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).

World's Forgotten Boy
Billy Idol Lyrics

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My road is long, it lingers on.
You stare at me and I'm holding on.
My eyes are dim, my breath is weak
And tears stain my cheeks.
Up there so high where the air is so thin,
You look for signs. Am I giving in?
All for me you bring crashing down,
And still you condemn me.

Oh no no shame. All my life I'll not betray.
I'll not shed one tear for all my life,
For ever more, for ever more.

Sound towers will crumble down,
I see everything is broken down.
His heart is breaking and recorded in sound.
We need a miracle joy, we need a miracle boy,
A rock and roll toy, a rock and roll joy,
A rock and roll boy!

Now I know what's up for game.
What's up for grabs, what's down again.
See all for me is crashing down,
The end of everything, every decent human being.
Oh no no shame. All my life I'll not betray.
I'll shed all my fears all my life,
For ever more, for ever more.

Sound towers will crumble down, Yeah
Well, everything will be broke down.
See, his heart is breaking and recorded in sound.
We need a miracle joy, we need a rock and roll boy,
I need a rock and roll joy, a rock and roll toy,
A rock and roll boy!

The road is long and it lingers on.
But my eyes are dim, my breath is weak
And tears stain my filthy cheeks.

Sound towers will crumble down,
I see everything is broken down.
Well my heart is breaking and recorded in sound.
I need a miracle joy, I need a miracle now,
That rock and roll boy!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah, I'm hangin' on a miracle tree,

Yeah, hangin' like a noose for you and me.
Yeah! Said yeah! Right now!

Overall Meaning

The song "World's Forgotten Boy" by Billy Idol is a poignant and emotional representation of a person struggling with their inner demons and longing for a way to escape the pain and emotional turmoil that they are experiencing. The song opens with the singer describing the length and difficulty of their journey, how they are struggling to hold on to their sanity, and how they are constantly plagued by tears and weak breath. The lyrics then transition to talk about the singer's relationship with their loved ones, how they feel misunderstood, and how their loved ones are condemning them despite everything.

The song moves on to describe the singer's fear and anxiety about the world around them. They describe the crumbling of sound towers and how everything is breaking apart, and they long for a miracle joy, a rock and roll joy, and a rock and roll toy to help ease their pain. The singer then realizes that their journey is far from over, and they will need to continue to hold on for as long as necessary.

Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the toll that emotional pain can take on a person and the need for hope and joy in order to heal. The lyrics are raw, honest, and full of emotion, and they truly speak to the experience of those who are struggling with their own inner demons.

Line by Line Meaning

My road is long, it lingers on.
The journey towards my goals is difficult and continues endlessly.

You stare at me and I'm holding on.
Despite people watching me and questioning my every move, I am determined not to give up.

My eyes are dim, my breath is weak And tears stain my cheeks.
I am exhausted and disheartened, as evidenced by my physical state of tiredness, tears, and heavy breathing.

Up there so high where the air is so thin, You look for signs. Am I giving in?
People expect me to fail, and they are searching for signs of defeat in my actions.

All for me you bring crashing down, And still you condemn me.
People blame me for their failures and refuse to acknowledge their own mistakes.

Oh no no shame. All my life I'll not betray. I'll not shed one tear for all my life, For ever more, for ever more.
I won't be ashamed of what I stand for, and I won't let others make me cry or change who I am.

Sound towers will crumble down, I see everything is broken down. His heart is breaking and recorded in sound.
The world as we know it will fall apart, and people's emotions will be felt and heard everywhere.

We need a miracle joy, we need a miracle boy, A rock and roll toy, a rock and roll joy, A rock and roll boy!
We need something extraordinary, like a miracle, to bring us hope and joy, and music can provide that for us.

Now I know what's up for game. What's up for grabs, what's down again.
I understand the stakes are high, and winning or losing is not guaranteed.

See all for me is crashing down, The end of everything, every decent human being.
I feel like everything I work for is falling apart, and it will ultimately lead to the end of morality and goodness.

Oh no no shame. All my life I'll not betray. I'll shed all my fears all my life, For ever more, for ever more.
I will never sell out my principles, and I'll try to overcome my fears forever.

Yeah, I'm hangin' on a miracle tree, Yeah, hangin' like a noose for you and me. Said yeah! Right now!
I'm desperately holding on to hope, which is thin and fragile, for myself and others, and I won't give up.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY IDOL, STEVE STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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