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).
In The Shadow
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fading shadows on the wall
We'll cut our cards
Drive out bars
All for one, one for all.
Like teenage heat
And carnival cheats
Well you know you wanna run
You won't hide
And you jump like a son of a gun
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Oh alone and lonely
Watching people on my wall
Well Mama and Dadda thought they had me fooled
I was thinking not at all
Well I got out
Not gonna stand
In the dark without a light
Forgetting love if you believe that chance
Sit and wait
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
And now the judge is down feeling
all around yeah
Lifting to a blast this sound
No preachers, teachers
Pick our minds
To the sounds of false alarm
They're here today
And they hear you say
You're alive and you're living with me
So don't try to hide
And don't try to die
In the dark of the night
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
In the shadows, in the shadows
Do not stand in the shadows
“In The Shadow” by Billy Idol is all about standing up for oneself and breaking free from hiding in the shadows. The opening lines (“hearts which beat to a precise beat/fading shadows on the wall”) talks about the monotony of the lives people lead as a result of societal norms, but deep inside people have some desires and fears which they never share with anyone. The next lines of the song suggest that they will break free from the monotony by cutting cards and driving out bars where they can be themselves. It’s the desire to break away from the norm and be individualistic that keeps the heart beating. The chorus of the song is a reminder to not stand in the shadows and to take chances.
The second verse of the song is about an individualistic approach to life. The singer is lonely, standing alone and watching people on the wall, but he's not fooled by Mama and Dad's thoughts. He's a thinker and needs to get away from the dark without light. He doesn't want to forget love if he believes in that chance, and he knows that he must not stand in the shadows. The next lines after that say the judge is down feeling all around, lifting to a blast this sound. The sound refers to the sound of unity and the desire to stand up for oneself.
The song is about finding one’s own strength and standing up for what they believe in. It encourages people to be themselves and not conform to societal pressure. The song is sung powerfully by Billy Idol and features a classic rock sound with an upbeat tempo.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts which beat to a precise beat
Our hearts beat to the same rhythm, perfectly in sync
Fading shadows on the wall
The shadows on the wall are disappearing, signifying a change
We'll cut our cards
We'll take our chances and see what happens
Drive out bars
Let's leave behind the things that hold us back and move forward
All for one, one for all.
We are united and support each other no matter what
Like teenage heat
We are passionate like teenagers, full of energy and excitement
And carnival cheats
We are willing to take risks and be a little wild
With your heart on your sleeve
You express your emotions freely and openly
Well you know you wanna run
You have an urge to break free and explore new things
You won't hide
You won't conceal your true self or your desires
And you jump like a son of a gun
You take bold actions and move forward with determination
Do not stand in the shadows
Don't hide away or be afraid to shine
Oh alone and lonely
You feel isolated and disconnected
Watching people on my wall
You observe others living life, feeling left out
Well Mama and Dadda thought they had me fooled
Your parents underestimated you and your independence
I was thinking not at all
You had your own plans and ideas that your parents didn't understand
Well I got out
You left behind any limitations or restrictions imposed upon you
Not gonna stand
You won't tolerate anyone holding you back or telling you what to do
In the dark without a light
You won't be lost or alone in the unknown future
Forgetting love if you believe that chance
You don't need love or anyone else to be happy and fulfilled
Sit and wait
You won't wait around for anyone else - you'll take action and create your own opportunities
Do not stand in the shadows
Don't hold back or stay hidden
And now the judge is down feeling
The authority figures are losing power and becoming more human
all around yeah
This change is happening everywhere
Lifting to a blast this sound
We're rising up and making our voices heard
No preachers, teachers
We aren't listening to those who claim to have all the answers
Pick our minds
We'll take in new information and ideas, but we won't blindly follow others
To the sounds of false alarm
We won't be fooled by empty promises or false messages
They're here today
This new wave of thinking is happening now
And they hear you say
Our voices are being heard
You're alive and you're living with me
We are living in the moment and enjoying life together
So don't try to hide
Don't be afraid to be yourself and stand out
And don't try to die
Don't give up on life or your dreams
In the dark of the night
Even in the toughest times, we won't give up or lose hope
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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