Around the mid-seventies of the last century, Iggy Pop and his friend David Bowie were especially active in taking drugs. At some point, they were visited by the thought that it was time to tie, and for this purpose they left for Berlin. The choice is strange, because usually such problems are fought somewhere in the wilderness or in specialized institutions.
As they themselves later recalled, then it was not possible to overcome the addiction to the end, but Iggy brought from Berlin the text of one of his most famous songs – The Passenger.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song The Passenger – Iggy Pop
They say that the musician composed the composition while traveling in the local subway.
Many believe that the song was inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1975 feature film The Passenger. It is also believed that Iggy was inspired by one of Jim Morrison’s poems.
The music for The Passenger was composed by Ricky Gardiner. He played guitar under the blossoming apple trees in front of his village house, admiring the beautiful sight, and the now famous riff appeared by itself.
When Gardiner met with Iggy Pop and David Bowie, they asked him to perform something new. He wasn’t prepared for such a request, but then he remembered a recent chord progression. The words of The Passenger fell perfectly on her, and in this form we now know this composition.
Bowie also took part in the recording of The Passenger. He is the one who sings “la-la-la” in the chorus of the original version. The song was included on the album Lust for Life (1977).
Clip The Passenger Iggy Pop
Let’s watch the official video for The Passenger – Iggy Pop.
Interesting Facts
- The Passenger song has been used in numerous commercials (Dublin Bus, Captain Morgan, Guinness, etc.). After being featured in a British commercial for the Toyota Avensis, it reappeared on the music charts.
- In 2009, the New Zealand ISP Orcon held an interesting promotion during which eight fans made their own recording of The Passenger online with the direct participation of Iggy Pop.
The Passenger Lyrics
I am the passenger and I ride and I ride
I ride through the city’s backsides
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, the bright and hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city’s ripped backsides
And everything looks good tonight
Singing la la la la la…
Get into the car
We’ll be the passengers
We’ll ride through the city tonight
We’ll see the city’s ripped backsides
We’ll see the bright and hollow sky
We’ll see the stars that shine so bright
Stars made for us tonight
Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the sign and hollow sky
He sees the stars come out tonight
He sees the city’s ripped backsides
He sees the winding ocean drive
And everything was made for you and me
All of it was made for you and me
‘Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let’s take a ride and see what’s mine
Singing la la la la…
Oh the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his window side
He sees the things that he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city sleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
So let’s ride and ride and ride and ride
Oh, oh, Singing la la la la…
The Passenger Lyrics – Iggy Pop
I am a passenger, I go on and on
I’m driving through the city’s outskirts
I see the stars appear in the sky
Yes, in a clear and empty sky
You know it’s so beautiful tonight
I am a passenger
I stay behind glass
I look out the window and shine with happiness
I see the stars appear
I see a clear and empty sky
Above the ragged city outskirts
And today life seems fine
I sing: “La-la-la-la”
Get in the car
We’ll be passengers
We’ll drive through the city tonight
We’ll see the ragged outskirts of the city
We will see a clear and empty sky
We’ll see the stars that shine so bright
The stars that shine for us tonight
Oh passenger
How, how he rides
Oh passenger
He goes on and on
He looks out the window
And what does he see?
He sees a sign and an empty sky
He sees the stars appear
He sees the ragged outskirts of the city
He sees a winding road along the ocean
And it’s all for you and me
All this for you and me
‘Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let’s take a ride and see what’s mine
Singing “La-la-la-la”
Oh passenger
He goes on and on
He sees everything through the glass
He looks through the window
He knows it’s all his own
He sees a clear and empty sky
He sees a sleeping city at night
He sees the stars in the night sky
And all this is ours with you
And all this is ours with you
So let’s go, go and go
Singing “La-la-la-la”
