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).

Cherie
Billy Idol Lyrics

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Like the moon moves the tides
You influence my mind
Like the planets and the stars
Keep the rhythm to your time
Are you happy with him?
Yes I let you go

[Chorus:]

Girl I love you
Cherie I love you so
Girl I love you
I was a fool to let you go

Like the alchemist
Who couldn't resist the devil's kiss
Base metal into gold
And the psychiatrist
Who's battling deep within his own soul
I was like them down the hole

All the memories of your life
Like Venice in the spring
New York City summers
Paris, London winters chill

I love you so
Want you to know
I love you so

As the apples fall, the leaves turn
Make it too autumn's call
But you still know your way
Never be outdone at all
And if I falter I see it in our child

Girl I love you
Cherie I love you so
Girl I love you
No I won't let go

Girl I love you
Cherie I love you so
Girl I love you
No I can't let go

Girl I need your sunshine to feel alright
Girl I need your sunshine to feel alright

Overall Meaning

In Billy Idol's song "Cherie," the lyrics are about the power of love and how it influences one's life. The song begins with a metaphorical reference to the moon and stars, saying, "Like the moon moves the tides, you influence my mind, like the planets and the stars keep the rhythm to your time." The chorus repeatedly states how much the singer loves and needs his former lover, Cherie, even though she is now with someone else. He questions if she is happy with her current partner, indicating he still has hope that they may reunite one day. However, he sees the reality of their separation and declares he was a fool to let her go.

The second verse describes the singer's feelings of regret and the struggles he faces, referencing alchemy and psychology. He feels like the alchemist who couldn't resist the devil's kiss, turning base metal into gold. He also compares himself to a psychiatrist battling deep within his own soul. The lines 'I was like them down the hole' depict the depth of his emotional turmoil. The third verse talks about the shared memories between Cherie and the singer, new York summers, Paris winters, Venice springs, and how much he loves her.

OverallBilly Idol takes the listeners on an emotional journey where they can sense the depth of the singer's longing, and how much he misses his lost love.

Line by Line Meaning

Like the moon moves the tides
Just like the moon moves the tides, you have a strong hold on my emotions and thinking.

You influence my mind
Your presence and actions have a powerful impact on my thoughts.

Like the planets and the stars, Keep the rhythm to your time
You are like the planets and stars, keeping everything in sync with your own beat.

Are you happy with him?
I wonder if you are happy with the person you are currently with.

Yes I let you go
Despite how I feel, I have let you go.

Girl I love you, Cherie I love you so
I am telling you, Cherie, that I love you very much.

I was a fool to let you go
I now realize that letting you go was a foolish decision.

Like the alchemist who couldn't resist the devil's kiss, Base metal into gold
Similar to an alchemist who can't resist the temptation of the devil's kiss, they can turn base metal into gold, but at a price. I am like this, but I recognize it is not worth it.

And the psychiatrist who's battling deep within his own soul, I was like them down the hole
I am like a psychiatrist battling deep within my soul, lost in my own head.

All the memories of your life, Like Venice in the spring, New York City summers, Paris, London winters chill
All the memories of your life are like picturesque places, such as Venice in the spring or New York City in the summer, and even the colder winters in Paris and London.

I love you so, Want you to know, I love you so
I love you very much, and I want you to know that.

As the apples fall, the leaves turn, Make it too autumn's call
As the seasons change and it becomes autumn, I am reminded of lost time and opportunities.

But you still know your way, Never be outdone at all
Despite everything, I know you are always in control and ready to take on any challenge.

And if I falter I see it in our child
If I ever lose my way, I know I can look to our child for guidance.

Girl I need your sunshine to feel alright
I need your love and warmth to feel okay.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Billy Idol, Brian Tichy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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