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).

Hole In The Wall
Billy Idol Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey babe, where did you go
When the down down got too much
Hey baby, where will you be found
When the down down gets to much
We were such an ugly pair
The chameleon twins they'd stop and stare
Lovers know when love has gone
A black hole there where love was once the end

Hey babe, where will you be
When the crack crack gets too much (crack)
Hey babe, where will you go
Oh, we were such an ugly pair
The chameleon twins they'd stop and stare
Lovers know when love has gone
A black hole there where love was once the
End

[Chorus:]
There's a hole in the wall
There's a hole in the wall
Ooh a hole in the wall
There's a hole in the wall

(She has under our expert persuasion)
(Has implicated you in high treason)
(You are under arrest)
(Do you have any final requests, requests)
It's a move to take you through
It's a move to take you through
It's a move to take you through
To take you through
To take you through
(You have until the sand runs up)
(Do you have any final requests)
(You look great, you look great)
(You look great)
Hey babe where will you go when the hole in
The wall is shut
Wow, babe you know where I'll be when that
Hole in wall is shut
We were such an ugly pair
The chameleon twins they'd stop and stare
Lovers know when love has gone
A black hole there where love was once the
End

[Chorus:]
Catch it before you fall
The hole in the wall

There's a hole in the wall
Ooh - a hole in the wall...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Idol's “Hole in the Wall” explore two lovers' breakup and the emptiness that remains behind. The song is an emotional portrayal of the aftermath of the relationship's end. The choice of words like “black hole” and “ugly pair” show the depth of despair and hopelessness the singer is experiencing. The chorus mentions the recurring “hole in the wall,” a metaphor that seems to represent the emotional pain and the void that the separation has caused in the singer's life. The song uses imagery to compare the state of the singers' love with the physical appearance of a wall, further emphasizing the emptiness that remains inside.

The song’s verses repeat the question, “Hey, babe, where did you go?” and “Hey, baby, where will you be?” showing the singer’s confusion about his lover's whereabouts and intentions. The line “Lovers know when love has gone” suggests that the relationship has come to a natural end, and there is no going back to the way things were before. The song’s final lines suggest that the singer and his lover will move on from the experience, but the pain will continue to haunt them.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey babe, where did you go
Asks where their partner went when life got too difficult

When the down down got too much
Refers to a difficult time in life that was overwhelming

Hey baby, where will you be found
Asks where their partner will be in the future when life is overwhelming

When the down down gets to much
Refers to a future difficult time in life that might be overwhelming

We were such an ugly pair
They were an unconventional couple that others looked at strangely

The chameleon twins they'd stop and stare
Their appearance was very distinct and noticeable to others

Lovers know when love has gone
It's clear when love has left a relationship

A black hole there where love was once the end
The absence of love leaves a void that feels like a black hole or abyss

Hey babe, where will you be
Asks where their partner will be in a future difficult time

When the crack crack gets too much (crack)
Refers to a future difficult time in life that might be overwhelming

Hey babe, where will you go
Asks where their partner will go in a future situation

Oh, we were such an ugly pair
Repeats the idea that they were an unconventional couple

The chameleon twins they'd stop and stare
Repeats the idea that others noticed them because of their unique appearance

Lovers know when love has gone
Repeats the idea that it's clear when love has left a relationship

A black hole there where love was once the end
Repeats the idea that the absence of love leaves a void

There's a hole in the wall
Refers to a literal hole in the wall

Ooh a hole in the wall
Repeats the idea of the literal hole in the wall

[Chorus:]
Introduces the chorus of the song

It's a move to take you through
Suggests that the situation is a test or challenge to overcome

To take you through
Repeats the idea of facing a difficult challenge

(You have until the sand runs up)
Creates a sense of urgency or impending deadline

(Do you have any final requests)
Suggests that it's the end or that there's no more time

(You look great, you look great)
Could be sarcasm or irony in the face of a serious situation

(You look great)
Repeats the idea of irony or sarcasm in a serious situation

Hey babe where will you go when the hole in the wall is shut
Asks where their partner will go after the literal hole in the wall is closed

Wow, babe you know where I'll be when that Hole in wall is shut
Suggests that the partner will be with them no matter what life throws their way

Catch it before you fall
Suggests the importance of being proactive in difficult situations

Ooh - a hole in the wall...
Repeats the idea of the literal hole in the wall

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY IDOL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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