The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog

Copyright - Elektra Records

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” is a 1969 song by The Stooges, featured on their self-titled debut album. Its memorable riff is composed of only three notes (G, F# and E), and is played continuously throughout the song. The 3-minute-and-9-second long song, with its raucous, distortion-heavy guitar intro, and steady, driving beat, is a shining example of the Stooges’ inventive heavy metal and punk sound. The song has been covered by many artists, including Slayer, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sex Pistols, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Swans, Uncle Tupelo, Magic Dirt (who played it backwards), Emilie Simon, The Andalusian Dogs (German Avantgarde-Trashband) and many others. Slayer recorded a tribute parody called ” I Am Gonna Be Your God” for their Undisputed Attitude album.

The song is featured in Guy Ritchie’s hit film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as the films Friday Night Lights it is played after half-time in the state championship game, The Crow: City of Angels (in which Iggy Pop played the role of Curve, one of the villains) and Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse, the skateboard video by Flip, entitled “Sorry”, an episode of TV show Skins (Episode 2.9) and in an episode of the TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother (Episode 2.16: Stuff). It was also used in the games Vietcong and Grand Theft Auto IV, the latter of which features Iggy Pop as a DJ.

In 2007, R.E.M performed this song with Patti Smith in their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lyrics: So messed up I want you here
In my room I want you here
Now we’re gonna be Face-to-face
And I’ll lay right down In my favorite place
And now I wanna be your dog
Now I wanna be your dog
Now I wanna be your dog
Well c’mon
Now I’m ready to close my eyes
And now I’m ready to close my mind
And now I’m ready to feel your hand
And lose my heart on the burning sands
And now I wanna be your dog
And now I wenna be your dog
Now I wanna be your dog
Well c’mon