souvent
Bien à vous
corinne Cl
[you knew it? 'bout 'philippe' C?]

65 More Replies...

@agentham

Cleaning out my old room at my mom's house and found my "Choose life" Trainspotting poster behind my door. Good times.

@Sickboy2727

Have one hanging on my wall lol

@kirby711

Agent ham : I'm worth a million in prizes DON'T FORGET IT

@kirby711

Agent Ham : a good time was had by ALL. IGGY knows don't fret my brother

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