In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Last night a little dancer came dancin' to my door
Last night a little angel came pumpin' on my floor
She said, "Come on baby I 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", oh
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
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", oh
In the midnight hour babe more, more, more
With a rebel yell more, more, more
He lives in his own Heaven
Collects it to go from the 7-11
Well he's out all night to collect a fare
Just as long, just as long it don't mess up his hair
Whoa, oh
I walked the world with you, babe (babe)
A thousand miles with you (with you)
I dried your tears of pain (pain), babe (babe)
A million times for you (for you)
I'd sell my soul (soul) for you babe (babe)
For money to burn (burn) with you (with you)
I'd give you all, and have none, babe (babe)
Justa, justa, justa, justa, to have you here by me (here by me)
Because
In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried, "More, more, more", oh
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
Last night a little angel came pumpin' on my floor
She said, "Come on baby I 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", oh
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
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", oh
In the midnight hour babe more, more, more
With a rebel yell more, more, more
He lives in his own Heaven
Collects it to go from the 7-11
Well he's out all night to collect a fare
Just as long, just as long it don't mess up his hair
Whoa, oh
I walked the world with you, babe (babe)
A thousand miles with you (with you)
I dried your tears of pain (pain), babe (babe)
A million times for you (for you)
I'd sell my soul (soul) for you babe (babe)
For money to burn (burn) with you (with you)
I'd give you all, and have none, babe (babe)
Justa, justa, justa, justa, to have you here by me (here by me)
Because
In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried, "More, more, more", oh
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
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by jayellen10
Rebel Yell Lyrics as written by Steve Stevens Billy Idol
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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A local radio DJ in Tampa noted that 'only Billy Idol would write a song about Bourbon'. I'm not sure where he learned this info from, but there is a Bourbon brand named "Rebel Yell". This is a quote from the Rebel Yell bourbon page:
"Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones was once known to be an avid drinker of Rebel Yell. In fact, Billy Idol has said in his episode of VH1 Storytellers that his hit "Rebel Yell" was inspired upon joining Richards, Mick Jagger and Ron Wood in taking swigs from a bottle of Rebel Yell at a gathering they all attended. He liked the sound of the brand name, and said he recalled that he actually asked if they (Jagger and Richards) had no objections to his use of the brand name for a future song title. "I've got it now . . . little did they know."
While you can contort almost anything have it mean something about sex, the lyrics line up very well with the song being about loving the "Rebel Yell" brand of bourbon.
You know he actually talked about some of the lyrics in Rebel Yell in a 1984 interview: [I added the link below] where he speaking of this part of the song:
She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg But when I'm tired and lonely she sees me to bed
And he is talking about the USA, that when he came from England, the USA caught him and got him back on his feet. All you people that think the man has no depth to him, should perhaps before you judge other people, take a good hard long look in the mirror and see how deep you truly are. Everyone has a depth, and view, that none but that person completely understands. I am not judging mind, I am just saying, that before you speak of the splinter in another's eye, take a look at the beam in your own.
Back in 1984 he was some 20 odd years old, and already thinking in such terms. it just shows that you can't judge a book by its cover.
youtube.com/watch
the link of the song for your convenience, and the Keith Richard story is also true. He spoke of it, in his book, Dancing with himself.
Who the hell can write something WHILE getting a blowjob!?!?! Totally a SEX song. She can't say more more more with her mouth full. duh.
i like this song and i have no idea why the hell i find it so cool
Sigh! This song is about his love between the queen of the south, or who some might to call the devil. She cries more rebellion, more sin, more death. My free teaser to you. And for whoever said this song doesn't have depth, is a shallow mind.
From Billy Idol's autobiography, Dancing With Myself:
"One day, [Rolling Stones guitarist] Ronnie Wood invited us to a birthday party at the brownstone. I forget whether it was for him or one of the other Stones, but I soon found myself standing with and talking to Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Wood, noting each had a bottle of booze in his hands. As the bottle moved towards their lips, I followed its path and saw it had a Confederate cavalry officer dressed in gray riding a horse on the label. Above this figure was the name REBEL YELL. I had been interested in the American Civil War ever since I'd visited Gettysburg when I was five.
Gazing at the three guzzling Stones, I asked them if they had the bottle custom-made. 'It's a Southern mash bourbon,' they answered.
'And it's called "Rebel Yell"?' I asked. 'Do you think you'd ever use that as a song title?' I tried to convince tem it wasn't quite as iconic for them as 'Jumping Jack Flash' or 'Gimme Shelter', and they shook their heads and said they wouldn't use it. 'Great,' I said. 'Because I might just use that title for a song, and maybe even call my next album that.'
[...] I decided to make 'Rebel Yell' a cry of love instead of the battlefield, as I had no intention of singing about the Civil War. After all, ladies are the most powerful creatures in this world, and this would be an anthem to love between a man and a woman. I thought about Perri and started to sing."
best Billy Idol song of all time :)
its a nice story, wish it happend to me. and yes it is the best song, a good second is tomorrow people i think.
This seems like yet another Billy Idol song about having a sex with some totally awesome babe that he remembers. Seems like most of his babes fall into the "little" or "barely legal" category - seems to be his thing.
There is another interesting these lyrics that seem to be in common with some of his other songs. He often talks about how he will give it all up for that woman who blows his world away with great sex. Seems to be so true with so many guys too.