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).

Ready Steady Go
Billy Idol Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ready, Steady, Go
I'm not in love with television
I'm not in love with the radio
I'm not in love with the Kings Road
Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous

Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

I'm not in love with Juke Box Jury
I'm not in love with thank you Jucky stars
I'm not in love with T'T'T'Twiggy
Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

I'm still in love with the Beatles
I was in love with the Stones, no satisfaction
I was in love with Bobby Dylan
Because I'm in love with Rock'n'Roll

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

Ready steady go!
Go! Go! Go!
Ready steady go!
Ready steady Who

Ready steady Stone
Go! Go Go Go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Idol's song "Ready Steady Go" are an ode to a woman who has captured the singer's heart - Cathy McGowan. The entire song is a list of things that the singer is not in love with, including television, radio, Juke Box Jury, Twiggy (a popular model of the era), and even music stars like the Stones and Bob Dylan. What the singer is in love with is Cathy McGowan and her words, which the chorus repeats over and over again: "Ready steady go - all things she said, Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous."

The phrase "ready steady go" appears to be a nod to the popular British TV show of the same name, which aired from 1963 to 1966 and was hosted by Cathy McGowan herself. The show was a pop music and youth culture program that helped launch the careers of many famous musicians, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The lyrics of the song convey the excitement and energy of the era, with their references to rock and roll, and the feeling that anything was possible.

The song is also notable for its use of repetition - the phrases "ready steady go" and "all things she said" are repeated multiple times throughout the song, creating a hypnotic and catchy effect. Overall, "Ready Steady Go" is a lively and upbeat tribute to the joys of youth culture and the power of love.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not in love with television
I don't have a deep passion for television

I'm not in love with the radio
I'm not deeply infatuated with the radio

I'm not in love with the Kings Road
I don't hold a strong affection towards the Kings Road

Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said
However, my heart belongs to Cathy McGowan who said

Ready steady go - all things she said
I am reminded of Cathy McGowan's words, and I am ready to act

Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
The call to action is exciting, and I'm ready to act

I'm not in love with Juke Box Jury
My heart doesn't hold Juke Box Jury in high regard

I'm not in love with thank you Jucky stars
I don't have a great love for Jucky stars, thank you very much

I'm not in love with T'T'T'Twiggy
I am not enamored with T'T'T'Twiggy

Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said
My heart is firmly affixed on Cathy McGowan, who once said

I'm still in love with the Beatles
I am still deeply in love with the Beatles

I was in love with the Stones, no satisfaction
I was also previously very passionate about the Stones but not anymore since I couldn't attain satisfaction.

I was in love with Bobby Dylan
I had previously been deeply in love with Bobby Dylan

Because I'm in love with Rock'n'Roll
My passion still burns for rock'n'roll music

Ready steady go!
I'm primed and ready for action

Go! Go! Go!
I'm filled with excitement and eagerness, urging myself to move forward

Ready steady go!
I'm ready to move with power and speed

Ready steady Who
I'm prepared and focused on 'Who'

Ready steady Stone
I'm ready to move with purpose and direction towards 'Stone'

Go! Go Go Go
I'm energized and motivated to move forward at a rapid pace

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY IDOL, TONY JAMES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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