Billy Idol: Cyberpunk

Billy Idol released an album called "Cyberpunk" in late 1993. It garnered some media attention, and has been blamed to be just commercialization of the term 'cyberpunk'.

Album review by Danny Brooks.

Buy this Album!

Songs and Lyrics

Tracks:

Wasteland
Shock to the System
Tomorrow People
Adam in Chains
Neuromancer
Power Junkie
Love Labours On
Heroin
Shangrila
Concrete Kingdom
Venus
Then the Night Comes
Mother Dawn
Speed

Cyberpunk
By Billy Idol

WASTELAND

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

Out into the wasteland

religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion at all

No religion

Emissionary man amongst the heathen

Can't you see a modern primitive

I came back, I'm gonna find,

I'm gonna give religion

When there was, no religion at all

I'm

outta the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion at all

I'm outta the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion, no religion at all

There's

a man in need of resurrection

(No religion)

Can't you see a modern primitive

(No religion)

But I'm a man I need my love and

freedom (No religion)

When there was no freedom at all

I'm

outta the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion at all

I'm outta the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion, no religion at all

religion

No religion at all

No religion

No religion at all

In VR

land

The future of fun

Tell me what to do

In VR law

Computer crime

Um, so sublime

A fantasy scene

In my machine

Give me secret of life

Let me know, yeah, what I am

And you know that I could get

Outta

the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion at all

I'm outta the wasteland

I'm into this head man

I'm outta the wasteland

No religion, no religion at all

I'm outta the wasteland

So far from the the deadland

Ow, I'm outta the wasteland

No religion, no religion yeah

I'm outta the wasteland

So far from the the deadland

Yeah, I'm outta the wasteland

No religion, no religion at all

religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion

No religion, no religion at all

No religion at all

No religion

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

Woah yeah

It was a night, L.A., burning bright

Oh what a night

Say yeah,come on

It makes my world stand still

Ahh riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah

Here come the fire, and my world burns still

Yoww say yeah

Well,

you can rock this land baby yowww

Like a

shock to the system

I feel good, well alright

Like a shock to the system

Say yeah, ain't it irie

It was a

night

Hell of a night, L.A., it really was

Oh what a riot

I said yeah, come on

It makes my life feel real

Fear police and civil corruption oh yeah

Is there a man who would be king

And the world stood still

Ah yeah loud

You can

rock this land baby

Yeahhh

Like a

shock to the system

It feel good, well alright

Like a shock to the system

I said yeah, come on baby

Shock to the system

Feel good, well alright

Like a shock, shock to the system

I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah

Come on baby

Yeah,

well you can rock this land baby

Like a shock, shock to the system

It feel good, well alright

Like a shock to the system

I say yeah

Ain't it irie

Shock to

the system

It feel good, well alright

Like a shock to the system

I say yeah

I say yeah, come on baby

Shock to

the, shock to the

Shock to the system

Loud I gotta

Shock to the, shock to the

Shock to the system

Yeah I gotta

Shock to the, shock to the

Shock to the system

Yeah I gotta

Shock to the, shock to the

Shock to the system

You could be king

[laugh]

Or I could be king

Yeah well

You could be king

Or I could be king

Well I gotta

You could be king

Say it louder

The world still burns

You could be king

I could be king

Yeah well

You could be king

Say it louder

I could be king

You could be king

Say it louder

The world still burns

TOMORROW PEOPLE

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

A time warp scene

A cy-fi story

A dirt coloured love

Hey hope for glory

I like to fight,

I kill global oppression

If I quit, no hope of redemption

Blue

eyes crying in the rain

For how long

Tomorrow people

I laugh tomorrow gone

For how long

Tomorrow people

Well you

know I'm free on arrival

Left behind my babe, by guilt of survival

I don't know where I'm runnin' to

I lost my love, lost my hold,

I lost my heaven too

Blue

eyes crying in the rain

For how long

Tomorrow people

I laugh tomorrow gone

For how long

Tomorrow people

Blue

eyes crying in the rain

For how long

Tomorrow people

I laugh tomorrow gone

For how long, soon come

Tomorrow people

Yah come on loud

Now my

life is truly misspent

I said

I'm here to tell you, to tell you

That I won't repent

World War III

Death pain

It's fate lets do it again

Tomorrow man

Tomorrow people

Tomorrow man

Tomorrow people

Tomorrow man

A time

warp scene

A ci-fy story (Tomorrow people)

