Here I am again, pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight I’ve been in every bar in town
Here I am again, pretty baby
Hanging around
Tonight I have to try out every girl in town
I took some ecstasy
I took my troubles to the East side
I get messed up on the bad side
Wall of blocks A to D
Ended up in somebody else’s sheets
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you, without you, babe
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you
Will it ever be over, babe?
Feel my love, come on over
Over you
Here you are again
Pretty babe
Hanging around
Tonight you walked through all my pleasant dreams
Here I am
You know where I look leads to a late night
Low down, low down scene
Really mean
Took the subway to the East side
I get messed up on my bad side
Wall of blocks A to D
Ended up in somebody else’s sheets
You know that
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you, without you, babe
You know what I’m talking about
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you
Will it ever be over?
Feel my love slide
You know what I’m talking about now
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you, without you, babe
You know what I’m talking about now
It’s so cruel
Hangin’ ’round
Without you
Will it ever be over?
Feel my love, come on over
Over you, babe
For you, babe, for you, babe, for you, babe
Will it ever be over?
Loneliness in the Nightlife
In “It’s So Cruel,” Billy Idol paints a vivid picture of late-night longing and urban wandering. The lyrics chronicle a restless search for connection in the city’s bars and streets, tinged with regret and heartbreak. Idol’s narrator grapples with the pain of missing someone deeply, seeking distractions but finding only emptiness in fleeting encounters. The repetition of ‘hanging around without you’ emphasizes the intensity of his yearning and the sense of loss that shadows his nightlife escapades.
The Cycle of Desire and Regret
Idol’s storytelling is both raw and relatable, capturing the emotional push-pull between moving on and holding on. The references to “ecstasy” and ending up “in somebody else’s sheets” underscore attempts to numb the pain, while the recurring plea—”Will it ever be over?”—lays bare the struggle to let go. The song’s urban setting and confessional tone invite listeners to share in the vulnerability of heartbreak and the hope for healing.
Song Credits
- Artist: Billy Idol
- Release Year: 2023
- Label: BFI Records