The blatantly image conscious group soon secured management, fired their first drummer, and auditioned over 50 drummers before settling on Mark Laff of Subway Sect. They were photogenic and signed a worldwide long term deal to Chrysalis (also home of Blondie) and had popsmith Phil Wainman, producer of The Bay City Rollers and Sweet mix their debut album. In September 1977 they became the first punk group to "sell out" and lip synch their debut single Your Generation on TV's Tops of The Pops, and also that month performed on Marc Bolan's TV show just days before the T-Rex frontman's death. Generation X also appeared in films like DOA and in Don Letts' Punk Movie.
In October of 1978, recordings for a second Generation X album produced by Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople followed, the resulting Valley Of The Dolls hitting the streets in 1979. Guitarist Bob Dagwood Anderson eventually quit the lineup after completing a Japanese tour and the recordings for a third album in 1979.(The final Derwood lineup LP actually doesn't resurface for almost 20 years until 1998, and was finally released on an indie against Idol's wishes as Sweet Revenge).
After a troubling two year period of uncertainty due to legal and financial battles with manager Stewart Joseph, Billy Idol and Tony James re-recruited & re-christened for their re-dubbed Gen X project. Friends, foes, pros and fellow fools then convened and attempted to get another record out. Outside the core Idol/James duo, studio collaborators like ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes, Chelsea guitarist James Stevenson, Steve New of Rich Kids, Danny Kustow of Tom Robinson Band, as well as John McGeogh later of Siouxsie & the Banshees.
With renewed spirit and producer Keith Forsey at the helm, Gen X would go on to release one more LP Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. After neither the album nor the singles "Dancing With Myself" and "Kiss Me Deadly" took the charts, the band broke up. Idol joined up with NYC based Kiss manager Bill Aucion, re-releasing "Dancing with Myself" and the rest, as they say, is history.
A one off Generation X reunion occurred in 1993 at London's Astoria. Hopes for future reunions have popped up infrequently, but, with the band members ensconced in their own projects, prospects have seemed unlikely.The group's music remains popular among punk rock, new wave, and power pop revivalists in the U.K. and elsewhere, with a cult following lasting into the new millennium.
Dancing With Myself
Generation X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or down in London town to go, go
With the record selection
And the mirror's reflection
I'm dancing with myself
When there's no-one else in sight
In the crowded lonely night
For my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (oh-oh-oh)
When there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove (ohh, oh)
Well, I'll be dancing with myself
Oh-oh-oh-oh (oh-oh-oh)
If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (oh-oh-oh)
When there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove (ohh, oh)
Well, I'll be dancing with myself
Oh-oh-oh-oh (oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (ohh, oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa (oh-oh-oh)
(Ta)
(Ta)
(Ta)
(Ta)
(Ta)
(Ta)
(Ta)
Well, if I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh-oh, dancing with myself
Oh-oh, dancing with myself
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance, ow
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Dancing with myself (oh, my hair's all wet)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (and I'm sweating)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (and I'll sweat, sweat, sweat)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, ohh)
Oh-oh, dancing with myself
Whoa
Oh-oh, dancing with myself
Oh-oh-oh
With myself
Oh-oh-oh
With myself
The lyrics of Dancing With Myself by Generation X talk about the fun and exhilaration of dancing alone while surrounded by people, which is a common feeling for many introverts. The song describes how the singer's dancing is independent of others and relies solely on the record selection and his mirror's reflection. The lyrics talk about waiting for the "love vibration" despite being alone in a crowded, lonely night. The chorus states that he's dancing with himself, with nothing to lose or prove.
The singer seems to be obsessively searching for someone to dance with, but everyone seems to ignore him, which leaves him dancing alone. The song captures the feeling of loneliness but also celebrates the freedom and joy of dancing with oneself, without the need for validation or approval from others. The lyrics also suggest that drinking alcohol gives the singer time to think and celebrate his own company. The song ends with a repetition of "dancing with myself" and the chorus, which reinforces the feeling of individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
On the floors of Tokyo
I am in Tokyo, dancing alone on the dance floor.
Or down in London town to go, go
I may also find myself in London, dancing alone with no partner.
With the record selection
I am selecting the music myself.
And the mirror's reflection
I am dancing in front of a mirror and watching myself while I dance.
I'm dancing with myself
I am dancing alone, without a partner.
When there's no-one else in sight
I am alone on the dance floor, with nobody else around.
In the crowded lonely night
I am dancing alone in the middle of a crowded room, feeling lonely.
Well, I wait so long
I have been waiting for a long time.
For my love vibration
I am waiting for the feeling of love, but cannot find it on the dance floor.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (oh-oh-oh)
I am still dancing alone and feeling lost.
When there's nothing to lose
I am not afraid to be myself, even if I am dancing alone.
And there's nothing to prove (ohh, oh)
I am not trying to prove anything to anyone while I am dancing.
If I looked all over the world
I have searched for love all over the world, but have not found it yet.
And there's every type of girl
I have seen all types of girls, but have not found the right one for me.
But your empty eyes
I have met girls with empty, lifeless eyes who do not interest me.
Seem to pass me by
These uninteresting girls do not pay me any attention, and they do not want to dance with me either.
Leave me dancing with myself
I am left alone again on the dance floor, with nobody to dance with but myself.
So let's sink another drink
I will drown my sorrows with alcohol and continue dancing.
'Cause it'll give me time to think
Drinking will give me time to reflect on why I am still dancing alone.
If I had the chance
If the opportunity presented itself ...
I'd ask the world to dance
... I would dance with the whole world, searching for love.
Dancing with myself (oh, my hair's all wet)
I am sweating profusely while dancing alone.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (and I'm sweating)
I am still sweating and dancing alone.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (and I'll sweat, sweat, sweat)
I will continue to sweat while I dance alone and feel lonely.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat)
Sweating is a constant part of my experience while I am dancing alone.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat)
I sweat more and more while continuing to dance alone.
Oh-oh, dancing with myself (sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat, ohh)
I am dancing alone and sweating heavily, feeling lost and lonely.
With myself
I am still dancing alone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Idol, Tony James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind