Billy Idol – Rebel Yell

About The Song

“Rebel Yell” is a song by English-American rock musician Billy Idol. It is the title track of his second album Rebel Yell (1983), and was released as the album’s lead single in January 1984 by Chrysalis Records. Initially, it only reached No. 62 in the UK and No. 46 in the US upon its release. However, a 1985 re-issue proved to be a big hit, peaking at no. 6 in the UK. The song received wide critical acclaim and in 2009 was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 based on a public vote.

At a televised performance of VH1 Storytellers, Idol said that he had attended an event where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones were taking swigs from a bottle of “Rebel Yell” bourbon whiskey. He was not familiar with the brand, but he liked the name and decided to write the song.

The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. Stevens states that he was inspired by acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke’s style.

In 1984, music magazine Cash Box wrote that the song “combines the tough swagger and high-powered drive of ‘White Wedding’ with the decadent dance focus of ‘Dancing With Myself.'”

The song was also adopted by English Association football club Worthing FC as an unofficial anthem. Idol went to secondary school in the town of Worthing, with one of Worthing FC’s nicknames also being “the Rebels”, prompting the decision to affiliate.

Video

Lyrics

Last night, a little dancer a-came dancin’ to my door
Last night, a little angel came pumpin’ on my floor
She said, “A-come, baby, you got a license for love
And if it expires, pray help from above”
Because

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell, she cried more, more, more, wow
In the midnight hour, babe, more, more, more
With a rebel yell, more, more, more
More, more, more

She don’t like slavery, she won’t sit and beg
But when I’m tired and lonely, she sees me to bed
A-what set you free and brought you to me, babe?
What set you free? I need you here by me
Because

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell, she cried more, more, more, wow
In the midnight hour, babe, more, more, more
With a rebel yell, more, more, more

A-he lives in a-his own heaven
Collects it to go from the 7-Eleven
Well, he’s out all night to collect a fare
A-just so long, just so long it don’t mess up his hair
Whoa, ah

I walked the world for you, babe
A thousand miles with you
I dried your tears of pain, babe
A million times for you
I’d sell my soul for you, babe
For money to burn for you
I’d give you all and have none, babe
Just to, just to, just to, a-just to, to have you here by me
Because

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more
With a rebel yell, she cried more, more, more, wow
In the midnight hour, babe, more, more, more
With a rebel yell, she cried more, more, more
More, more, more

Ooh yeah, little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Ooh yeah, little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more