A dirt coloured sky (Tomorrow people)

New hope for glory

I like

to fight

I kill global oppression

(Tomorrow people)

When I quit, new hope for redemption

(Tomorrow people)

Blue

eyes crying in the rain

Tomorrow people

I laugh tomorrow gone

Tomorrow people

ADAM IN CHAINS

words and music by: Billy Idol/Robin Hancock, 1993

Do you want to be hypnotized

All you have to do is move your body

In what ever way feels comfortable for you

Just let yourself sink into the groove

And move

Fix your eyes on a spot

It doesn't matter where

Just fix your eyes on on espot

And begin to relax

Feel your mind and body

Beginning to wind down

Wind down, wind down and relax

If you have any thoughts

Just let them drift through your mind

Like beautiful clouds

Across a clear blue sky

Just through your mind and away from you

Through your mind and away

As you relax

Deeper, deeper and deeper relax

Just let go of stress and tension

Let go of worry and doubt and relax

Imagine a staircase standing in front of you

With ten, wide, safe, stairs

Down, down to a perfect relaxation

Down to peace and contentment

Down towards the happiness that you deserve

And as I count down from ten

Take one step with each number

One step down

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Deeper, deeper, deeper relax

That's it just let go and relax

You've

stolen my heart it's true

You see the shape of things to come

Why give up our lives to the brutes and fools

Tear it all apart

You see the shape of things to come

Why? this now girl

Will we kill each other

Adam in chains

I want revenge

Like Adam in chains

I want revenge

Adam in chains

They've

broken your heart

Ah yeah, they're gonna tear your world apart

Why make up a lie

And believe it's true

Ah, tear it all apart

I know the shape of things to come

Why this now girl

Will we murder each other

Adam in chains

I want revenge

Like Adam in chains

I want revenge

Like Adam in chains

I want revenge

Want revenge

In the

mind of a madman

There are colour explosions

An eclipse of emotion

Why tear

our world apart

Why tear it all apart

Why tear our world apart girl

NEUROMANCER

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith/

Robin Hancock/Ace Mackay-Smith/Greg Stump, 1993

Age of destruction

Age of oblivion

Age of destruction

Age of oblivion

Discovered love,

In the rancid days of ruin

My body's sweatin' toxins,

Of my own demise

Only

from space, can you see

How much earth is burning

Smokin' out the innocense inside

The child

It's the

age of destruction

In a world of corruption

It's the age of destruction

And they hand us oblivion

Neuromancer and I'm trancing

I'm the Neuromancer--and I'm

trancing

Man

wallows in his insatiable greed

More in the answer that sweats

From desparate palms

Turn on the lies, the secrets,

Of our desolation,

Or be smothered, by the red hot core

It's the

age of destruction,

In a world of corruption

It's the age of destruction

And they hand us oblivion

The

neuromancer and I'm trancing

I'm the neuromancer and I'm trancing

I'm the neuromancer--I'm trancing

Trancing

and I'm trancing

Denied

love in the age of ruin

Suicide toxins of my own demise

In cyberspace, you know how much

The earth ain't learning

Smoking out the man, inside the

child--yeah

It's the

age of destruction

In a world of corruption

It's the age of destruction

And they hand us oblivion

The

neuromancer and I'm trancing

I'm the neuromancer and I'm trancing

Neuromancer--trancing

Neuromancer

Age of

destruction

Age of the neuromancer

Age of destruction

Age of oblivion

Age of destruction

Age of the neuromancer

POWER JUNKIE

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

I'm out of control

I think I'm goin' crazy

I'm out of my mind

You can see it in my eyes

I'm

lookin' for love

In all of your faces

I'm lookin' for love

I think I'm goin' crazy

I feel tonight

We're bought and sold

Ah yeah

Think I'll overload

I'm

talkin' about crazy

I'm talkin' about crazy

I'm a

mad man

I shook up the world

I'm a crazy man

Ain't that right

This ball of confusion

