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).
Postcards From the Past
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the mind keeps burning
Can you feel the passion?
I cannot make it happen Once again
Now I am running in times that are frightening
But I won’t let that break me. I won’t let that take me down again
So you know my story
Inside I was certain
Inside I was crying out for more
Now I’m roaming through seats that are empty
To find my destination
Will you touch my fascination once again?
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on…
I am twice the man I used to be
Through a journey of discover me
And it’s more than a feeling
It’s there inside the meaning
Of the man who is speaking
To all of your emotion
And now I’m beholding To keep to our future in my head
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
yesterday is history it’s there for all the world to see
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on…
You don’t understand that I won’t shake
You don’t realize that I won’t break
Cause I could be so strong for you alone
We can live it once again
Oh yeah!
So you know my story
Well I’ll tell you a secret
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
I think my future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on…
Come On…
Come on…
The song "Postcards From The Past" by Billy Idol talks about the struggles of life and how past experiences and memories affect one's present and future. In the first verse, Idol talks about the fear of the unknown and the feeling of being lost. He questions whether the passion of life can be felt amidst the chaos of the world. The singer of the song feels like he is running in times that are frightening but is determined not to let fear break him down. In the second verse, he shares that inside he was crying out for more, and now he is searching for his destination through seats that are empty. The singer is asking for someone to touch his fascination and help him feel alive once again. The line "It’s like a memory that will last, like a postcard from the past," refers to how the past experiences still affect him in the present and will continue to do so into the future.
The chorus talks about how the past is just history, something that is there for the world to see, but it still shapes who we are. The future is not yet fully determined, and the singer believes that it is wide open and tomorrow is never broken. He talks about being twice the man he used to be through his journey of discovering himself. The line "And it’s more than a feeling, it’s there inside the meaning of the man who is speaking" refers to how the journey to self-discovery has allowed him to understand the true meaning of life.
Overall, the song is about the power of memories and past experiences, and how they shape our present and future. The singer of the song has been through difficult times and is still searching for meaning and passion in life, but he is determined not to let the fear of the unknown break him.
Line by Line Meaning
If the world keeps turning
Even if life goes on, and time goes by...
And the mind keeps burning
...and even if my mind is always active
Can you feel the passion?
Can you understand my enthusiasm?
I cannot make it happen once again
But I can't repeat the past
Now I am running in times that are frightening
Now I'm living in times that are scary
But I won’t let that break me
But I refuse to give up
I won’t let that take me down again
I won't let it defeat me again
So you know my story
You already know my past
We’ll I’ll tell you a secret
But...can I tell you a secret?
Inside I was certain
I knew deep down
Inside I was crying out for more
I was always searching for something more
Now I’m roaming through seats that are empty
Now I'm wandering around in empty spaces
To find my destination
Searching for my purpose
Will you touch my fascination once again?
Could you reignite my passion?
It’s like a memory that will last
It's like a memory that stays with me
Like a postcard from the past
Like an old postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
Yesterday is over
It’s there for all the world to see
It's a part of history that can never be erased
My future seems wide open
My future is full of endless possibilities
And tomorrow’s never broken
And there's always hope for tomorrow
So come on…
So let's do this!
I am twice the man I used to be
I've grown so much as a person
Through a journey to discover me
Through a journey of self-discovery
And it’s more than a feeling
And it's more than just an emotion
It’s there inside the meaning
It's deep within the meaning of my life
Of the man who is speaking
Of me, the person speaking
To all of your emotion
To all of your feelings
And now I’m beholding
And now I'm realizing
To keep to our future in my head
To keep our future in mind
You don’t understand that I won’t shake
You don't understand that I won't be defeated
You don’t realize that I won’t break
You don't realize that I won't break down
Cause I could be so strong for you alone
I can be incredibly strong for you
We can live it once again
We can relive the past
It’s like a memory that will last
It's like a memory that will always be with me
My future seems wide open
My future is full of endless possibilities
And tomorrow’s never broken
And there's always hope for tomorrow
So come on…
So let's do this!
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tordg.477
If the world keeps turnin’
And my mind keeps burnin’
Can you feel the passion?
Can I make it happen once again?
Now I’m running
In times that are frightening
But I won’t let that break me
I won’t let that take me down again
No
So you know my story
Well I’ll tell you a secret
Inside I was hurtin’
Inside I was cryin’ out for more
Now I’m rolling
Through streets that are empty
To find my destination
Will you touch my fascination once again?
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
Like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on!
I’m twice the man I used to be
Through the journey of discovery
And it’s more than a feeling
It’s there inside the meaning
Of the man who is speaking
To all of your emotions
And now I’m holding
The keys to our future in my hand
It’s like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
Like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on!
You don’t understand that I won’t shake
You don’t realize that I won’t break
‘cause I could be so strong
For you, my love
We can live it once again
So you know my story
Well I’ll tell you a secret
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
Like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
Yesterday is history
It’s there for all the world to see
Like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
Like a memory that will last
Like a postcard from the past
My future seems wide open
And tomorrow’s never broken
So come on!
@victorcarboiii8053
I grew up with Billy Idol in my teen years...It's amazing, he still sounds terrific and this music off this album is amazing
@kArtoffelkooperative
me too 😊
@user-xz8pu8sq2n
Ты не один.😊
@sfchase
Been a fan of Billy since his Gen X years....Saw him in 84, and 87. His music stands the test of time.
@aliensinarea51
Saw him Saturday night at the House of Blues. Not only his music stands the test of time!
@kArtoffelkooperative
<3
@Rebecca-dy5db
Must of been a cool show ! Sad thing I Only wish I seen him back then 🥰
@elizabethstranger3461
The more I listen to this album, the more I think it is Billy Idols best work. It is so real, soul bearing, and lets be honest it f'ing rocks!
@izzy_6283
Lets just hope it's not his last! I never want him to retire or die- but both are inevitable. I've loved Billy for 40 years, he truly is a gem!
@shelbyvillemusica
Siiiiii