☝️ Key Points
- 'White Wedding' by Billy Idol is actually a critical commentary on a wedding his younger sister entered into
- The repeated refrain 'It's a nice day for a white wedding / It's a nice day to start again' is used ironically to question the ideal image of a 'White Wedding'
- The lines 'I've been away for so long / I let you go for so long' express Idol's regret for not being there to prevent his sister from making that decision
- 'And there's nothing sure in this world / And there's nothing pure in this world' shows Idol's dark worldview and criticism of his sister's decision
- The song ends with hope for a fresh start 'It's a nice day to start again', suggesting that despite the mistakes and misunderstandings, there is still room for a new beginning
Interpretation
The song 'White Wedding' by
Billy Idol is a rock song that is often misunderstood as a love song, but actually has a darker meaning. In the verses 'Hey little sister what have you done / Hey little sister who's the only one', Billy Idol addresses his younger sister and asks what she has done. He is referring to a wedding she has entered into, but he does not support.
The repeated chorus 'It's a nice day for a white wedding / It's a nice day to start again' is meant ironically. A 'White Wedding' symbolizes purity and innocence, but in this context Billy Idol questions these ideals. He does not see the wedding as a joyful occasion, but as a mistake his sister is making.
The lines 'I've been away for so long / I let you go for so long' express his regret for not being there to help his sister or protect her from this decision.
'And there's nothing sure in this world / And there's nothing pure in this world' shows the singer's dark worldview. He portrays the instability and impurity of the world in which his sister makes a decision he considers wrong.
Finally, the song ends with the hope of a fresh start 'It's a nice day to start again'. Despite the mistakes and misunderstandings, there is still the possibility for a new beginning.