Death Is Certain
Iggy Pop · Beat 'em Up [2001]
Death is the best
Better than all the rest
On the dutifull lies in the rock paradise
Losses and wear and the texture of age
Adds a truth to the heart
And a light to the face
It's good when you don't give as
Much of a fuck
As you did when the threats mount
To make you suck
A burst of rage
A lively cry
Emotions wide
Your death is certain for sure
My death is certain alright
But death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
'Cause death is certain so why?
Gotta diiiiiiiiie
A bone and a skull
In a conjugal hell
A mall full of gall
And the music jerks off
Pale and fate
At the table they sat
With their necks choking tight
In their collars dead white
Liquor and food 'till
They spin and explode
In a shower of crap
In America's lap
A pliceman's numb
A lazy bum
Emotions come
'Cause death is certain it's sure
'Cause death is certain it's pure
'Cause death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
'Cause death is certain that's why
Gotta die
Alright
Alright
Well, alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
A beast with legs
A kid who's numb
A lazy bum
Your death is certain it's sure
'Cause death is certain it's pure
'Cause death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
Better than all the rest
On the dutifull lies in the rock paradise
Losses and wear and the texture of age
Adds a truth to the heart
And a light to the face
It's good when you don't give as
Much of a fuck
As you did when the threats mount
To make you suck
A burst of rage
A lively cry
Emotions wide
Your death is certain for sure
My death is certain alright
But death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
'Cause death is certain so why?
Gotta diiiiiiiiie
A bone and a skull
In a conjugal hell
A mall full of gall
And the music jerks off
Pale and fate
At the table they sat
With their necks choking tight
In their collars dead white
Liquor and food 'till
They spin and explode
In a shower of crap
In America's lap
A pliceman's numb
A lazy bum
Emotions come
'Cause death is certain it's sure
'Cause death is certain it's pure
'Cause death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
'Cause death is certain that's why
Gotta die
Alright
Alright
Well, alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
Alright
A beast with legs
A kid who's numb
A lazy bum
Your death is certain it's sure
'Cause death is certain it's pure
'Cause death is certain no cure
'Cause death is certain
Death Is Certain
Released on the 2001 compilation Beat 'em Up, Iggy Pop's 'Death Is Certain' stands as a stark, minimalist exercise in post-punk intensity. The track strips away excess, focusing on a driving, repetitive rhythm that underscores the inevitable nature of mortality. Produced with his signature raw energy, the recording captures the essence of his later work, blending industrial textures with a haunting vocal delivery. As part of his extensive discography, this song reflects a period where Pop explored darker themes with a detached, almost mechanical precision. The piece serves as a powerful reminder of his ability to distill complex existential dread into a concise, impactful musical statement.