Whoa, yeah
Yow
It was a night, oh, what a night
L.A. burning bright, oh, what a night
Say yeah, come on
It made my world stand still
Ah riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah
Here come the fire and my world burns still
I say yeah
Well, you can rock this land, baby yow
Like a shock to the system
It feel good, well all right
Like a shock to the system
I 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 made my life feel real
Aw, fear, police and civil corruption, oh yeah
Is there a man who would be king?
And the world stood still
Oh yeah, loud
You can rock this land, baby
Yeah
Like a shock (shock) to the system
It feel good, well all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I said yeah, come on, baby
Shock to the system
Feel good, well all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Come on, baby
Yow
Yeah, well, you can rock this land, baby yow
Like a shock (shock) to the system
It feel good, well, all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say, yeah, ain’t it irie
Shock to the system
It feel good, well, all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say yeah, 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 got to shock) You could be king
(Shock the system) (laugh) Yeah
(You got to shock) Or I could be king
(Shock the system) Yeah, well
(You got to shock) You could be king
(Shock the system) Or I could be king, well, I gotta
(You got to shock) You could be king
(Rock the system) Say it louder, the world still burns
Exploring the Turbulent Energy of “Shock To The System”
“Shock To The System” by Billy Idol captures the raw emotional pulse of early 1990s Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from real-life unrest and the desire for societal change. Idol’s lyrics paint a vivid scene of a city aflame—both literally and metaphorically—as he references riot, corruption, and the search for justice. The song’s repeated refrain, “like a shock to the system,” underscores a longing for transformation and the jolt needed to disrupt the status quo. Through energetic vocals and urgent guitar riffs, Idol channels a feeling of chaos but also a call to action, challenging listeners to “rock this land” and embrace the possibility of revolution. The blend of personal reflection and social commentary gives the track both immediacy and depth, making it one of Idol’s most resonant anthems.
Song Credits
- Artist: Billy Idol
- Songwriters: Billy Idol, Mark Younger-Smith
- Release Year: 1993
- Label: Chrysalis Records