This week I'm looking at Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol. This song is a trip and in what seems to be a pattern lately I have no idea what the lyrics are trying to say! Must be an eighties thing. Although if I had to guess, especially from the early going, it seems to be about love lost or a bitter break up? But it's got a nice groove and it does a lot of interesting things, with the French lyrcis and the mid- song guitar, and just the whole vibe. One of my favorite songs. It has a bit of a downbeat ending, too.
Also, the video. Wow. I mean yeah it's an eighties thing, but still. The back up dancers ass slapping- I mean, whaat?? Best just to go with it. :)
Also, the video. Wow. I mean yeah it's an eighties thing, but still. The back up dancers ass slapping- I mean, whaat?? Best just to go with it. :)
So what do you think?
Lyrics
I'm all out of hope
One more bad dream could bring a fall
When I'm far from home
Don't call me on the phone
To tell me you're alone
It's easy to deceive
It's easy to tease
But hard to get release
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face, got no human grace your eyes without a face
I spend so much time
Believing all the lies
To keep the dream alive
Now it makes me sad
It makes me mad at truth
For loving what was you
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face , got no human grace your eyes without a face
When you hear the music you make a dip
Into someone else's pocket then make a slip
Steal a car and go to Las Vegas, oh the gigolo pool
Hanging out by the state line turning holy water into wine
Drinkin' it down
I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip
Reading murder books trying to stay hip
I'm thinking of you you're out there so
Say your prayers
Say your prayers
Say your prayers
Now I close my eyes
And I wonder why
I don't despise
Now all I can do
Love what was once
So alive and new
But it's gone from your eyes
I better realize
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage
Eyes without a face, got no human grace your eyes without a face
Such a human waste your eyes without a face
And now it's getting worse
Hah! I've never actually thought about the words to this song. Actually... I don't often think about the words to most songs, and now I'm curious what I've been jamming to for all these years. ;)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Also, the video is... confusing? Although there is some definite ass slapping while he sings about water turning into wine. Maybe not the best imagery for that verse?
DeleteOh boy, this one really takes me back, Greg. in 10th grade my best friend and I *loved* this song. We had the lyrics from the middle section memorized. Billy Idol (at that time) seemed so edgy and dangerous. LOL My how tame it all seems now.
ReplyDeleteI always thought I had a pretty good music "education," but this is yet another song I haven't heard!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember last time I heard this song, a loooong time ago . . . And let's face it, gotta love the '80s, hehe
ReplyDeleteHe will always be an 80's icon!!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a thing for Billy Idol in high school. I just couldn't get enough of him. And I love the lyric "I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip reading murder books, trying to stay hip." Such an 80's classic!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a happy sad song! It's got kind of sad lyrics with an up beat tempo. Reminds me of Paramore's last album for some reason :]
ReplyDeleteGotta love Billy Idol! :)
ReplyDelete"best just go with it" is something you can say about almost all 80's music lol
ReplyDeleteKevin & I met him at BEA a few years ago. He was doing a book signing and we kind of got jammed together in a crowd while his people were trying to get him to his booth. He was very nice.
I saw the title of this post before I left for work, and then sand this song ALL day. I was such an Idol fan. I loved how he sang out of the side of his mouth. Still a fantastic song.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this one takes me back. I never even noticed the French lyrics before.
ReplyDeleteI have never really listened to him, but it seems I should
ReplyDeleteGotta love it I'm a child ofthe 80s :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, I'm an old lady (plus I work in a radio station), so I remember this song so well - I also have a number of compilations from the '70s and the '80s, and this is on one of them...but I never really tried to decipher its meaning. Of course it's about love - 99% of songs from the era are about love - but it's kind of cryptic. The video though...I don't remember ever seeing it...anyway, it's classic '80s, only worse haha.
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