Billy Idol

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Here she come now sayin', "Mony, Mony"
Shoot 'em down, turn around, come on, Mony
Hey, she give me love, and I feel all right now
Yeah! - you gotta toss and turn
And feel all right, yeah, I feel all right

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah, yeah)

[Chorus]
'Cause you make me feel (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
So good (Mony, Mony)
So fine (Mony, Mony)
So fine (Mony, Mony)
It's all mine (Mony, Mony)
Well, I feel all right (Mony, Mony)

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Verse 2]
Wake it, shake it, Mony, Mony
Ah, shotgun dead, and I'll come on, Mony
Don't stop cookin', 'cause I feel all right now
Hey, don't stop now, come on, Mony, come on, yeah
[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah, yeah)

[Chorus]
'Cause you make me feel (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
Well, I feel all right (Mony, Mony)
It's all mine (Mony, Mony)
It's all mine (Mony, Mony)
It's all mine (Mony, Mony)
And I feel all right (Mony, Mony)

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Interlude]
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony, said I do
Ooo, I love you Mony, mo-mo-mony
[Refrain]
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Bridge]
Hey
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on come on, come on come on
Come on come on, come on feel alright

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Verse 3]
Wake it, shake it, Mony Mony
Up, down, turn around, come on, Mony
Hey, she give me love, and I feel all right now - hah!
I said, don't stop now, come on, Mony
Come on, Mony

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah, yeah)

[Chorus]
'Cause you make me feel (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
So good (Ride the pony)
I feel all right (Mony, Mony)
All right (Mony, Mony)
You're so fine (Mony, Mony)
Well, I feel all right (Mony, Mony)
[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Verse 4]
I want to
Ride the pony, ride the pony, ride the pony
Come on, come on (Come on)
Mony Mony (Mony, Mony)
Feel all right (Mony, Mony)
(Mony, Mony)

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

[Chorus]
'Cause you make me feel (Ride the pony)
So good! (Ride the pony)
So good! (Ride the pony)
So good!
Come on (Mony, Mony)
Yeah (Mony, Mony)
All right (Mony, Mony)
Well, we feel so good (Mony, Mony)

[Refrain]
I said, yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah), yeah (Yeah)

If you love the upbeat music of the 80s rock era, chances are you've heard of "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol. This song has an interesting history that made it into an iconic piece of music in the modern era. Not only did it make a significant impact in the US, but it also became a favorite of dance clubs around the USA.

About Mony Mony

Originally a 1968 chart-topper by Tommy James & the Shondells, Billy Idol's version of "Mony Mony" is a remake that made little impact on the US charts when it was released in 1981. It only reached #7 on the US Bubbling Under Chart despite Idol's popularity at the time.

It has a catchy beat that gives you the urge to dance and sing along with the chorus. The song's lyrics tell the story of chasing after an unnamed woman and confessing his love for her by saying, "Mony Mony, you make my heart come all undone."

But the real success story of this song came in 1987 when Idol's live performance of the song shot it back up to the top of the US charts, reaching #1. Even in places like New Zealand and Switzerland, it made quite an impact, peaking at #2 and #13, respectively.

The song's release back to the top of the chart is probably linked to the fact that the "Mony Mony" became a widespread trend in dance clubs across the USA, where the crowd would shout back different obscenities during the silence in the song's verses. This callback phrase varied in different parts of the country but was often something like, "Hey everybody, get laid, get fucked!" It became a defining characteristic of the song, adding a fun edge that turned it into a fan favorite.

The Making of Mony Mony

"Mony Mony" was originally a catchy tune created by Tommy James and his lead guitarist, Richie Cordell. It was first recorded in 1968 and rose to the top of the Billboard charts. The song itself has simple lyrics and a familiar, driving beat, consisting of just two chords.

Billy Idol's version of "Mony Mony" was an entirely different take on the hit. It came out in 1981, and many critics typical of that era denounced the song, stating that it was overly commercialized, and Billy Idol's vocals were harsh and abrasive. Although it wasn't a huge success in the US, the song found a receptive audience in the UK and other parts of the world.

Fast forward to 1987, and Billy Idol was in New York performing his song "Shakin' All Over," when he decided to include "Mony Mony" in his set. His group played the song with "a lot of energy," but something else happened, which changed the course of the future of the song. Idol heard the crowd shouting the infamous obscenity during the silent portions of the song's intro and thought that it was a great idea. On the day after the show, he got together with his producers who helped him record new parts for the song that included the new fan favorite audience callback chant.

Fan Reaction to Mony Mony

As stated, the song became a hit in dance clubs and became a mainstay in many people's cassette players. In 1987, after the infamous callback phrase fueled the song's new success, the sales of the song skyrocketed. Fans loved the driving beat and the call and response portions of the song. The song became one of Billy Idol's signature songs, and his live performances of the song would earn him tremendous responses from fans.

The use of "Mony Mony" in pop culture still appears to this day in movies, TV shows, and commercials. It is just one example of a simple song with catchy lyrics becoming a mainstay in the world of music and popular culture.

The Final Say

While many people might think "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol is just another 80s song, the story behind the song and its influence on pop culture makes it stand out. From its roots in the 60s to its resurgence in the 80s, the song has made an incredible impact. Whether it's the driving beat, the catchy tune, or the infamous call-and-response phrases, fans of all ages have continued to flock to this song.

The story behind "Mony Mony" is just one example of how a song can be transformed from a little-known tune to a beloved pop culture classic. After all, who can resist singing along to "Mony Mony, you make my heart come all undone"? It's a timeless classic that will continue to win over new fans and maintain its place in the world of music for years to come.

• Release Date: January 1, 1981
• Artist: Billy Idol