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
DOWN ON THE STREET take 7
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aah
Ooh
Down on the street where the faces shine
Floatin' around, I'm a real low mind
See a pretty thing
Ain't no wall
See a pretty thing
No wall
No wall
No wall
Ooh
Yeah deep in the night, I'm lost in love
Yeah deep in the night, I'm lost in love
A thousand lighs
Look at you
A thousand lights
Look at you
I'm lost
I'm lost
I'm lost, yeah
I'm lost
Lost, lost, lost
Ooh
Yeah
Yeah
Ooh, low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low
Low, low, low
Faces shine, real low mind
Real low mind
I'm a real low mind
Real low mind
"Down on the Street" is a song by The Stooges from their album "Fun House," released in 1970. The lyrics to the song depict the singer wandering the streets at night, lost in desire and attraction to pretty things. The repeated refrain of "no wall" could be interpreted as the singer's insistence on freedom and lack of barriers, both literally and metaphorically.
The song's energetic and raw rock sound, characteristic of The Stooges, is accompanied by the use of atonality and distortion, creating a disorienting effect that mirrors the singer's wandering and lost state. The repetition of phrases in the lyrics also contributes to this hypnotic effect.
In addition to the lyrics, the song also showcases the instrumental talents of the band, particularly guitarist Ron Asheton, whose solo towards the end of the song adds to the frenzied energy and chaos of the overall sound.
Overall, "Down on the Street" is a song that captures the essence of The Stooges' style and attitude - rebellious, raw, and unapologetic.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the street where the faces shine
I find myself in a place where everyone is trying to put their best face forward
Floatin' around, I'm a real low mind
Although I am physically present here, my mind is elsewhere, and not in a good place
See a pretty thing, Ain't no wall
I notice something beautiful or attractive, and there is nothing stopping me from approaching it
See a pretty thing, It ain't no wall No wall No wall No wall
I want to emphasize that there really is nothing preventing me from going towards what I want
Yeah deep in the night, I'm lost in love
When it gets really late and there is no one to distract me, my mind wanders to feelings of love and passion
A thousand lighs Look at you
In the midst of all the bright lights, my attention is focused on you
I'm lost I'm lost I'm lost, yeah I'm lost Lost, lost, lost
I am feeling completely disoriented and overwhelmed by my emotions and desires
Faces shine, real low mind Real low mind I'm a real low mind Real low mind
Again, I want to reinforce that everyone around me seems like they are doing better than me, and my mind is in a dark place
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALEXANDER, JAMES OSTERBERG, RONALD ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind