The song was featured on the soundtrack of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. It was nominated for Rock Vocal Performance, Male at the 32nd Grammy Awards. It was well received by critics, and was frequently cited as a highlight of the album. Alvin and the Chipmunks covered this song as the opening track to their 1991 album The Chipmunks Rock the House. In 1992, "Weird Al" Yankovic included the chorus as the first song in his polka medley "Polka Your Eyes Out" from his album Off the Deep End.
Music and lyrics"Cradle of Love" is a rock song composed in common time and in the key of Bb major.[1]
The song title is based on the saying "robbing the cradle."[2]
The video, directed by David Fincher, features footage of Idol singing in large frames throughout an apartment. The director made the decision to film Idol from the waist up as he was unable to walk from a motorcycle accident that had happened in February 1990.[3] It also features Betsy Lynn George as a teenager who tries to seduce a modest and mild mannered businessman played by Joshua Townshend-Zellner.
The film makes use of clips from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, but as Andrew Dice Clay (who played Fairlane) had been banned from MTV, he is not shown in any of the clips. The video was a huge hit and was placed in heavy rotation on MTV. Idol and George recreated the opening of the video for the 1991 American Music Awards.
At the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, the video was nominated for Best Male Video and Best Special Effects and won the award for Best Video from a Film.[4]
This video was voted #33 on VH1's 50 Sexiest Video Moments.
Cradle Of Love
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily it's true
Well, rock the cradle of love
I rocked the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily it's true
Well, now
It burned like a ball of fire
When the rebel took a little child bride
To tease yeah, so go easy yeah, ow
'Cause love cuts a million ways
Shakes the devil when he misbehaves
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, ow
Rock the cradle of love, woo
Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love
Don't rock easily it's true, oh yeah
Sent from heaven above, that's right
To rob the cradle of love
Yes, the pages of love
Don't talk decently it's true, yeah ow
Flesh for your Romeo
Ah yeah, baby
I hear you moan
It's easy
I know how to please me, yeah ow
This love starts my rollin' train
You can't stop it
It ain't in vain
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, ah ow, woo
These are the wages of love
I know, rock the cradle of love
These are the wages of love
Oh, yeah
Rock the cradle
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ow
Well, it burned like a ball of fire
When the rebel took a little child bride to tease, yeah
To know how to please you, yeah, ow
Well, my love starts a rollin' train
You can't stop it
It ain't in vain
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, rawr
Rock the cradle of love
Rock the cradle of love
Sent from heaven above, that's right
To rock the cradle of love, ow
Rock the cradle of love, yeah
Cradle of love
That's me mama
I robbed the devil of love, alright (rock the cradle of love)
Cradle of love
If you tease me, tonight (rock the cradle of love)
And you might sleaze me, alright (cradle of love)
If you appease me, tonight (rock the cradle of love)
And let me ease you, yeah (cradle of love, yeah)
Rock the cradle of love, ooh yeah
Cradle of love, alright
(I said I'll snatch you from salvation soul) rock the cradle of love
Cradle of love (mama)
Yeah, wow
The lyrics to Billy Idol's song Cradle of Love revolve around the themes of rebellion, love, passion, and lust. The song tells the story of a rebel who takes a "little child bride" and ignites a passionate and burning love. The lyrics emphasize the idea that love can be dangerous and unpredictable, cutting in a million ways and shaking the devil when he misbehaves. The singer tells his love interest that he knows how to please her and the love they share starts a rolling train that can't be stopped. The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that the cradle of love doesn't rock easily and is sent from heaven above, suggesting that their love is unique and difficult to attain.
The lyrics also mention the concept of pages of love not talking decently and flesh for Romeo, indicating that their love is not conventional and may be viewed as taboo by society. The lines "These are the wages of love" suggest that love comes at a price and may require sacrifice or compromise. The overall message of the song seems to be that love can be messy and unpredictable, but it is worth the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, ow, rock the cradle of love
Let's begin by enjoying some love-making.
Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily it's true
The act of lovemaking requires effort, and it's something that needs to be approached with patience and caution.
Well, now
It burned like a ball of fire
When the rebel took a little child bride
To tease yeah, so go easy yeah, ow
The passion between the singer and his partner burns with an intense force, which they both enjoy but also need to be careful with.
'Cause love cuts a million ways
Shakes the devil when he misbehaves
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, ow
The power of love can be overwhelming and can affect people in different ways; the artist is confident that he can handle it and is ready to shake things up.
Sent from heaven above, that's right
To rob the cradle of love
Yes, the pages of love
Don't talk decently it's true, yeah ow
The artist feels like love is a gift from the heavens, but at the same time it can be a wild and crazy ride that can take you to unexpected places.
