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).

Shock To The System
Billy Idol Lyrics

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Whoa yeah
It was a night, L.A., burning bright
Oh what a night
Say yeah,come on
It makes my world stand still
Ah riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah
Here come the fire, and my world burns still
You say yeah

Well, you can rock this land baby you

[Chorus]
Like a shock to the system
I feel good, well alright
Like a shock to the system

Say yeah, ain't it irie

It was a night
Hell of a night, L.A., it really was
Oh what a riot
I said yeah, come on
It makes my life feel real
Fear police and civil corruption oh yeah
Is there a man who would be king
And the world stood still
Ah yeah loud

You can rock this land baby
Yeah

[Chorus]

I said yeah, come on baby
Shock to the system
Feel good, well alright
Like a shock, shock to the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Come on baby

Yeah, well you can rock this land baby

[Chorus]

I say yeah
Ain't it irie

Shock to the system
It feel good, well alright
Like a shock to the system
I say yeah
I say yeah
I say yeah, come on baby

Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system
Loud I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system
Yeah I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system
Yeah I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system
You could be king
Or I could be king
Yeah well
You could be king
Or I could be king
Well I gotta
You could be king
Say it louder
The world still burns
You could be king
I could be king
Yeah well
You could be king
Say it louder
I could be king
You could be king

Say it louder
The world still burns

Overall Meaning

The song "Shock to the System" by Billy Idol is an ode to the chaos and excitement that can be found in the city of Los Angeles. The lyrics describe a night in L.A. that is filled with riots, race conflicts, corruption, and general unrest, but for the singer, it's a thrilling experience that makes him feel alive. He compares this night to a shock to the system, something that jolts him out of his mundane existence and gives him a new perspective on the world.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "like a shock to the system," emphasizing the transformative power of this experience. The singer feels good and is energized by the chaos around him. He even seems to suggest that this upheaval might lead to a new king, someone who can lead the people out of the darkness and into a better future. Overall, the song celebrates the wilder side of life and encourages listeners to embrace the excitement that can be found in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Whoa yeah
Billy Idol is expressing his excitement about the events he is about to describe in the song.

It was a night, L.A., burning bright
The song is about a very exciting and chaotic night in Los Angeles that he wants to describe in detail.

Oh what a night
Billy Idol is emphasizing the excitement and chaos of the night he is describing.

Say yeah,come on
Billy Idol is inviting the listener to join him in reliving the events of this night.

It makes my world stand still
Despite the chaos of the night described, Billy Idol finds it so exciting that he wants to savor every moment and make his world stand still in that moment.

Ah riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah
Billy Idol is listing some of the chaotic and violent events that took place that night: riots, protests, and crimes.

Here come the fire, and my world burns still
Despite the danger and violence, Billy Idol still feels excited and alive.

You say yeah
Billy Idol is encouraging the listener to join him in acknowledging the excitement and danger of the night.

Well, you can rock this land baby you
Billy Idol believes that the excitement of this night is something that can inspire and motivate people to take action and make a difference in the world.

Like a shock to the system
The night described has such an impact that it feels like a jolt or a shock to the system.

I feel good, well alright
Despite the chaos and danger of the night, Billy Idol feels energized and alive.

Say yeah, ain't it irie
Billy Idol is acknowledging that the night was not all positive and that there were negative and dangerous aspects to it as well.

Fear police and civil corruption oh yeah
Billy Idol is acknowledging that there were serious problems with law enforcement and the government that led to some of the chaos and violence described earlier in the song.

Is there a man who would be king
Billy Idol is questioning the idea of strong leadership and whether it can ever truly solve the problems that lead to chaos and violence.

And the world stood still
The events of the night were so powerful that they left a lasting impact on society and the people who participated in them.

Ah yeah loud
Billy Idol is emphasizing the loud and chaotic nature of the events that he is describing in the song.

I said yeah, come on baby
Billy Idol is once again encouraging the listener to join him in reliving the excitement of the night described in the song.

Shock to the system
The events of the night were so powerful that they felt like a physical shock or jolt to people's systems.

Feel good, well alright
Despite the danger and chaos, Billy Idol finds the events of this night to be energizing and inspiring.

I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Billy Idol is once again emphasizing the excitement and energy of the events he is describing in the song.

Shock to the, shock to the
Billy Idol is again emphasizing the physical shock and impact of the events he is describing in the song.

You could be king
Billy Idol is questioning the idea of strong leadership and whether it can ever truly solve the problems that lead to chaos and violence.

Or I could be king
Billy Idol is suggesting that anyone has the potential to be a leader and make a difference in the world.

The world still burns
Despite the excitement and chaos of the night, the underlying problems and conflicts that led to it are still present and have not been resolved.

Say it louder
Billy Idol is encouraging people to speak up and take action to address the issues that led to the chaos and violence of the night described in the song.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK YOUNGER-SMITH, BILLY IDOL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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