Too big for the both of us

Get out of my town tonight

I'm a mad man

I wanna shake up the world

I'm a crazy man

I'm goin' crazy

Suck on my love meat

Now suck on my steed

I gotta go crazy

If you know what I mean

I'm goin' crazy

I'm a mad man

Crazy

I'm

looking for you

Through all of these faces

Waiting so long

I think I'm going crazy

I'm

lookin' at you

Feel my direction

A yeah

No reason to survive

Yeah I'm talkin 'bout crazy

Ha ha ha think I'm gonna blow

I'm a

mad man

I shook up the world

I'm a crazy man

Ain't that right

This ball of confusion

Too big for the both of us

Get outta my town tonight

Haha

I'm a mad man

I wanna shake up the world

I'm a crazy man

I'm goin' crazy

Haha

Suck on

my love meat

Now suck on my steed

I gotta go crazy

If you know what I mean

I'm goin' crazy

I'm a mad man

I'm goin' crazy

Talk about crazy

I'm

looking for you

In all of these faces

I'm looking for you

I think I'm ging crazy

I'm lookin' for love

I'm out of my mind

Ah yeah I think I'm going crazy

I'm a

mad man

I shook up the world

I'm a crazy man

Ain't that right

This ball of confusion

Too big for the both of us

Get outta my town tonight

Yeah I'm

a mad man

I gotta shake up the world

I'm a crazy man

I'm goin' crazy

I'm a mad man

I'm goin' crazy

LOVE LABOURS

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

Back thru time, I know

You're calling me

For a saviour--I know

It's my destiny

So I'm gonna rise

Face the morning sun

Feel it

calling me,

Wanting me

Believes in me

Love

labours on

Love labours on

Back

thru time, I know

I'm a wanted man

Oh momma, I know

Gave me grace, not to lose

So I'm gonna get up--cleansed

Face the morning rain

I feel

it touching me,

Healing me

Believes in me

Love

labours on

Love labours on

Feel it

wanting me,

Knowing me,

Believe, yeah

Love

labours on

Love labours on

Ooh

Are you wanting,

I know cuz you're calling me, yeah

Are you needing,

Yeah cuz you need from me

Wanting

me,

Reaching me,

Wanting me,

Knowing me,

Believes in me.

Love

labours on

Love labours on

Labours on

Love labours on

HEROIN

Written by Lou Reed , "Jesus died...not mine"

used by permission

Of Linda Music Corporation, with grateful

thanks to Patti Smith.

Well I wish, I was born

A thousand years ago

And I wish that I sailed

The darkened sea

On a great big clipper ship

Goin' from this land into that

In a sailors suit and cap

Away from the big city -

Away from the big city

Where a

man cannot be free

Of all the evils in this town

And of himself and those around

And I'm closin' in on death

And I

guess that I just don't know

And I guess that I just don't know

Ah -

Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine

Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine

I don't

know just where I'm goin' Ahh

But I'm gonna try for the kingdom

if I can yeah

'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man

When I put a spike into my vein

And I tell you things aren't quite

the same

It's a mainline to my pain

Jesus

died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Jesus died for somebody's sins

(I can feel it)

But not mine HEROIN

I said, Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

I have

made a very big decision

I gonna try to nullify my life -

you know

I get so low and then the smack flows

I don't care I'm gonna make it my wife

Because when the blood begins to flow

And shoots up the droppers neck

And I'm closin' in on death

You can all go take a walk

And I

guess that I just don't know

And I guess that I just don't know

Jesus

died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Jesus died for somebody's sins

(I can feel it)

But not mine HEROIN

I said, Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

I said, Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN not mine,

HEROIN, smack attack

Jesus

died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Jesus died for somebody's sins

But not mine HEROIN

Smack attack

Don't

touch that needle

V.R. H E R O I N

V.R. HELL H E R O I N (forever)

