Fischer was institutionalized at age 19 for attacking his mother with a knife. Following his release, Fischer wandered L.A. singing his unique brand of songs for 10¢ to by-passers. Discovered by Frank Zappa, with whom he recorded his first album, Fischer became an underground concert favorite, earning him the title "godfather of outsider music." Zappa was responsible for Fischer's initial foray into the business of music, an album called An Evening with Wild Man Fischer, contains 36 tracks of "something not exactly musical." Frank and the Wild Man remained close--until Fischer threw a beer bottle at baby Moon Unit.
He has collaborated with Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin, and has recorded with Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.
Fischer went on to record three full-length albums for Rhino. In the 1980s, Fischer worked with Art (Bill Mumy) and Artie Barnes (Robert Haimer), to produce two albums, Pronounced Normal (1981) and Nothing Scary (1984). Fischer has appeared on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and has been the subject of his own comic book The Legend Of Wild Man Fischer. In 1986, Barnes and Barnes also wrote and produced "It's A Hard Business", a duet featuring Fischer singing along with the late Rosemary Clooney. The song was the result of a bizarre telephone friendship that began after Clooney heard Fischer's song "Oh God, Please Send Me A Kid To Love."
People
Wild Man Fischer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People who need people,
Are the luckiest people in the world
We're children, needing other children
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children
Lovers are very special people
With one person one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half now you're whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
With one person one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half now you're whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
The song People was written by Bob Merrill and originally performed by Barbra Streisand in the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl. However, these lyrics have been adapted and changed by Wild Man Fischer, an American rock musician known for his simplistic and eccentric approach to music.
In Fischer’s interpretation, People is a commentary on the importance of human connection and emotional vulnerability. The first verse suggests that people who acknowledge their need for others are actually more fortunate than those who try to hide their emotional needs behind a façade of independence or maturity. Additionally, the lyrics suggest that adults often behave in a more childish manner than actual children, perhaps indicating that emotional honesty is an essential aspect of true maturity.
The second verse specifically focuses on romantic love, with Fischer declaring that those who have found a “very special person” are lucky indeed. The lyrics emphasize that this type of connection completes a person on a deep level, satisfying their core desires for intimacy and companionship. However, even in this context, Fischer emphasizes the importance of being vulnerable and expressing one’s needs to truly find happiness.
Overall, Fischer’s version of People is a simple yet effective testament to the power of human connection and emotional openness.
Line by Line Meaning
People,
The human race,
People who need people,
Those who rely on others for emotional support,
Are the luckiest people in the world
Have an advantage in life,
We're children, needing other children
As humans, we need social interaction from others,
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Despite this need, adults often refuse to admit they need help,
Hide all the need inside
Suppress their vulnerabilities and weaknesses,
Acting more like children than children
By not being mature enough to admit their need for human connection,
Lovers are very special people
Couples in love have a special bond,
They're the luckiest people in the world
Couples in love enjoy a unique advantage in life,
With one person one very special person
For each individual, there is someone special in their life,
A feeling deep in your soul
An intense emotional sensation within oneself,
Says you were half now you're whole
Being with this special person makes an individual feel complete,
No more hunger and thirst
This special connection satisfies an individual's emotional needs,
But first be a person who needs people
To connect with others, one must acknowledge their own emotional vulnerabilities,
People who need people
Those who acknowledge their need for human connection,
Are the luckiest people in the world
Have an advantage in life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Merrill, Jule Styne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind