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).

License To Thrill
Billy Idol Lyrics

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Breath of life
For which a man must grieve
Blood of love
Into my heart
Tonight we'll dream
A license to thrill

I'll sing you on girl

I'll make you high world
Lovers turn again to dreams
Oh tonight
A license to thrill

I hear voices
Screaming louder
Seem to break a spell
Watcha gonna do
I hear voices
SInging louder
Oh yeah oh yeah

Breathe tonight
And slowly come down
Into my heart
Tonight we'll dream
A license to thrill

Oh sleeper
Yes, restless dreamer,
She comes, face her
Untie your lips

I'll turn you on girl
You make me high world
Turn again to dreams

Untie your hips
And with
Animal grace
Embrace her

Oh the taste
A license to thrill
I hear voices
Screaming louder
Seem to break a spell
Watcha gonna do
I hear voices
Screaming louder
Sing a farewell
Watcha gonna do

I hear voices
Screaming louder
Screaming louder into the night
Try to break a spell
I say yeah
Sing a last farewell
Watcha gonna do

I'll sing you on girl

I'll make you high
A license to thrill

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Billy Idol's song "License To Thrill" seem to be hinting at the idea of getting lost in the moment and feeling alive. The lines "breath of life for which a man must grieve, blood of love into my heart" seems to suggest that feeling alive is a bittersweet thing, almost like an addiction in which the rush of adrenaline comes at the cost of a sacrifice. Then the lyrics continue to describe the dreamlike state of being alive as if being high, singing "I'll sing you on girl, I'll make you high world." The repetition of "license to thrill" throughout the song enhances this idea that living life to the fullest is something that has to be given permission.

Then in the following lines, the song shifts focus to the idea of voices breaking a spell. It's almost as if there is resistance to the idea of living in the moment and being alive because of the fear of losing control, which is highlighted by the repetition of "watcha gonna do" and "screaming louder." The end of the song seems to suggest embracing the moment and "untie your lips, untie your hips and with animal grace embrace her." It's as if there's an invitation to let go of fears and live life to the fullest, even if it's just for one night.

Line by Line Meaning

Breath of life
The essence of living

For which a man must grieve
Something that is cherished so much that it causes pain when lost

Blood of love
Passionate feeling towards someone else

Into my heart
Intensely emotional, personal connection

Tonight we'll dream
The future is bright, hopefulness for greatness

A license to thrill
Permission to boldly chase after what is desired

I'll sing you on girl
Persuading the person to buy into his words or way of living

I'll make you high world
The sense of euphoria and superiority found through living life on the edge

Lovers turn again to dreams
Love is not simply reality, give place to imagination

I hear voices
Internal conflict, breaking away from societal norms

Screaming louder
The urge to break free, to be oneself