I'm a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm
I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb
I am a world's forgotten boy
The one who searches and destroys

Honey, gotta help me, please
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, detonate for me, ow

Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight

Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind

And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin' only to destroy, hey

Hey, hey
Hey, hey

Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight

Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind

And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy

Forgotten boy, forgotten boy
Forgotten boy said, uh
Hey, forgotten boy, said
Hey, hey, hey, hey


Lyrics submitted by AngelDust20, edited by losttomusicDAC

Search and Destroy Lyrics as written by James Williamson James Osterberg

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Search and Destroy song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

21 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is indeed a great song. As one who was born in 1955, we saw the Viet Nam war constantly on TV in the late 60s and early 70s. The phrase “search and destroy” describes a routine type of Viet Nam mission for US troops, which we heard about over and over again. The phrase “fire fight” was also used extensively in media coverage of the war. The lyric “love in the middle of a fire fight” is probably my favorite of any song, ever. It says “fuck you” to misguided authority in a very positive way.

    axfordraon April 14, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I can't believe no one has commented on this song. I'd say it's probably the greatest song of the punk era. It's destruction/alienation theme seems to forshadow "Fight Club" by 25 years. Truely, this is what rock is meant to be.

    "I am the world's forgotten boy"--now that's a fucking good line.

    butterboyon January 07, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Not only is it probably the greatest punk song ever but in my opinion one of the most powerful and moving songs recorded in any genre. As it stands now, Search & Destroy is my favorite song of all time.

    MorayEelon March 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    there's amazing power contained in this song. the stooges were way before their time. this is better than most shit made before and after it.

    velvetsisteron January 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    as butterboy said, one of the best songs of punk

    PiKueloon February 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Not only one of the best songs of punk but one of the first ever punk songs. Iggy was doing punk before there ever was such a thing. He had a sound that would be used a decade later by bands like the Ramones.

    Duielon February 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This was the first Iggy/ Stooges song I heard. My boyfriend made me listen to it and I fell in love with it :) Really great song Favorite lines: "The one who searches and destroys Honey gotta help me please Somebody gotta save my soul"

    xbraindamageon February 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song's great. The guitar solo/intro bit rocks. I'm not too sure about what the lyrics mean. The thing about Veitnam makes sense, though.

    HeWhoF*cksNunson June 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    fav line:

    Look out honey, 'cause I'm using technology

    easily their best song. There's also a You Am I live version of it too.

    Personally i think its about the alienation of youth by warmongering governments and the pointlessness of it all.

    Dressed2Depresson June 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    iggy says in the raw power liner notes that "heart full of napalm" was intended as a direct reference to heroin. Song is definitly about embracing nihilism.

    bignickonthedrumon September 28, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.