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).

Shakin' All Over
Billy Idol Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I feel, you're right up close to me
That's when I get, shakes all over me
Quivers from your backbone
Well, shakin' from the kneebone
Yeah, shakin' from the sidebone
Shakin' all over

I went to the doctors just the other day

Yeah, I'm about to tell you what the man has to say
Quivers from your backbone
Well, shakin' from the kneebone
Yeah, shakin' from the sidebone
I'm shakin' all over

I'm havin' a, nervous breakdown, yeah
A metal shakedown, yeah

When I feel, you're right up close to me
That's when I get, shakes all over me
Quivers from your backbone
Yeah, shakin' from the kneebone

Yeah, shakin' from the sidebone
I'm shakin' all over

Overall Meaning

In Billy Idol's song Shakin' All Over, the singer experiences trembling and shaking all over their body when they are near the person they desire. They describe the shaking starting from the backbone, kneebone, and sidebone. The repetition of the shaking from different parts of the body emphasizes the overwhelming physical response to the attraction. The singer explains that they even went to the doctor to explain their symptoms. It's not clear if the shaking is a physical reaction to desire or if it's an emotional response to being near someone they love. Even though the singer describes a nervous breakdown and a metal shakedown, the song remains relatively light and playful.

Line by Line Meaning

When I feel, you're right up close to me
Whenever you're close to me, my body starts to react

That's when I get, shakes all over me
I start to shake uncontrollably

Quivers from your backbone
I feel shudders going up my spine

Well, shakin' from the kneebone
My knees start to shake vigorously

Yeah, shakin' from the sidebone
I feel trembling sensations all over my body

Shakin' all over
The shaking is happening all over my body

I went to the doctors just the other day
Recently, I visited a doctor

Yeah, I'm about to tell you what the man has to say
I'll inform you about the doctor's diagnosis

I'm havin' a, nervous breakdown, yeah
The doctor says I'm experiencing a state of extreme mental distress

A metal shakedown, yeah
It feels like my body is going through a violent and forceful shaking

Contributed by Ian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.