Flesh for your Romeo
Ah yeah, baby
I hear you moan
It's easy
I know how to please me, yeah ow
The singer is confident in his abilities to satisfy his partner and is enjoying hearing her pleasure as they make love together.
These are the wages of love
I know, rock the cradle of love
These are the wages of love
Oh, yeah
Rock the cradle
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ow
The singer sees love as something that requires effort and commitment, but is ultimately worth it when you experience the rewards.
Well, it burned like a ball of fire
When the rebel took a little child bride to tease, yeah
To know how to please you, yeah, ow
The artist remembers a time when he was younger and experienced intense passion with someone who was more innocent and inexperienced than him, which he enjoyed and is now trying to replicate with his current partner.
Well, my love starts a rollin' train
You can't stop it
It ain't in vain
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, ah ow, woo
The artist is confident that his love will bring them on a wild ride that cannot be stopped, and is excited to see where it takes them.
Cradle of love
That's me mama
I robbed the devil of love, alright (rock the cradle of love)
Cradle of love
If you tease me, tonight (rock the cradle of love)
And you might sleaze me, alright (cradle of love)
If you appease me, tonight (rock the cradle of love)
And let me ease you, yeah (cradle of love, yeah)
The artist is proud to be the one providing the love and is daring his partner to try to tease him because he is confident that he can handle it and take her to new heights of pleasure.
Rock the cradle of love, ooh yeah
Cradle of love, alright
(I said I'll snatch you from salvation soul) rock the cradle of love
Cradle of love (mama)
Yeah, wow
The singer is fully invested in the moment and is urging his partner to let go and let him take control so that he can satisfy her completely.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Idol, David Werner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jmacjmac6307
Well, rock the cradle of love
Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily, it's true
Well, rock the cradle of love
I rocked the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily, it's true
Well now
It burned like a ball on fire
When the rebel took a little child bride
To tease yeah, so go easy, yeah, ow!
'Cause love cuts a million ways
Shakes the devil when he misbehaves
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, rock!
Rock the cradle of love (woo!)
Rock the cradle of love
Yes, the cradle of love don't rock easily, it's true, ooh yeah
Sent from Heaven above, that's right
To rock the cradle of love
Yes the pages of love don't talk decently, it's true
Yeah, flesh for your Romeo
Ah yeah, baby
I hear you moan
It's easy, y'know how to please me, yeah (ow!)
'Cause love starts my rollin' train
You can't stop it
It ain't in vain
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do
Ha, ow, whoo!
These are the wages of love, of love
Rock the cradle of love (of love, of love)
These are the wages of love
Hm, yeah
Rock the cradle
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ow!
Shake it, baby!
Ain't it little man!
Well it burned like a ball on fire
When the rebel took a little child bride
To tease yeah, good to know how to please you, yeah, ow!
Well my love starts a rollin' train
You can't stop it
It ain't in vain
I ain't nobody's fool
Come on, shake it up
Whatever I do, ow-ow-ow!
Rock the cradle of love, yeah
Rock the cradle of love, ooh
Sent from Heaven above
That's right
To rock the cradle of love, ow!
Rock the cradle of love
Yeah, cradle of love
That's me mama
I robbed the devil of love, alright
Cradle of love, ow!
If you tease me, tonight (rock the cradle of love)
Might just sleaze me, all right (cradle of love)
If you appeaze me tonight (rock the cradle of love)
And let me ease you (cradle of love) yeah!
Rock the cradle of love, yeah cradle of love, alright
Rock the cradle of love and soul, cradle of love, yeah, ow!
@kelliewhyte_85
Lol 36 here and yep, it was my mum who got me onto all the older music!!!
Haha funnily enough, this is ALSO the first Billy Idol song I heard too!!!
I grew up with this song!!!
My mum used to have all these video tapes with all different music videos recorded on it from the MTV days and she had sooo many tapes, through soooo many years!!
Her tape that was from 1987 was awesome, and so was the 1990 tape!
I can't remember if that was the tape that cradle of love was on, it HAD TO BE!!!
@kevinbaker1642
Me at 16...... "THIS is gonna happen when I get my own place". Me at 26 …."Why aint THIS happening?!?!?". Me at 51 …. "You are gonna make that bed you just messed up, young lady!"
@23SOADFAN
Damn skippy !!!
@JamesDziezynski
Me at 13: I need a cold shower! Me at 44: What... what kind of PC is that?
@maxwellmarsden7273
...i'd forget how to talk so couldn't tell her to make up the bed!!!
@Ravertwo
Hahaha!!
@lindsay6188
kevin baker, funniest 😂 guy in here!
@luannabbate2624
God he has a legacy. From the 80s to the 90s to today. He is still out on the road and rocking. He deserves to be in the Rock Hall of Fame.
@countd5955
Agreed.
@marybell6436
take your like!!!😊
@timperdue4436
How is he not in