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).
It
Billy Idol Lyrics
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Hanging around
Tonight I've been in every bar in town
Here I am again pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight I have to try out every girl in town
I took some ecstasy in love
I'm getting messed up on my backside
Wall of blocks A-D
Ended up in somebody else's sheets
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you
Will it ever be over baby
Feel my love come on over
Over you
Here you are again
Pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight you walked through all my pleasant dreams
Here I am
You know where I look leads to a late night
Low down, low down scene
Really mean
Took the subway to the East side
I get messed up on my backside
Wall of blocks A-D
Ended up in somebody else's sheets
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
You know what I'm talking about
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you
Will it ever be over
Feel my love slide
You know what I'm talking about now
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
You know what I'm talking about now
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you
Will it ever be over
Feel my love come on over
Over you babe
For you babe, for you babe, for you babe
The lyrics to Billy Idol's "It's So Cruel" tell the story of two people who keep going back to each other, despite the pain their relationship causes. The song begins with the singer confessing that he's been going to every bar in town, looking for someone new to distract him from his feelings of heartbreak. He even takes ecstasy in an attempt to forget about his pain, but ultimately ends up in someone else's bed.
The second verse reveals that the woman he's singing to has been appearing in his dreams, reminding him of what he's lost. He, too, turns to the East side of town for solace, only to end up in another person's bed. The chorus repeats the word "cruel," implying that their cycle of hurt and longing is an endless cycle that never seems to end.
The bridge reveals the emotional core of the song: The singer asks if their love will ever be over, before pleading for his lover to feel his love come on over. The repetition of the phrase "you know what I'm talking about now" implies that their pain is something they both understand and are complicit in.
Overall, "It's So Cruel" is a powerful exploration of the struggle many people face when they feel drawn to someone who continually hurts them. The song acknowledges the cycle of heartbreak and desire that so often characterizes toxic relationships, while also acknowledging just how difficult it can be to break free from them.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am again pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight I've been in every bar in town
I'm back here with you, my love, wasting my time.
I've been drinking myself silly all over town.
Here I am again pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight I have to try out every girl in town
I'm back here with you, my love, but I feel like I need to see other women tonight.
I took some ecstasy in love
I tried to enhance my feelings for you by using drugs.
I took my troubles to the East side
I'm getting messed up on my backside
Wall of blocks A-D
Ended up in somebody else's sheets
I went to a rough part of town to try and forget my problems.
I got drunk and ended up having sex with someone else.
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you
Will it ever be over baby
Feel my love come on over
Over you
It's so painful being without you.
Will this ever end?
My love for you is strong and I want to be with you.
Here you are again
Pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight you walked through all my pleasant dreams
Here I am
You know where I look leads to a late night
Low down, low down scene
Really mean
Took the subway to the East side
I get messed up on my backside
Wall of blocks A-D
Ended up in somebody else's sheets
You're back here with me, but it seems like a nightmare.
When I look for love elsewhere, it leads to dangerous situations.
I went back to that rough area and got drunk and slept with someone else again.
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
You know what I'm talking about
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you
Being without you is unbearable.
You understand what I'm going through.
Will it ever be over
Feel my love slide
You know what I'm talking about now
It's so cruel
I - I - I'm round
Without you, without you babe
You know what I'm talking about now
Will this pain ever go away?
You can feel the depth of my love for you.
Being apart from you is torture.
You understand exactly what I'm going through.
Will it ever be over
Feel my love come on over
Over you babe
For you babe, for you babe, for you babe
Will this pain ever end?
My love for you is overwhelming.
I want to be with you and only you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL, PHILLIP HAWK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patriafernandez
🎵"Rebel Yell"🎵
Last night a little dancer came dancin' to my door
Last night a little angel came pumping on the floor
She said "Come on baby I got a license for love
And if it expires pray help from above"
Because
In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell- "more, more, more"
More, more, more.
She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg
But when I'm tired and lonely she sees me to bed
What set you free and brought you to me babe
What set you free I need you here by me
Because
In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell- "more, more, more"
He lives in his own heaven
Collects it to go by the seven eleven
Well he's out all night to collect a fare
Just as long, just as long it don't mess up his hair.
I'd walk the world with you, babe
A thousand miles with you
I dried your tears of pain, babe
A million times for you
I'd sell my soul for you babe
For money to burn with you
I'd give you all, and have none, babe
Just to, just to, just to, just to, to have you here by me because
In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried "more, more, more"
More, more, more.
Oh yeah little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more.
Oh yeah little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more.
@42ayla
Can we appreciate the fact that no one really expected him to survive the 80's and here he is still rocking his concerts? How's that for epic?
@arkhamlovecraft5592
It doesn't really count now because hw just a vegas show preformed now lol
@reasleft
@@JAECize his drug use was heavy
@42ayla
@@JAECize The act? Nothing. His lifestyle was dangerous. Ironically he got the idea for this song after drinking Rebel Yell with some other musicians. The words were created around the name. I'm glad he survived it.
Stay well friend.
@42ayla
@@arkhamlovecraft5592 I saw him some years ago opening for Def Leppard. More like a double bill given all the talent on the stage. Way too much fun.
@mitchelle4322
@@JAECize Drugs, drugs and more drugs. Look up his 3 week drug party in a hotel in Thailand. Glady Billy is still with us I watch his instagram vids walking around with his granddaughter.
@rachelb2231
I'm a grandmother. 8 grandkids... and counting. I remember seeing Billy Idol live. My grandkids will never understand.
@Armageddon80
Honestly get a life
@buccilander
Just strong granny 😂💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
@karenjean8611
Me too Rachel. 78 and it's on my Playlist.