He got his start around 1965 when, as a teenager living in Chicago inspired by contemporary rock n roll, he formed the first version of The Amboy Dukes. The name harks back to a somewhat infamous exploitation novel of the time. When Nugent went back to his Michigan roots in 1967, he assembled what would be the classic line-up of the Dukes, and they built a reputation as a raucous group. Their 1968 album Journey to the Center of the Mind, the title track blasting into the top 20, brought the band national stardom, but they would become bogged down in inter-group conflicts that left the Nuge the sole constant member.
Going solo, Nugent achieve fame as a solo artist for an arena-ready mix of hard rock with blues and psychedelic influences, particularly getting a reputation for wild stage performances by antics such as playing dressed as Tarzan (with just a loincloth on). In the 80s, the Nuge even tried his hand at acting in a haunting episode of the TV drama Miami Vice. It received both a strong critical and fan response.
In 1989, he joined Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and drummer legend Michael Cartellone to form the hard rock supergroup Damn Yankees, which produced the 90s chart toppers "Come Again", a Billboard's #1, and "High Enough", an emotional power ballad (backed by a string section no less). The latter track led to the creation of a popular music video, the song reaching #3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #2 on the AOR charts. After the band's folding, the Nuge continued his solo career and even managed yet another stint in a rock supergroup, this one being the TV series produced Damnocracy
Outside of music, Nugent has gained fame and notoriety, leading to widespread controversy, for his support of hunting and for various conservative political causes. His comments vehemently blasting various public figures from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have brought his name frequently to the headlines. He's also an important member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). He's written four books and numerous articles while also appearing many times in the news media, with his autobiography appropriately titled 'God, Guns, & Rock n' Roll.'
Besides a regular reality type show on cable showcasing Ted's outdoorsman skills, his most recent foray in music was the aformentioned reality television show, titled 'Supergroup', which resulted in the creation of band called Damnocracy. The band's other members were Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row), Scott Ian (Anthrax) Jason Bonham ("Bonham", son of Zeppelin's John Bonham) and Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard). Though coming to an end quickly, it generated a large fan response.
Throughout his career, Nugent has climbed up the Billboard charts with multiple singles and albums. His latest album was titled 'Ultralive Ballisticrock', and he released it in 2013 through Frontiers Records. He continues to tour as of 2014, and plans for yet another album is in the works.
American rocker Ted Nugent has unveiled a lyric video for his new single “Come And Take It” from his upcoming studio album Detroit Muscle, which will be released via Pavement Music on April 29, 2022.
For photographs and more information see Ted Nugent's official website, www.TedNugent.com
Kiss My Ass
Ted Nugent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
c'mon baby,
Yeah, big ol' wet one...hey!
Kiss my ass,
Kiss my ass, (tastes real good)
Kiss my ass, (c'mon, everybody ought'a)
Don't waste your time on me
I got my own direction
I'm lookin' for perfection
Watch me close, wait and see
And I'll leave you far behind
I make up my own mind
You can kiss my ass
When the goin' gets tough
I let my dog hump on my shin
I believe in animal rights
I can tolerate sexual choice
I've heard it all before
But not with the next of kin (uh-uh, boy)
I ain't gonna take any more
When the goin' gets tough
You can kiss my ass
Everybody!
Kiss my ass, (pucker up)
Kiss my ass
Kiss my ass
Kiss my ass, (c'mon babe)
When the goin' gets tough
I've heard it all before
And I ain't gonna take no more, no no
Kiss my ass!
I see the weenies with the dirty hair
Protestin' on the street
They condemn the clothes we wear
And the morality of what we eat, yeah
It's gotta be a fluke
When the goin' gets tough
They make me wanna puke
They can kiss my ass
Everybody gotta
Kiss my ass - c'mon gang bangers
Kiss my ass - Janet Reno
Kiss my ass - c'mon Billary
Kiss my ass - Callin' on Jesse Jackson
Kiss my ass - How about the IRS
Kiss my ass - Hey, Howard Stern
Kiss my ass - United Nations
Kiss my ass - c'mon Sarah Brady
Kiss my ass - All those Liberals
Kiss my ass - Beavis, Butthead
Kiss my ass - Oh, Courtney Love I've got your hole
I've heard it all before
Kiss my ass - How about Crips and Bloods
And we ain't gonna take it no more
When the goin' gets rough
When the goin' gets rough
When the goin's to tough
They oughta' kiss my ass
The lyrics to Ted Nugent's song "Kiss My Ass" are largely satirical and meant to provoke a strong reaction from listeners. The song opens with a telegram addressed to "Mr. Billary," a combination of then-President Bill Clinton's name and his wife Hillary's. The song continues into a rebellious anthem, with Nugent urging listeners to "Kiss My Ass" and refusing to conform to societal norms. The lyrics also touch on controversial topics such as animal rights, sexual orientation, and incest, further emphasizing Nugent's disregard for what society deems acceptable.
The repetitive nature of the chorus, with Nugent repeatedly telling the listener to kiss his ass, creates a sense of defiance and rebellion. The verses, including lines such as "I make up my own mind" and "watch me close, wait and see," add to this sense of independence and self-assuredness. Nugent also takes shots at various political figures and organizations, including Janet Reno, Jesse Jackson, and the United Nations, further emphasizing his disregard for authority and the establishment.
Line by Line Meaning
Telegram for Mr Billary...
I have a message for Bill and Hillary Clinton (the line is a sarcastic way of calling them by combining their names).
c'mon baby,
Hey, listen up or pay attention.
Yeah, big ol' wet one...hey!
