Released: June 8, 1993

Songwriter: Mark Younger-Smith Billy Idol

Producer: Robin Hancock

[Intro]
Woah, yeah
Yow

[Verse 1]
It was a night, oh, what a night
L.A. burning bright, oh, what a night
Say yeah, come on
It made my world stand still

Ah riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah
Here come the fire and my world burns still
I say yeah
Well, you can rock this land, baby yow

[Chorus]
Like a shock to the system
It feel good, well all right
Like a shock to the system
I say yeah, ain't it irie

[Verse 2]
It was a night, hell of a night
L.A., it really was, oh, what a riot
I said yeah, come on
It made my life feel real

Aww, fear, police and civil corruption, oh yeah
Is there a man who would be king?
And the world stood still
Oh yeah, loud

[Pre-Chorus]
You can rock this land, baby
Yeah

[Chorus]
Like a shock (shock) to the system
It feel good, well all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I said yeah, come on, baby

Shock to the system
Feel good, well all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Come on, baby
Yow

[Bridge]
Yeah, well, you can rock this land, baby yow

[Chorus]
Like a shock (shock) to the system
It feel good, well, all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say, yeah, ain't it irie

Shock to the system
It feel good, well, all right
Like a shock (shock) to the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah, come on, baby

[Outro]
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system, loud, I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system, yeah, I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system, yeah, I gotta
Shock to the, shock to the
Shock to the system

(You got to shock) You could be king
(Shock the system) (laugh) Yeah
(You got to shock) Or I could be king
(Shock the system) Yeah, well
(You got to shock) You could be king
(Shock the system) Or I could be king, well, I gotta
(You got to shock) You could be king
(Rock the system) Say it louder, the world still burns

Billy Idol

Billy Idol is an English rock musician, songwriter and actor. Born in Stanmore, Middlesex, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. Unlike other British punk rock artists of his era, Idol was inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Idol then embarked on a successful solo career, and was a member of the MTV-driven “Second British Invasion” of the United States. A series of music videos for songs such as “Dancing With Myself”, “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face” made him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens.

Idol’s 1987 release, “Mony Mony” reached #1 on the US top 40 charts; his songs to chart in the top 10 include: White Wedding, Eyes Without a Face, To Be a Lover and Cradle of Love.