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).
Can’t Break Me Down
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hid the knife in the core of an apple
Burn me, try to hurt me
Try to hit me when my back was turning
I saw you wait when the shadows were growing
You're talking straight
But your colors are showing
Try to get me when my head was turning
You want to rain on my survival story
You're crazy baby ‘cause I've never had a doubt
I'm singin' songs about love and glory
Oh oh oh
Your gun went
Bang bang bang
You shot me to the ground
But you can't break me down
Bang bang bang
You tried to knock me out
No, you can't break me down
It's just my natural reaction
When I hit the floor
I'm the original assassin
I come up for more
You put me up so you can watch me crumble
I always knew you were some kind of trouble
Lurking, you can't hurt me
‘cause I see just how your evil's working
A silver tongue with the best of intentions
But you're a child with the cruelest inventions
Burning, you're just hurtin'
I know somewhere deep in hell you're workin'
You want to rain on my survival story
You're crazy baby ‘cause I never had a doubt
I'm singing songs about love and glory
Oh oh oh
Your gun went
Bang bang bang
You shot me to the ground
But you can't bring me down
Bang bang bang
You try to knock me out
No, you can't break me down
It's just my natural reaction
When I hit the floor
I'm the original assassin
I come up for more
You don't know what you started
You hit but missed the target
Bang bang bang
You shot me to the ground
But you can't break me down
Bang bang bang
You tried to knock me out
No, you can't break me down
It's just my natural reaction
When I hit the floor
I'm the original assassin
I come up for more
The lyrics of Billy Idol's "Can't Break Me Down" discuss themes of resilience in the face of adversity. In the opening lines, Idol describes the devil's house in the shape of a chapel and references the biblical story of Adam and Eve by mentioning the knife hidden in the core of an apple. These lyrics suggest a sense of danger and deception, with Idol warning that someone is trying to hurt him even when his back is turned.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Bang bang bang / You shot me to the ground / But you can't break me down," emphasizing Idol's determination to keep going despite being knocked down. The lyrics suggest that the person or people trying to bring Idol down may have some ulterior motive, with the lines "You put me up so you can watch me crumble / I always knew you were some kind of trouble." Despite this, Idol remains defiant and confident, singing "I'm the original assassin / I come up for more."
The second stanza suggests that the person trying to hurt Idol may be someone with whom he had a close relationship, as the lyrics describe a "silver tongue with the best of intentions." However, Idol sees through this person's true nature and describes them as a "child with the cruelest inventions." The chorus repeats, emphasizing Idol's resilience and determination to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
The devil's house in the shape of a chapel
You have created an environment that seems holy, but is actually dangerous and harmful.
You hid the knife in the core of an apple
You have malicious intent and are hiding it behind something innocent and unsuspecting.
Burn me, try to hurt me / Try to hit me when my back was turning
You are attacking me even when I am vulnerable and defenseless.
I saw you wait when the shadows were growing / You're talking straight / But your colors are showing
You pretend to be truthful, but your actions and intentions reveal your true nature.
You want to rain on my survival story / You're crazy baby ‘cause I've never had a doubt / I'm singin' songs about love and glory
You are trying to bring me down, but I am confident in my ability to overcome your attacks and continue to find joy and happiness in life.
Your gun went / Bang bang bang / You shot me to the ground / But you can't break me down
You may have hurt me, but you cannot destroy my spirit or perseverance.
It's just my natural reaction / When I hit the floor / I'm the original assassin / I come up for more
Even when I am knocked down, I will always get back up and fight again.
You put me up so you can watch me crumble / I always knew you were some kind of trouble / Lurking, you can't hurt me / ‘cause I see just how your evil's working
You derive pleasure from seeing me fail, but I am aware of your harmful intentions and cannot be broken by them.
A silver tongue with the best of intentions / But you're a child with the cruelest inventions / Burning, you're just hurtin' / I know somewhere deep in hell you're workin'
You speak well but have cruel intentions, and your attacks are really a reflection of your own pain and hurt.
You don't know what you started / You hit but missed the target
Your attacks may have caused damage, but they ultimately did not achieve your intended goal.
Contributed by Miles J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@8thManDVDcom
Idol still has it, good stuff.
@BrosFront
take off... we alod
@amosismael4060
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I somehow forgot the login password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@frederickreece4256
@Amos Ismael Instablaster ;)
@amosismael4060
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Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@amosismael4060
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@MaskSavesLives
Billy Idol needs to be included on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
@ofensetzer7651
Absolutly.
@XCrawlFan
Maybe we need a punk hall of fame.
@catalinaandreeamitroi2999
Haha, Billy Idol needs to BE the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame