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
Unfriendly World
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gold wrapper in between
Pages yellowing with time,
It's tearing up my mind
Plastic snowflake souvenir,
A city far from here,
But it hasn't moved in years,
[Chorus]
Hang on to your girl,
'Cause this is an unfriendly world
Birthday cards from years ago
These will kill you slow
Is it worth this pain to grow?
I guess I'll never know
Christmas toys and picture frames,
All the photos locked away,
Not to live with day by day,
Just a walk down memory lane
[Chorus]
Business men with nasty tricks
Followers of 666,
Fame and fortune made me sick
And I can't get out
Out the window there's a view
Grassy hills and flowers too
Lovers of the chosen few
So maybe me and you
An old movie magazine
Gold wrapper it in between
Pages yellowing like me
Will I ever be free?
[Chorus: x2]
The Stooges' "Unfriendly World" is a song that speaks about reflection, pain, and isolation. The first verse of the song, "An old movie magazine/Gold wrapper in between/Pages yellowing with time/It's tearing up my mind," implies a nostalgic but painful recollection of the past. The singer feels lost and entrenched in his memories, unable to move on from the things he holds dear. The plastic snowflake souvenir reminds him of a different city, one that he may not be able to visit again. He laments how it hasn't moved in years; perhaps he is projecting his lack of motion onto the inanimate object.
In the chorus, a warning is issued to "Hang on to your girl/Cause this is an unfriendly world." The world is cruel, and the only way to survive is to have someone to hold onto. The second verse "Birthday cards from years ago/These will kill you slow/Is it worth this pain to grow?/I guess I'll never know" speaks to the lost sense of innocence and reliability in the world. Birthday cards from years ago that are still present evoke a sense of loss, and the singer is questioning whether growing up was worth it. The objects in his life that used to bring him joy have become reminders of his pain, like the Christmas toys and picture frames.
Overall, "Unfriendly World" is a song that speaks to the difficulties of reconciling the past and the present. It communicates a sense of isolation and loneliness from a world that is ever-evolving and changing. The song asserts that the world is tough, and one must find someone to hold onto to survive its harshness.
Line by Line Meaning
An old movie magazine
A relic from the past, a metaphor for the singer's life
Gold wrapper in between
A cheap covering for something of sentimental value
Pages yellowing with time,
The passage of time causing decay and deterioration
It's tearing up my mind
The decay and deterioration having a negative effect on the artist's mental state
Plastic snowflake souvenir,
A meaningless object that represents a place far away from the artist
A city far from here,
A place that the singer longs to be, but is unable to get to
But it hasn't moved in years,
Life goes on without the singer, but their situation remains the same
I'm breaking up inside
The artist is emotionally falling apart
[Chorus]
A warning to hold onto what's important because the world is hostile
Birthday cards from years ago
Memories from the past stored away, but still affecting the artist negatively
These will kill you slow
The painful memories will slowly erode the singer's mental health
Is it worth this pain to grow?
Questioning the value of personal growth in the face of persistent suffering
I guess I'll never know
The singer remains uncertain about their situation and future
Christmas toys and picture frames,
Fleeting moments of happiness captured in material possessions
All the photos locked away,
Keeping memories out of sight and mind to avoid further pain
Not to live with day by day,
The memories are too painful to confront regularly
Just a walk down memory lane
The artist can only revisit memories from the past in their mind
[Chorus]
Repeating the warning amidst more vivid examples of personal suffering
Business men with nasty tricks
Corruption and deceit in the business world
Followers of 666,
Evil lurking in unexpected places
Fame and fortune made me sick
The artist has become disillusioned with the rewards of modern society
And I can't get out
Feeling trapped and helpless in their situation
Out the window there's a view
The world outside is still beautiful and full of wonder
Grassy hills and flowers too
Nature provides solace in contrast to the ugliness of society
Lovers of the chosen few
Romantic love is only accessible to a privileged group
So maybe me and you
Holding onto hope for a better future
An old movie magazine
Returning to the symbol of decay and stagnation from the beginning
Gold wrapper it in between
The valuable memories still exist amidst the decay and stagnation
Pages yellowing like me
The artist sees themselves in the decaying object
Will I ever be free?
The singer remains uncertain about their future
[Chorus: x2]
Final repetition of the warning amidst a bleak outlook
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP, JAMES ROBERT WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind