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Billy Idol — Bitter Taste
Album: The Roadside
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1202









Released: 2021
Length: 3:30
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The bitter taste on my tongue
Too many holes, the damage done
It's bittersweet, black on gold
Talk is cheap, or so I'm told
I'm gonna ride this bike to the edge of town
Roll to the bridge with my eyes shut
And spit at the stars
And scream in the dark
There's nothing I can do to change it now
But if I cut myself open, baby
You can read all my scars
Read all my scars
Hello, goodbye
There's a million ways to die
Should've left me way back
Should've left me way back
By the roadside
Hello, goodbye
I was staring in the devil's eyes
Should've left me way back
Should've left me way back
By the roadside
It's a bitter taste
Jagged stain on my skin
Broken leg, born again
Wide glide, upside down
Twisted frame, my new crown
I'm gonna ride this bike till the break of day
Rolling through the garden like the fountain
Won't take it away
I'm not gonna change
I'm gonna live so hard, these broken wings
Will lift me to the sun so I can burn
Up in the flames
Again and again
Hello, goodbye
There's a million ways to die
Should've left me way back
Should've left me way back
By the roadside
Hello, goodbye
I was staring in the devil's eyes
Should've left me way back
Should've left me way back
By the roadside
It's a bitter taste
It's a jagged stain
It's a bitter taste
It's a jagged stain
Hello, goodbye
There's a million ways to die
Should've left me way back
Should've left me way back
By the roadside
It's a bitter taste
Comments (57)add comment
 Jelani wrote:

Looks like Billy Schwartzenegger to me...


indeed 😃

Can't not love Billy Idol!
 lily34 wrote:
i like this better each time i hear this. 



YES!  I  Agree!   
Oooh, he’s still got it. 
Billy Idol has aged well—both literally and musically. 
i like this better each time i hear this. 
Rating says no plays in the last 30 days. This is the third time I’ve heard this song in the last month. Are used to always count on paradise to not play songs over and over but it appears that’s no longer the case.
 mvdzign wrote:
This just gets better every time I hear it.  8 to 9 



I  Agree!! ....and I gave it a TEN!!  

 Alastair wrote:

Well, that was a pleasant surprise.



I really enjoyed this one from such an old man, respect
interesting. Weird. Not bad. Makes me think of Chris Isaak - Wicked Game in the verses, but then goes someplace different and a bit more modern for the chorus.
 joejennings wrote:



I Agree!


Leonard Cohen as well.
Wow, did not expect that, what a pleasant surprise. He's matured, no snarling!
This just gets better every time I hear it.  8 to 9 
Can't wait to see him live.
 Jelani wrote:

Looks like Billy Schwartzenegger to me...



hahahahhahahahah
sounds like Lord Huron?
Billy still rocks! With the undeniable help from Steve Stevens and company! So cool! 
Why Billy is an Idol... reminds me of his "sweet 16" about Coral Castle in Miami....

Sweet 16

Also 'cyberpunk' was ahead of it's time... Cyberpunk

I was very pleasantly surprised by this EP.  Great songwriting and singing and shows a maturity on his part.
 Jelani wrote:

Looks like Billy Schwartzenegger to me...



You nailed it   
Thank goodness Idol is singing this song with his own voice - not that I have anything against an Austrian accent.  I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with Idol's latest offering.  We're the same age, but Billy appears to have matured musically more than I.  (Okay, I have no musical ability, so that's not actually much of a compliment.)
Yowzer RP, please don’t play this on the ‘mellow mix’. People are listening!
yowzer RP, please do not play this on the 'mellow mix' people are listening! I'm a fan too, but......
So Billy. Older.  More sad than angry but still awesome. 
Moving up from 7 to 8.
Once you know it's Billy, he's unmistakable.  But before I looked to check, I thought it might be Future Islands!
here is the formula : 
robbie williams + a piece of  bob dylan  = here comes billy idol..
Seems this song has many specific references to Mr. Idol's motorcycle accident in LA.
Is he saying “Hello” from the otherside?

Good stuff though.
SUPERB!!!   Keep up the good work, Billy!!   
 bigbobbybubba wrote:

When do you think Billy's Concert Tour will be sponsored by Geritol?




I'm amazed that they still make that stuff!!    LOL!!   
Released just last year!! I would never have guessed it was him. Thanks B&R
Hmm, who woulda thought he had something like this in him?  
New to me Billy Idol. Thanks!
Wow .. that was ... surprisingly fascinating . 
When do you think Billy's Concert Tour will be sponsored by Geritol?
that was really good, most excellent really.  the sneer has a good indie rock voice   more please
A Surprisingly good song.  Doesn't need a modifier, well done.  Good for you Billy!
 alain.brault wrote:

Well executed but, honestly, woefully unoriginal.....



Get off my lawn... old man?

Come on, stop being so pedantic. This song is damn good and unexpectedly so!
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Real good! I'm surprised!



Rule of thumb for aging pop stars: don't expect much, but don't be surprised by anything.
LOVE IT!
STUNNING
"Should've left me way back by the roadside"

To be fair mate, we thought we had.
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Sounds a little bit like Johnny Cash in the beginning!




I Agree!
Looks like Billy Schwartzenegger to me...
 alain.brault wrote:

Well executed but, honestly, woefully unoriginal.....



Oh, 100% agreed. But it's SO well executed. 8.
Holey Cow, Billy Idol in 2021! And a bitter, Western style...
Sounds a little bit like Johnny Cash in the beginning!
Well executed but, honestly, woefully unoriginal.....
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Real good! I'm surprised!




I agree!
Real good! I'm surprised!
Wow. Mature, adult Billy Idol. A 7 I think.
I was rather surprised by this. Great song! It reminds me of that Still Corners song (The Message) that I love hearing here on RP...a good thing.
I don’t mind this at all. I think it’s better than his old persona.
Well, that was a pleasant surprise.
When did Billy Idol get good?
First to comment on old Billy's new work

Starting off with a 5 rating.

6 months later upping my rating +1 to 6.