So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Here comes success (here comes success)
Over my hill (over my hill)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes my car (here comes my car)
Here comes my Chinese rug (here comes my Chinese rug)
Here comes success (here comes success) yee-ha
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
I'll think of you (I'll think of you)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
I will be true (I will be true)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Oh, hoo-ray success (hurray success)
(Here comes success, hurray success)
Oh, oh success (oh, oh success)
I can't help myself ( I can't help myself)
I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to (I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to)
Can't stand it (got-to, got-to, got-to)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
It's plain desire (it's plain desire)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
Out of the crowd (out of the crowd)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes success (here comes success)
I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
And, oh baby, I'm wiggged (oh baby, I'm wigged)
I'm crazy, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go crazy
Alright, baby, let's blast off (oh, baby let's blast off)
Blast off on success (blast off on success)
Oh, you slay me (oh, you slay me, baby) ooh
(Oh, you slay me, baby) I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
I'm gonna hop like a frog (I'm gonna hop like a frog)
I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything I want
(I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything)
Oh, shit (oh, shit)
Over my hill (over my hill)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes my car (here comes my car)
Here comes my Chinese rug (here comes my Chinese rug)
Here comes success (here comes success) yee-ha
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
I'll think of you (I'll think of you)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
I will be true (I will be true)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Oh, hoo-ray success (hurray success)
(Here comes success, hurray success)
Oh, oh success (oh, oh success)
I can't help myself ( I can't help myself)
I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to (I just-just got-to-got-to-got-to)
Can't stand it (got-to, got-to, got-to)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
It's plain desire (it's plain desire)
Here comes my face (here comes my face)
Out of the crowd (out of the crowd)
Sweetheart, I'm telling you (sweetheart, I'm telling you)
Here comes the zoo (here comes the zoo)
In the last ditch (in the last ditch)
Here comes success (here comes success)
Here comes success (here comes success)
I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
And, oh baby, I'm wiggged (oh baby, I'm wigged)
I'm crazy, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go crazy
Alright, baby, let's blast off (oh, baby let's blast off)
Blast off on success (blast off on success)
Oh, you slay me (oh, you slay me, baby) ooh
(Oh, you slay me, baby) I'm gonna do the twist (I'm gonna do the twist)
I'm gonna hop like a frog (I'm gonna hop like a frog)
I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything I want
(I'm gonna go out on the street and do anything)
Oh, shit (oh, shit)
Lyrics submitted by ophelia219
Success Lyrics as written by Ricky Gardiner David Bowie
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is great (as is the whole Idiot album) only b/c of Bowie. I don't care if Iggy purist don't consider this a real Iggy album. It rules even if Bowie has his hands on the reigns.
The lyrics are making fun of himself and anyone in the business (of show) who has gained huge success over night and was suddenly overwhelmed by material possessions (a car, a chinese rug, leer jet(??)) and being under the scrutiny of the world (watching him go to the zoo, dance the twist, hop like a frog).
this song is hilarious
Heh. Iggy winding us up?
I don't really like this song. His style is too much like Bowie, and I always think he's better with the Stooges
I love the song, especially the end, when Iggy says OH SHIT as if interrupting the song, and the back vocals repeat!
so, +1. I am (I guess) an Iggy "purist". However, I DO consider this a "real" Iggy album. By the way, Success was on Lust for Life not the Idiot.
I agree that this song is hilarious and it shows how Iggy is both a nut and an artist.. I think Iggy is uncomfortable with the "artist" tag. I also don't think Iggy likes "artist" even though he is one of the most important artist of my generation.
I'm 58 (today is b birth day by the way).and I've always thought of Lust for Life and the Idiot as the "first' Iggy albums (post stooges). He (like Bowie) is a bit hard to pin down and like that. I don't care what "Iggy purist" or "Bowie purist" thin we should feel about these two brilliant and important artist.
Me and my crew (in 1977) didn't think in terms of Iggy vs Bowie. We were just blown away when they started working together. We didn't know what happened to Iggy after Fun House. Then bang! Raw Power and Kill City (plus TV Eye).
Then came the stuff he did with Bowie in 1977. Wow! We were speechless and dumbfounded. We loved it! Iggy elevated Bowie as much as Bowie elevating Iggy.
The Idiot, Lust for Life, Low, Heroes and Lodger are the core albums in my life.
Wow. I should read what my drunkin fingers are flappin out there before I click the "add comments button. Sorry for all the F ups.,