William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is a Brit… Read Full Bio ↴William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is a British singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He also holds United States citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".

Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three studio albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol (1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" Idol soon became a staple of then newly-established MTV.

Idol's second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies in the US. In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Having accumulated three UK top 10 singles ("Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Mony Mony"), Idol released a 1988 greatest hits album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best; the album went platinum in the United Kingdom. Idol then released Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993).

Idol spent the second half of the 1990s focusing on his personal life out of the public eye. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil's Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014).

Blue Highway
Billy Idol Lyrics

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So, my good friend
Your super drug ends
I go up to the stratosphere
Brain fry day glow
Holy water for your soul
And I'll wake up in the U.S.a

You know we gonna ride on the blue highway

Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died on the blue highway, hey-hey

Oh, the sons from Mars
On their stolen guitars
Out to ride the night
Soul sisters, soul hitter
I hear you and I miss you
Co-starring in the U.S.a

You know we gotta ride on the blue highway
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died on a blue highway, hey-hey

Why do I miss you?
Why did I kiss you, because

You know we gotta ride on the blue highway
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died
So glad that you're living now
I'm glad that you're here
I'm glad that you want to stay, because
You know we gotta ride on the blue highway
Walk with electro glide on the blue highway
Wave below to Christ on my highway
Yes, I almost died on a blue highway, hey-hey
On a blue highway

Singing, singing
Quaaludes and red wine for love
Yes, there's a time, a time for love
Can you kiss me on a blue highway, hey-hey

Why do I miss you?
How do I kiss you?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Idol's song Blue Highway seem to be about a journey, both physical and emotional. The chorus, "You know we're gonna ride on a blue highway, walk with the legs you're blind on a blue highway, wave hello to pride on my highway, yes I almost died on a blue highway" suggests that the journey is not an easy one, but that the singer is determined to see it through. "Blue highway" may refer to a metaphorical path in life, one that is not well-known or easy to navigate, but the singer is ready to take the risk anyway.

The verses describe encounters along the way - "some sweet mask or it's kind of a bitter risk, out to ride the night, oh sister's so hip, too" - as if to say that the journey is not only about the destination, but also about the people and experiences along the way.

The repeated line "why do I miss you, why did I kiss you" adds a note of nostalgia and regret, suggesting that the journey may also be about looking back and reflecting on past choices and relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Show my dear friends
I'm displaying my companions

It's to put your hands
Let's get together and clap

I ought to start this here
I should begin this melody

Rain for a day glow
A shower of colors illuminating for a moment

But when you wants to boy so
But when you want to boy, so do it

And I wake up in the USA
And I awaken in the USA

Oh you know we're gonna ride
You know we'll go along

On a blue highway
On a road with hope and longing

Walk with the legs you're blind
Walk with trust, even if you can't see

Wave hellow to pride
Greet your self-respect

Yes I almost died
Indeed, I came close to death

Oh some sweet mask
Oh, some sweet disguise

Or it's kind of a bitter risk
Or it's a somewhat difficult gamble

Out to ride the night
Going out to experience the night

Oh sister's so hip too
A woman who's fashionable and cool

I hear you and I miss you
I recognize your call and I long for you

Co-starring in the USA
Together we are acting side by side in the USA

Why do I miss you
Why do I long for your presence

Why did I kiss you
Why did I express my love for you

So glad that you're living now
I'm joyful that you're alive right now

I'm glad that you're here
I'm happy that you're by my side

I'm glad that you want to stay
I'm pleased that you choose to remain

Wings and we'll wind the love
Our love will soar and swirl

Yes there's a time a time for love
There's certainly a time for love

Then you kissed me
Then you showed me your affection

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Stevens, Billy Idol

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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