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).
Yellin' at the Xmas Tree
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here in London town
Seasons snow was falling on the ground
All the friends and family
Here on Christmas Eve
Gather round to dress
The Christmas tree
But daddy's down at the pub
Probably won't come home
Until next year
[Chorus:]
Oh the Christmas bells are ringing
And the carolers are singing
But Daddy, he don't hear em
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
Santa's balls are jingling
Mommy's hips a-wiggling
But Daddy, he don't hear em
He's yelling, he's yelling
At the Christmas tree
All right now yeah
Uncle is a sports fan
Granny likes a joke
But no one laughs when
Daddy's stumbles home
But he don't fall asleep
What! The night was getting black
You see, oh God,
Dad had too much Jack
Oh Lord!
Every year is the same old thing
Like Rudolph's red nose
Telling this story will never get old
Well alright now yeah
Well alright now
Yelling at the Christmas tree
Santa came down the chimney
But then he ran upstairs
Jumped in bed with Mommy
She didn't care
Across the room went the fruitcakes
Ah, the wreath came off the door
If these are holidays I can take no more
Every year it's the same old thing
Like Rudolph's red nose
Hearing this story will never get old
Santa's balls are jingling
Mommy's hips a-wiggling
But Daddy, he don't hear em
He's yelling
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
Well alright now yeah
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
He's sleeping it the Christmas tree
The Billy Idol song "Yellin' At The Xmas Tree" tells the story of a dysfunctional family gathering on Christmas Eve in London. While everyone is enjoying the festivities, decorating the Christmas tree, singing carols, and waiting for Santa, the father of the family is drunk and absent, yelling at the Christmas tree. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the chaos and tension that can accompany family gatherings during the holidays. Even though the song is played in a humorous tone, it describes a sad reality for many families.
The first verse of the song sets the scene by describing a snowy London town, where a small boy is eagerly waiting for his family's Christmas Eve gathering. However, the father of the family is not present, and the child's anticipation turns into disappointment. The second verse highlights the dysfunctional relationship between the mother, father, and other family members. The father arrives home drunk, causes a commotion by yelling at the Christmas tree, and creates tension and discomfort among the other guests.
Throughout the song, Billy Idol emphasizes the irony of the situation, where everyone else is trying to enjoy the holiday spirit, but the father is resistant and confrontational. As the song progresses, the situation deteriorates, with Santa sneaking in to have an affair with the mother, leading to the destruction of holiday decorations.
Overall, "Yellin' At The Xmas Tree" is a satirical commentary on how Christmas traditions can often be overshadowed by family issues and conflicts. It highlights the importance of maintaining healthy relationships and avoiding the destructive behaviors that can ruin the holiday spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a small boy
I remember being a young child
Here in London town
I grew up in London
Seasons snow was falling on the ground
It was wintertime and snowing outside
All the friends and family
Everyone I knew and loved
Here on Christmas Eve
Gathered together the night before Christmas
Gather round to dress
Decorate and prepare
The Christmas tree
The festive centrepiece
But daddy's down at the pub
My dad is at the local bar
Full of Christmas cheer
Drunk and festive
Probably won't come home
He likely won't return
Until next year
Until the following year's Christmas celebrations
Oh the Christmas bells are ringing
The sound of the festive bells can be heard
And the carolers are singing
People are carolling and spreading festive cheer
But Daddy, he don't hear em
My dad is too distracted to notice
He's yelling at the Christmas tree
He is shouting at an inanimate object
Santa's balls are jingling
The sound of Santa's bells can be heard
Mommy's hips a-wiggling
My mom is dancing
He's yelling, he's yelling
He keeps shouting
Uncle is a sports fan
My uncle likes sports
Granny likes a joke
My grandma enjoys a laugh
But no one laughs when
However, nobody finds it funny when
Daddy's stumbles home
My dad returns home drunk
But he don't fall asleep What!
He is still conscious, surprisingly
The night was getting black
It was getting very late
You see, oh God, Dad had too much Jack
My dad drank too much bourbon
Every year is the same old thing
This happens every year
Like Rudolph's red nose
Like Rudolph's distinguishing red nose
Telling this story will never get old
Recounting this experience will always remain fresh
Santa came down the chimney
The festive figure of Santa Claus entered the house
But then he ran upstairs
He went to the upper level of the house
Jumped in bed with Mommy
He got into bed with my mom
She didn't care
She was unperturbed
Across the room went the fruitcakes
The fruitcakes were flung across the room
Ah, the wreath came off the door
The wreath fell off the door
If these are holidays I can take no more
If this is what holidays entail, I cannot tolerate them
He's sleeping it the Christmas tree
My dad is passed out next to the festive tree
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL, BRIAN T TICHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Venus Diane Luna
on Mother Dawn
Super Sexy!!!!