Dirt
The Stooges Lyrics


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Ooh, I been dirt
And I don't care
Ooh, I been dirt
But I don't care
'Cause I'm
Burning
Inside
I'm just a-yearning
Inside
And I'm the fire of life

Yeah, alright
Ooh, I've been hurt
But I don't care
Ooh, I've been hurt
But I don't care
'Cause I'm
Burning
Inside
I'm just a-dreaming
This life
And do you feel it?
Said do you feel it when you touch me?
Said do you feel it when you touch me?
There's a fire
Well, it's a fire
Yeah, alright
Ooh

Yeah, baby
Your love
Now, s'just a bit of
Burning
Inside
Now, just a little
Burning
Just a dreaming
Just a burning
Just a dreaming
Just a dreaming

And do you feel it?
Said do you feel it when you touch me?
Said do you feel it when you cut me?
But there's a fire
But there's a fire
Just burning
Just a burning
Just a burning
Just a burning




Just a burning
Inside

Overall Meaning

The Stooges, an American rock band, released their album "Fun House" in 1970, which includes the "Dirt." "Dirt" is among the most intense and emotive tracks in the entire rock genre, taking the listener on a rollercoaster ride of angst and catharsis that is impossible to forget. Iggy Pop, the lead singer of The Stooges, delivers a visceral performance full of raw emotion through the song's lyrics.


The song "Dirt" is mostly about Iggy Pop's mental state, which was fueled by self-destructive behavior like drug and alcohol abuse. The lyrics "I've been dirt, and I don't care" demonstrate his apathy towards drugs and self-destructive behavior, while the line "I'm just a yearning inside, and I'm the fire of life" shows that beneath this numb exterior, Iggy Pop still has hope for his future. He sings about his feelings of hurt, dream of a better life and seeking love to ease the pain. The song portrays the internal struggle of a person who is going through a rough patch in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh, I been dirt
I have experienced difficult times and emotional pain in the past.


And I don't care
But I am indifferent to these experiences; they do not affect me anymore.


Ooh, I've been hurt
I have suffered emotional or physical harm at some point.


But I don't care
However, the harm is in the past and I am unaffected by it now.


'Cause I'm Burning Inside
I am experiencing intense emotions that I cannot ignore or suppress.


I'm just a-yearning Inside
I have a deep longing or desire that I am unable to fulfill or satisfy.


And I'm the fire of life
I possess a passionate spirit that fuels my life and energizes me.


And do you feel it? Said do you feel it when you touch me?
I am asking if my intense emotions are evident to others, specifically through physical touch or interaction.


There's a fire Well, it's a fire
My intense emotions are likened to a blazing fire, which cannot be easily extinguished or contained.


Yeah, alright Ooh
These lines serve as a brief, energetic interlude between the song's verses.


Yeah, baby Your love Now, s'just a bit of Burning Inside Now, just a little Burning
I am describing the way that I experience love - as a small yet intense fire that burns inside me.


Just a dreaming Just a burning Just a dreaming Just a dreaming
I continue expressing the way that I experience love, as both a passionate dream and an intense burning sensation.


Said do you feel it when you cut me?
I am asking if others can empathize with my pain, specifically when they cause me emotional harm.


Just a burning Just a burning Just a burning Just a burning Just a burning Inside
These lines serve as a repeating refrain or chorus, emphasizing the intensity and persistence of my internal fire.




Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Alexander, Scott Asheton, Ronald Asheton, James Osterberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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