☝️ Key Points
- The song deals with an intense romantic relationship with a 'rebel' who constantly demands more love and passion
- The protagonist refuses to submit and is at the same time a comforting force during the narrator's moments of loneliness
- The narrator is so in love with her that he would sell his soul to be with her
- The repeated 'Rebel Yell' and 'More, more, more' symbolize a continuous desire and rebellion in the relationship
- Despite the intense passion, the protagonist's desire remains unfulfilled and persists constantly.
Interpretation
The song 'Rebel Yell' by
Billy Idol is about intense passion and desire. The narrator describes a woman who came to him and showed him love and passion ('Last night a little dancer, came dancin' to my door'). She is a 'rebel' who doesn't want to submit ('She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg'), but she offers him comfort and affection when he needs it ('But when I'm tired and lonely, she sees me to bed').
The narrator is so in love with her that he would 'sell my soul' just to be with her ('I'd sell my soul, for you babe, for money to burn with you').
The repeated 'More, more, more' in the chorus 'In the midnight hour she cried... More more more, with a rebel yell she cried... More more more' reflects her constant desire for more - more love, more passion, more intensity.
The 'Rebel Yell' is an expression of freedom and rebellion that are captured in this intense romantic relationship.
The song ends with the repetition of the woman's wish for 'More, more, more'. This shows that the passion and desire described in the relationship remain strong and unfulfilled.