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).
Nobody's Business
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Either way you know they win or lose
You know money talks
Your eyes they ain't so blue
You love to watch the green-backs walk
You got a five-buck side-pack
Tell me, tell me someone stop this pain
It's your place I was in a rage insane
But your eyes are never blue
Droolin' over green-back poolin'
You got a five-buck side-pack
Well I must have been right about something
Yes to make it to here and to tell you something
'Cause nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
Well I must have been mad about something
'Cause I'm m a d and I spell it for nothing
'Cause nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
What a fool to step into those shoes
Either way you know they[you?] win or lose
You know money talks
Your eyes so paralysed
Don't you realise
For love and hate it's just too late
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business but my own
The lyrics of Billy Idol's song Nobody's Business appear to be about the fallout from a failed relationship, possibly one in which money and material possessions played a significant role. The singer is lamenting over the fact that he was foolish to step into this person's shoes and become involved with them, as they were so preoccupied with money that it clouded their judgment and ability to truly love someone. The line "you love to watch the green-backs walk" seems to suggest that this person was more interested in the money associated with a relationship than the person they were with, and the singer laments that they were blinded by this superficial aspect of the relationship.
The singer expresses his desire for this person's love, even though he knows that it is unlikely to happen. He is angry and frustrated that his feelings were not reciprocated and that he was unable to understand the true nature of the relationship before getting involved. Despite the pain and disappointment that he is feeling, the singer ultimately realizes that this is his own business and that he needs to move on from this relationship, regardless of how it ended or who was to blame.
Line by Line Meaning
What a fool to step into those shoes
It was foolish to follow in someone else's footsteps.
Either way you know they win or lose
Regardless of the outcome, someone will always win and someone will always lose.
You know money talks
The power of money influences people's decisions and actions.
Your eyes they ain't so blue
Your intentions are not as clear or innocent as they may seem.
You love to watch the green-backs walk
You enjoy making money - seeing it, obtaining it, and hoarding it.
You got a five-buck side-pack
You have a small amount of money or possessions that you guard closely.
Tell me, tell me someone stop this pain
Expressing the desire to end the emotional turmoil and suffering caused by a love interest.
It's your place I was in a rage insane
The pain and frustration caused by the love interest made the artist feel mad and out of control.
I wanted your love so bad
The artist had a strong desire and longing for the love and attention of the person they are addressing.
But your eyes are never blue
The person's intentions or character are not as pure as they may seem or as the color blue would imply.
Droolin' over green-back poolin'
The singer is obsessing over money or trying to obtain more of it.
Well I must have been right about something
The artist believes they were correct about something in the past.
Yes to make it to here and to tell you something
The singer has made it through their experiences and wants to share something with the person they are addressing.
'Cause nobody's business but my own
The singer believes that their personal life and experiences are not the concern of anyone else.
Well I must have been mad about something
The singer likely experienced intense emotion or distress in the past.
'Cause I'm m a d and I spell it for nothing
The artist feels the need to express their current state of being and the turmoil they are experiencing.
Your eyes so paralyzed
The person the artist is addressing appears to be absent or disconnected, possibly due to a fixation on money.
Don't you realise
The singer is asking the person to recognize the consequences of their actions and the negative impact it has had on others.
For love and hate it's just too late
Despite having intense emotions or feelings towards someone, it is now too late to act on them.
Nobody's business but my own
The personal experiences and emotions of the artist are not the concern of anyone else.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Mother Dawn
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