Singer Iggy Pop and his wild onstage antics were often the focus of attention. The band had a shambling, energetic sound deliberately reminiscent of past garage rock groups. They sold very few records in their original incarnation and often performed to indifferent or hostile audiences. Nevertheless, the Stooges are often regarded as hugely influential both on then-nascent heavy metal movement and also on punk rock. As has been said about The Velvet Underground, the handful of people who did actually buy the Stooges' early records at the time ended up forming bands of their own and thus changed history. In fact, Velvet Underground member John Cale produced the original incarnation of their self-titled album. The 1969 album 'The Stooges' has received since its release critical acclaim from many reviewers over the years.
The Stooges drew their sound from a variety of influences. Examples include the often transgressive rock and roll artists The Doors, The MC5, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, and The Who. As well, the band members enjoyed the work of jazz and soul artists such as Booker T and the MGs, James Brown, and Miles Davis (particularly 'Bitches Brew').
In 2003, Iggy, Scott, and Ron reformed The Stooges with Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt filling in. The 2000s lineup played festivals around the world, and in 2006 recorded a new album with Steve Albini.
Founding member and guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, MI on January 6, 2009. Iggy Pop posted a message on his website stating "I am in shock. He was my best friend."
On June 22, 2016, Williamson made an official statement for the band saying that the Stooges are no more.
"The Stooges is over. Basically, everybody's dead except Iggy and I. So it would be sort-of ludicrous to try and tour as Iggy and the Stooges when there's only one Stooge in the band and then you have side guys. That doesn't make any sense to me."
Website: www.iggyandthestoogesmusic.com
Burn
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I be so?
Well I don't know.
The goddess of beauty, is backing into me
I got a lesson to learn
And there's insights in the fire lights
The feelings of youth die looking for truth,
And the truth's gonna make them squirm
And his looking for a new one.
As the wind blows, through your window
Now you're on trial, Berlin style
[Chorus]
Inspector of duty is always to me
Guess I got a lesson to learn
Burn, burn,
They're taking over as the world turns
I'm on fire, with a reptile
Burn, burn,
They're taking over baby
Burn, burn
They're taking over
The goddess of beauty, is backing into me
I got a lesson to learn
Because there's no God in this crowd
Baby burn, burn,
They're taking over the burn, burn
They're taking over baby burn, burn
They're taking over the burn, burn
They're taking over
Burn, burn,
They're taking over
Burn, burn,
They're taking over
Burn, burn
The Stooges's song Burn seems to be about feeling uncertain and overwhelmed by the world around them. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos, with the singer questioning if they should be concerned but ultimately not sure. The goddess of beauty "backing into me" could be interpreted as a distraction from the real issues at hand, something that the singer needs to learn. The line "the feelings of youth die looking for truth, and the truth's gonna make them squirm" speaks to the disillusionment and frustration that can come with growing up and realizing that the world is not what you thought it was.
The chorus seems to reference an "inspector of duty" who is always watching and judging, perhaps adding to the pressure that the singer feels. The repeat of "burn, burn" could be seen as a call to action or a release of pent-up frustration. The final lines, "because there's no God in this crowd," suggest a lack of guidance or direction, leaving the singer to navigate the chaos on their own.
Overall, Burn is a visceral and intense song that captures the feeling of being lost in a tumultuous world.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn, burn, am I concerned?
I feel like I'm on fire and I'm wondering if I should be worried about it.
Should I be so?
I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
Well I don't know.
I don't have an answer yet.
The goddess of beauty, is backing into me
I feel like I'm being possessed by something beautiful and powerful.
I got a lesson to learn
This experience is going to teach me something important.
And there's insights in the fire lights
The flames are revealing something to me that I didn't realize before.
The feelings of youth die looking for truth,
People often lose their youthful idealism and enthusiasm when searching for the truth.
And the truth's gonna make them squirm
The truth can be uncomfortable or even painful to confront.
'Cause the man of the future's a bully and bruiser
The person who will be powerful in the future is likely to be aggressive and violent.
And his looking for a new one.
He's always seeking out new targets to dominate.
As the wind blows, through your window
Something ominous is about to happen.
Now you're on trial, Berlin style
You're being judged harshly and unfairly, like during the trials in Berlin after World War II.
Inspector of duty is always to me
I'm constantly being monitored and judged by someone in authority.
Guess I got a lesson to learn
This scrutiny is meant to teach me something.
They're taking over as the world turns
Something or someone is gaining power and influence.
I'm on fire, with a reptile
I feel like I'm burning up with a snake-like energy.
They're taking over baby
The takeover is happening quickly and decisively.
Baby burn, burn,
The intensity of the situation is increasing rapidly.
They're taking over the burn, burn
The fire and energy of the takeover is continuing to grow.
Because there's no God in this crowd
There's no divine or moral authority to stop the takeover.
Burn, burn, they're taking over
The situation is becoming more and more intense and dangerous.
Burn, burn, they're taking over
The takeover is continuing to spread and gain strength.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP, JAMES ROBERT WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind