☝️ Key Points
- The song is about human desire and physical attraction.
- The questions in the lyrics symbolize the joys and pleasures that people seek and the strange behaviors to feel good.
- The explicitly sexual lines represent the unfiltered nature of human passion.
- The verses describe the nocturnal and often secretive nature of sexual encounters.
- Reference is made to the ancient history of human desire, which is present in every culture and generation.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Flesh for Fantasy' by
Billy Idol are about human desire and physical attraction. The lyrics address the natural attraction that leads people to seek physical closeness and intimacy.
In the song lyrics, questions like 'Do you like good music? Do you like to dance?' are asked, representing the joys and pleasures that people seek in their leisure time. 'Hangin' out for a body shop at night' and 'Ain't it strange what we do to feel alright?' are metaphors for the nocturnal pursuit of physical pleasure and the strange behaviors people exhibit to feel good.
The lines 'Face to face / And back to back / You see and feel / My sex attack' are explicitly sexual and represent the direct and unabashed nature of human desire and passion. The repeated refrain 'Flesh, flesh for fantasy' symbolizes the human longing for physical intimacy and sexual experience.
The lyrics 'It's after midnight / Are you feelin' alright oh yeah / Turn on the light, babe / Are you someone else tonight?' describe the nocturnal, often secretive nature of such encounters, while 'Neighbour to neighbour, door to door / Don't ask questions, there's time for it all' represents the ubiquitous and universal nature of human desire.
In the lines 'Father loves his son, / Mothers, daughters, too. / It's an old old story, / Cries the new world too.' there is a reference to the ancient story of human desire and passion, which is present in every culture and generation.
Overall, 'Flesh for Fantasy' is an anthem to human lust and desire, and the joy and pleasure that come from physical intimacy and sexual experience.