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).
Buried Alive
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ocean of night
It's the angel of mercy
Leaving you behind
In this moment
You ache for the cure
You're pleading
Save me
There's no shelter tonight
Escape from the pain
There is nothing
No end to this game
You're so wicked
Evil and cruel
It won't save you
Save me
From what I'm gonna do
You're just a number
You're just a victim
A dead man walking
Buried alive
Hold out for a better hand
Wait for better days
You can feel it coming
The fury of my rage
My vengeance
Will rain down on you
There's no mercy
Have mercy
In what I'm gonna do
The lyrics to Billy Idol's song Buried Alive describe a moment of desperation in which the singer is pleading to be saved from their current situation. The first verse sets the scene as the "season of the dark horse," implying a time of uncertainty and instability. The second line, "the ocean of night," adds to this sense of darkness and foreboding. The "angel of mercy" in this context seems to be a double-edged sword, as it is leaving the singer behind in their suffering. The chorus emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and helpless, with no escape from the pain.
The second verse is more confrontational, with the singer addressing someone else directly. The lines "you're so wicked, evil and cruel" suggest that the other person has caused or contributed to the singer's suffering. The line "it won't save you, save me" implies that some kind of exchange or negotiation is taking place, although the specifics are left vague. The bridge brings a note of finality, describing the singer's impending revenge: "my vengeance will rain down on you / there's no mercy, have mercy / in what I'm gonna do."
The lyrics to Buried Alive are open to interpretation, and some listeners might hear different themes and messages depending on their personal experiences and perspectives. However, the song seems to touch on themes of powerlessness, desperation, and the need for revenge or justice. The line "you're just a victim / a dead man walking / buried alive" suggests a sense of being buried and forgotten, perhaps by society or a more powerful enemy. The song's heavy, driving rhythm and distorted guitar riffs serve to emphasize the feeling of rage and uncontrolled emotion, making it a powerful and visceral listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the season of the dark horse
It's a time of unpredictability, where anything can happen.
The ocean of night
Darkness surrounds you, consuming you.
It's the angel of mercy
It's a turning point where you seek help.
Leaving you behind
You feel abandoned and alone.
In this moment
You are trapped in a feeling of helplessness.
You ache for the cure
You want to be saved from your pain.
You're pleading
You are begging for help.
Save me
You want someone to rescue you.
Give me some more
You need more help than you've already received.
There's no shelter tonight
You have nowhere to hide from the pain.
Escape from the pain
You want to be freed from the suffering.
There is nothing
You feel hopeless and helpless.
No end to this game
The pain seems never-ending.
You're so wicked
You are behaving badly and immorally.
Evil and cruel
Your behavior is vicious and malevolent.
It won't save you
Your actions won't help you escape the pain.
From what I'm gonna do
The consequences of your actions are about to catch up to you.
You're just a number
You are insignificant and anonymous.
You're just a victim
You are suffering the consequences of your mistakes.
A dead man walking
You are living with the consequences of your actions and will soon face judgment.
Buried alive
You are trapped with overwhelming guilt and shame.
Hold out for a better hand
Keep hope for a better future despite the current circumstances.
Wait for better days
Anticipate better times to come.
You can feel it coming
A reckoning is on the horizon.
The fury of my rage
There will be anger and retribution for the wrongs you've done.
My vengeance
The punishment for your sins.
Will rain down on you
You will face the consequences of your actions.
There's no mercy
Your actions make it impossible for anyone to forgive easily.
Have mercy
You plead for forgiveness out of desperation, even though it seems unlikely.
In what I'm gonna do
The punishment is going to be severe.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE STEVENS, BILLY IDOL, BOB EZRIN, TREVOR HURST, MARK SCHULMAN, BRIDGET BENENATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emwjmannen2
Underrated song!
@esk8jaimes
Found this on the Heavy Metal 2000 film
@esk8jaimes
Lyrics:
''It's the season of the dark horse
The ocean of night
It's the angel of mercy
Leaving you behind
In this moment
You ache for the cure
You're pleading
Save me
Give me some more
There's no shelter tonight
Escape from the pain
There is nothing
No end to this game
You're so wicked
Evil and cruel
It won't save you
Save me
From what I'm gonna do
You're just a number
You're just a victim
A dead man walking
Buried alive
Hold out for a better hand
Wait for better days
You can feel it coming
The fury of my rage
My vengeance
Will rain down on you
There's no mercy
Have mercy
In what I'm gonna do.''