‘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.
Kentucky bourbon and the Rolling Stones inspired the title of Idol’s 1983 anthemic hit ‘Rebel Yell,’ the title track from his second album. While at an event at Ronnie Wood‘s place in New York City, Idol witnessed the Stones’ guitarist along with singer Mick Jagger taking swigs right from an old Rebel Yell bottle of whiskey. At that moment, Idol had the title for a song, and just wrote the lyrics around it.
Idol wrote this song with his guitarist, Steve Stevens, who came up with some unique sounds on the track. The ray-gun effect on the solo he created using a Lexicon PCM 41 digital delay processor, but he later figured out a way to get a more distinctive sound using an actual ray-gun. By tweaking a toy ray-gun, he was able to hold it to his pickups and generate these strange sounds. His "ray gun guitar" became one of the most popular spots of a Billy Idol concert.
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.
Label – Chrysalis
Songwriters – Billy Idol, Steve Stevens
Producer – Keith Forsey
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]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
[Chorus]
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"
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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"
[Bridge]
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
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
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"
[Outro]
Ooh yeah, little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Ooh yeah, little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more