And I'm closin' in on death

H E R O I N

SHANGRILA

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

I'm bathing in warm liquid colour

Feel every cell in my body is music

Floating in hyperspacial sound

Visualizing the landscapes of my mind

I'm opening the door to inner space

I'm feeling the vibrasound

We can

live forever

We can live forever

Strike that gong

We can live forever

Our love can live forever

In shangrila

Transform with inner guidance

To a place of peace and paradise

(Oh what a feeling)

Relax let your thoughts drift away

(Oh what a feeling)

Live in belief and harmony

(Chance of freedom)

We can

live forever

We can live forever

Stike that gong

We can live forever

Our love can live forever

In shangrila om

Access

your new state of mind

Dedication discipline

Searching the sensory science

Has resulted in shangrila

We can

live forever

(Forever & ever & ever)

We can live forever

Our love could live forever

In shangrila

We can live forever

(Forever & ever & ever)

We can live forever

Strike that gong

We can live forever

In shangrila om

A piece

of a dream

The color of green

The color of healing

In shangrila

Color of love

In shangrila

I feel the sacred healing chants

I feel

the moment

Of my death

I feel the higher learning

I feel the realization of forgiveness

Compassion and loving kindness

CONCRETE

KINGDOM

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

I hear cries tonight

Ain't no love

Ain't no life

I hear cries tonight

I hear, I hear

I hear cries tonight

I hear, I hear

Like all

of the best, We've been taken

Like all of the lost, we've been had

Pray God, kingdom come, deliver us,

Amen

All life, is it lost, have they won

Ain't no

love in a concrete kingdom,

Ain't much life

Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom,

I hear cries tonight

Ain't no love

Ain't no life

Ain't no right,

What's for my son

When all

of the good,

Have been taken

Where all of the lost,

Have gone

Ravaged, then raped, annihilation-amen

All life, is it lost, have they won

Ain't no

love in a concrete kingdom

Ain't much light

Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom

I hear the cries tonight

Ain't no love

Ain't no light

Ain't no right

Ain't much love in a concrete kingdom,

Ain't much light

What's for my son

I I

wanna know why

I wanna know why,

We're shrinking from the sun

I said now I, I wanna know why

I wanna know why, there's poison -

Everyone

There

ain't no love, in a concrete kingdom

Ain't much light

Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom

I hear the cries tonight I hear, I

hear

Ain't no

love

Ain't no light

Ain't no right

Ain't much love in a concrete kingdom

Ain't much light

Ain't no light in a concrete kingdom

Ain't no light

Ain't no right

Ain't no light

Ain't no right

What's

for my son

VENUS

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

Aha aha

You know

you, me, we are so lonely

You look to me I'll be there my only

'Cause you say you want me

More, more, more

And you

say that you need me

It won't be long and I'll be holdin'

'Cause you say you want me

More, more, more

One

touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

One touch of Venus

Yeah yeah

One touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

I said yeah yeah

I know

we'll take a ride

We'll pass the stars and be home tonight

'Cause you, me, way above the stars,

(stars)

We ain't

dreamin'

And we're livin'

One

touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

One touch of Venus

Mmm Yeah yeah

One touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

I said yeah yeah

Ain't I got the might

Ain't I got the right

Unh, huh

for a touch of Venus

Aha aha

You me we ain't so far from home

You me we ain't got far to go

You me here above the stars

One

touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

One touch of Venus

Mmm Yeah yeah

One touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

One touch of Venus

Mmm yeah yeah

One touch of Venus

And she'll receive us

I said yeah yeah

Way above the stars

Ain't I got the right

For a touch of Venus

Ain't I got the right

For a touch of Venus

THEN THE NIGHT COMES

words and music by: Billy Idol/Mark Younger-Smith, 1993

In this world of wild illusion

My room cold as the grave

Yes she knows I never pull my shade

Is it a

fear, fear of madness

Or some strange alchemy

Is it a fear of fear itself

I think I'll get deranged

Then the

night comes

I'm gonna be free

[Never enough then the night comes]

