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
Mexican Guy
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin' To My Right See[???...] Like A Square
I Took A Look Below I Saw A Fat King Kong
I Took A Look Above But I Fell Out As I Belong
Do The Crime And Pay A Fine And Maybe Take A Dive
Started Out On Marijuana Ended Up On Red Wine
Gotta Fuck Her Everyday Just To Feel Alive
Sentimental Innuendo Fallen By The Wayside
The Brain Police Are Watching My Back
My Sanity Is Under Attack
I've Got A Crazy Look In My Eye
Since My Girl Ran Off With A Mexican Guy
Maybe I Should Swallow A Little Pill
Maybe I Should Listen To Dr. Phil
Modern Life Could Certainly Make One ill
Ron
I've Been Sitting Corner Of Hollywood And Vine
Where I Saw Scareface In Seventy-Five
I Saw Chuck Berry At Gone With The Wind
He Had A Little Whitey Snugglin' Up To Him
The Street Was Kind Of Dirty But The Street Had Soul
Saw Bobby Boy Drinking To The Monster Mash Show
I Saw Frank Zappa Eat A Lonely Hot Dog
Heard Wild Thing Played By The Troggs
The Brain Police Are Watching My Back
My Sanity Is Under Attack
I've Got A Crazy Look In My Eye
Since My Girl Ran Off With A Mexican Guy
Maybe I Should Swallow A Little Pill
Maybe I Should Listen To Dr. Phil
Modern Life Could Certainly Make One ill
Ill
Now The Brain Police Are Watching My Back
My Sanity Is Under Attack
I've Got A Crazy Look In My Eye
Since My Girl Ran Off With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
(With A Mexican Guy)
(Yeah)
(Yeah)
(Yeah)
(Yeah)
(Yeah)
With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
With A Mexican Guy
The Stooges' "Mexican Guy" is a song that captures the disorienting and disjointed feeling of modern life. The lyrics are fragmented and disconnected, much like the singer's thoughts and experiences. The opening lines describe a bizarre scene where the singer sees a strange horse and a square-like figure. The mention of King Kong adds to the surreal nature of the imagery. The singer then reflects on his own life, acknowledging the consequences of his actions and how they have led him down a path of drug use and addiction. He admits that he feels like he needs to have sex every day to feel alive, and regrets how sentimental connections have fallen by the wayside.
The song is a commentary on the overwhelming and sometimes oppressive nature of modern life. The singer feels like his sanity is under attack, and that the "brain police" are watching him. He feels like he's lost control of his life, and that his girlfriend leaving him for a Mexican guy was the final straw. In the final verse, the singer reflects on the cultural icons he's seen on Hollywood Boulevard, with Chuck Berry, Bobby Boy, and Frank Zappa all making appearances. The street may be dirty, but it has soul. The lyrics in the final chorus repeat the idea that the brain police are watching the singer, and that modern life can make one ill.
Overall, "Mexican Guy" paints a picture of a world that is confusing, disorienting, and overwhelming. The singer feels like he's lost control of his life, and struggles to find meaning and purpose. The lyrics capture the mood of the song perfectly, with their disjointed and surreal imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Lookin' To My Left I See A[???...]Eyed Mare
Glancing to my left, I spot a horse with eyes that are a certain shade
Lookin' To My Right See[???...] Like A Square
Turning my head to the right, I see something that resembles a square
I Took A Look Below I Saw A Fat King Kong
Peering downwards, I notice a robust King Kong creature
I Took A Look Above But I Fell Out As I Belong
Looking upwards, I end up feeling misplaced and exiting my surroundings
Do The Crime And Pay A Fine And Maybe Take A Dive
If you commit a wrongful act, you'll have to pay a fee and perhaps suffer consequences
Started Out On Marijuana Ended Up On Red Wine
Begun on smoking cannabis and transitioned to consuming red wine
Gotta Fuck Her Everyday Just To Feel Alive
Need to have sex with her daily to experience vitality
Sentimental Innuendo Fallen By The Wayside
Romantic allusion has been overlooked or forgotten
The Brain Police Are Watching My Back
Authorities who overlook every move are trailing behind me
My Sanity Is Under Attack
My soundness of mind is being threatened
I've Got A Crazy Look In My Eye
The expression on my face portrays madness or insanity
Since My Girl Ran Off With A Mexican Guy
My Significant Other abandoned me for a Hispanic gentleman
Maybe I Should Swallow A Little Pill
Perhaps I should ingest a small lozenge or some medication
Maybe I Should Listen To Dr. Phil
It's possible that I should take the advice of Dr. Phil
Modern Life Could Certainly Make One ill
The current way of life could indeed lead to an individual becoming unwell
I've Been Sitting Corner Of Hollywood And Vine
For a period, I've been seated at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine
Where I Saw Scareface In Seventy-Five
It was there that I observed Scarface in the year seventy-five
I Saw Chuck Berry At Gone With The Wind
I noticed Chuck Berry while Gone with the Wind was playing
He Had A Little Whitey Snugglin' Up To Him
There was a young, pale individual clinging cosily to him
The Street Was Kind Of Dirty But The Street Had Soul
Although the street was unclean, it had an essence of character and spirit
Saw Bobby Boy Drinking To The Monster Mash Show
I spied Bobby Boy sipping while watching the show of the Monster Mash
I Saw Frank Zappa Eat A Lonely Hot Dog
Frank Zappa was alone while devouring a hot dog
Heard Wild Thing Played By The Troggs
I had the experience of hearing The Troggs perform their rendition of Wild Thing
Now The Brain Police Are Watching My Back
At this moment, the authorities who monitor me are trailing behind
With A Mexican Guy
The individual who my partner left me for is a Mexican gentleman
Contributed by Ella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.