An expression of defiance and aggression, likely meant to disrespect someone or something. The line implies that someone is daring the listener to kiss their butt.
Kiss my ass, (tastes real good)
A repeat of the previous statement, indicating that the artist will not back down from their challenge. The additional phrase 'tastes real good' is likely added to mock the person who is being dared.
Kiss my ass, (c'mon, everybody ought'a)
A call to action for everyone to kiss the artist's butt. The tone is confrontational and aggressive.
Kiss my ass. (oh...)
An additional taunting remark, implying that the singer enjoys seeing the other person feel uncomfortable or insulted.
Don't waste your time on me
The singer is telling the other person that they should not bother trying to convince them of anything or change their mind.
I got my own direction
The artist is saying that they have a clear sense of what they want to do or believe, and that they are not interested in other people's opinions or influences.
I'm lookin' for perfection
The artist is striving for excellence and does not want to settle for anything less than their ideal.
Watch me close, wait and see
The artist is confident in their abilities and is inviting others to pay attention and observe their success.
And I'll leave you far behind
The singer is saying that they are superior to the other person and will outpace them in terms of success or achievement.
I make up my own mind
The artist is asserting their independence and autonomy, indicating that they will not be influenced by others or follow the crowd.
When the goin' gets tough
An expression that implies challenging times or obstacles ahead.
I let my dog hump on my shin
An absurd and vulgar statement that is likely meant to shock or offend the listener. The singer is mocking political correctness and societal norms.
I believe in animal rights
The singer is indicating that they are a supporter of animal welfare and are likely to be against animal cruelty or exploitation.
I can tolerate sexual choice
The artist is suggesting that they are accepting of different sexual orientations and lifestyles.
I've heard it all before
The artist is indicating that they are not naive and have experienced or encountered similar situations in the past.
But not with the next of kin (uh-uh, boy)
A line that implies the singer does have boundaries or limits, and incest is one of them. The use of 'uh-uh, boy' suggests an emphatic rejection of the idea.
I ain't gonna take any more
The singer is indicating that they have had enough and will not tolerate any further insults or challenges.
I see the weenies with the dirty hair
The artist is mocking people who they view as weak or inferior (calling them 'weenies') and focusing on a specific physical feature as a way of insulting them.
Protestin' on the street
The artist is referring to political or social protests that they may view as unnecessary or ineffective.
They condemn the clothes we wear
The artist is suggesting that people who protest or criticize others are often superficial and focus on trivial things (such as fashion choices).
And the morality of what we eat, yeah
The singer is saying that critics often focus on issues of morality, such as food choices, as a way of exerting control over others.
It's gotta be a fluke
The artist is expressing disbelief or contempt for the motivations of the protesters or their actions.
They make me wanna puke
An expression of disgust and contempt towards people who the singer views as hypocritical or weak.
Kiss my ass - c'mon gang bangers
A challenge to gang members to kiss the singer's butt, likely intended as an insult or provocation.
Kiss my ass - Janet Reno
An insult towards Janet Reno, who was the Attorney General of the United States at the time of the song's release. The line implies that the singer does not respect Reno or her policies.
Kiss my ass - c'mon Billary
An insulting reference to Bill and Hillary Clinton (see first line). The artist is invoking their names as a way of mocking them and suggesting that they are weak or corrupt.
Kiss my ass - Callin' on Jesse Jackson
An insult towards Jesse Jackson, a well-known civil rights activist and political figure. The artist is calling him out as a way of challenging him or suggesting that he is ineffective.
Kiss my ass - How about the IRS
An insult towards the Internal Revenue Service (the federal agency responsible for collecting taxes). The singer is expressing anger or frustration with the idea of being taxed or controlled by the government.
Kiss my ass - Hey, Howard Stern
An insult towards Howard Stern, a controversial radio and television host. The singer is likely implying that Stern is unimportant or irrelevant.
Kiss my ass - United Nations
An insult towards the UN, the international organization tasked with promoting peace and cooperation between countries. The artist may be expressing anti-internationalist or nationalist views.
Kiss my ass - c'mon Sarah Brady
An insult towards Sarah Brady, a prominent advocate for gun control legislation. The artist is likely expressing pro-gun or libertarian views by mocking Brady.
Kiss my ass - All those Liberals
An insult towards people with liberal or progressive political views. The artist is likely expressing conservative or right-wing views and mocking their opponents.
Kiss my ass - Beavis, Butthead
A reference to the animated television show Beavis and Butthead, two dim-witted and vulgar characters. The singer is likely using them as symbols of low culture or stupidity.
Kiss my ass - Oh, Courtney Love I've got your hole
An insulting reference to Courtney Love, the lead singer of the band Hole. The artist is making crude and misogynist comments about her.
Kiss my ass - How about Crips and Bloods
A challenge towards rival gangs (the Crips and Bloods are two Los Angeles-based gangs). The singer is likely trying to appear tough or fearless by issuing the challenge.
I've heard it all before
The singer is reiterating that they are not naive and have encountered similar situations or statements in the past.
And we ain't gonna take it no more
The singer is indicating that they have had enough and will not tolerate any more insults or challenges.
When the goin' gets rough
A repetition of an earlier line (see above). The artist is suggesting that difficult times or challenges are ahead.
When the goin's to tough
A slight variation on an earlier line (see above). The artist is indicating that they will remain strong even in difficult situations.
They oughta' kiss my ass
The singer is concluding the song by reiterating their challenge to the people they have insulted or mocked throughout the song. The tone is confrontational and aggressive.
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