Then the night comes

I'm gonna be me

Never

enough, haunts my psyche

Never enough, forever

Never enough as I begin to shroooom

Here she

comes so wild so horny

My sony eyed medusa

She's acting strange, insane

Oh yeah, we're gonna get deranged

Then the

night comes

She's gonna be free

Yeah, then the night comes

I'm gonna be me

Then the night comes

Baby make me

If the devil comes

He's gonna tangle with me

I take

some GHB

I feel love, joy

And wonderful ringing music

Now, I just got to be me

We're

here now, embrace this madness

We're here now, for sorcery

We're here now, there is no sadness

So take this town and bring it down

When the

night comes

I'm gonna be free

[Never enough then the night comes]

Then the night comes

I'm gonna be me

Then the night comes

Yeah, then she comes

Mmm baby, I'm gonna be free

Yeah yeah, then the night comes

Wooo, then the night comes

Come on, woo, then the night comes

Come on yeah then the night comes

Then the night comes

Mmm, then the night comes

Alright, then the night comes

Eyeeeeaaaa, we're alright

When the night comes

MOTHER DAWN

words and music by: Durga McBroom/Martin Glover, 19XX

Hold me, hold me

Breathe the light into me

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn

Dancing

'round the fire

Circling the flame

Listen to the shadows calling out my

name

They say

Rock me like a baby

Cradle me in the light

Bathe me in a rainbow

Sun restore my sight

Hold me,

hold me

Breathe the light into me

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn (All night long yeah)

Hold me,

hold me

Breathe the light into me (All night long yeah)

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn

Look

into the light

Come and

take a journey through the land of night

Darkness strokes the face and

Steals away the sight

Night is all around me

Stars are in my hair

I feel them tangled in the secrets

we'll find hidden there all right

Reaching through the madness

To the other side

Where the sun is rising

With her arms held wide

Hold me,

hold me

Breathe the light into me

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn (All night long yeah)

(Till the dawn light comes)

Hold me,

hold me

Breathe the light into me (All night long yeah)

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn (All night long)

(I know you're gonna love me)

One star

flew against the tapestry of the night

And the earth revolved in perfect symmetry

To a symphony of sun

The moon danced its final bow

As the birth of day

Exploded

In my eyes

Reaching

through the madness

To the other side

Where the sun is rising

With her arms held wide

Rock me

like a baby

Cradle me in light

You're gonna bathe me in a rainbow

And the sun restore my sight

Hold me,

hold me

Breathe the light into me

Hold me, hold me

Mother dawn

Hold me,

hold me (All night long yeah)

Breathe the light into me

(Till the dawn light comes yeah)

Hold me, hold me (All night long yeah)

Mother dawn (I know you're gonna love me yeah)

I know you're

Gonna love me

All night long yeah

Till the dawn light comes

All night long yeah

I know you're gonna love me love me

All night long yeah

Till the dawn light comes

All night long yeah

I know you're gonna love me love me

Mother dawn

SPEED

words and music by: Billy Idol/Steve Stevens, 1993

Running from the nightmare

In the middle of the road

Hell's no place for sleeping

In a world beyond control

Caught in the headlights

Coming after you

When I woke up this morning

I had to do what I gotta do

Blast me to Heaven for loving you

Speed

Give me what I need

Yeah

White lightning

Let's speed, on speed

On wheels, on wheels

Speed

Oh, let it bleed

Yeah

Greased lightning

Let's speed, on speed

On wheels, on wheels

I've

seen a train full of pain

On the edge of overload

We're in Heaven, baby

You are gonna implode

I've got these crazy feelings

That I can't explain

I've gotta save you baby

Or I'll die in vain

Blast me to Heaven for loving you

I said blast me to Heaven just for loving

you

I said

speed

Give me what I need

Yeah

White lightning

Let's speed, on speed

On wheels, on wheels

Speed

Oh, let it bleed

Yeah

Greased lightning

Let's speed, on speed

On wheels, on wheels

Blast me

to Heaven for loving you

I said blast me to Heaven for loving

you

Now I'm

rushing on the run, yeah

I wanna have me some fun

I'll speed

Give me what I need

Oh, set me free

Let's speed

On wheels, on wheels, on wheels

Said speed

Oh, let it bleed

Yeah

White lightning

Let's speed, on speed

On wheels, on wheels

Com'on

I said

speed, speed

Give me what I need

I said speed, speed

Give me what I need

Alright

Brought to you
by
The Cyberpunk Project