White Wedding

Album: Billy Idol (1982)
Charted: 6 36
Play Video
  • Hey little sister, what have you done?
    Hey little sister, who's the only one?
    Hey little sister, who's your Superman?
    Hey little sister, who's the one you want?
    Hey little sister, shotgun

    It's a nice day to start again
    It's a nice day for a white wedding
    It's a nice day to start again

    Hey little sister, who is it you're with?
    Hey little sister, what's your vice and wish?
    Hey little sister, shotgun, oh yeah
    Hey little sister, who's your Superman?
    Hey little sister, shotgun

    It's a nice day to start again
    It's a nice day for a white wedding
    It's a nice day to start again

    Pick it up
    Take me back home, yeah

    Hey little sister, what have you done?
    Hey little sister, who's the only one?
    I've been away for so long (so long)
    I've been away for so long (so long)
    I let you go for so long

    It's a nice day to start again, come on
    It's a nice day for a white wedding
    It's a nice day to start again

    There is nothin' fair in this world, girl
    There is nothin' safe in this world
    And there's nothin' sure in this world
    And there's nothin' pure in this world
    Look for something left in this world
    Start again, come on

    It's a nice day for a white wedding
    It's a nice day to start again
    It's a nice day to start again
    It's a nice day to start again Writer/s: Billy Idol
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 69

  • Philip from TorontoThis IS a song about drugs and especially cocaine -

    "It's a nice day to start again
    It's a nice day for a white wedding
    It's a nice day to start again"

    This is a reference to be off drugs and start using again. I love it how people have been duped for decades that it means something else, it's an essential song at weddings but has nothing to do with that at all. "Little sister" means "babe", "bae" in British English in the 80s. "Shotgun" means of inhaling smoke and then exhaling it another person's mouth. With all that information read the lyrics again and see the true meaning.
  • Danny from UsaUh... Can't believe how many people are on drugs these days. And they think every song is a hidden reference to drugs. Well, this song is not about drugs. Seek help.
    All it is, the narrator is talking about how ironic it is that his girlfriend is having a "white wedding" when she's far from virginal, and has just dumped him and moved on to somebody else. The word shotgun hints at, she might be pregnant too, and she might have used this to pressure her new man into the marriage.
    That's all.
    Not everything is about drugs, okay?
  • Aniaa from PolandSo, "White wedding" is not a racist term?
  • AnonymousThis is the ultimate drug song. The singer is the tempting drug. Listen to the accelerated beat and it resembles a racing heart on an upper. My guess is angledust or PCP.
  • Sherwood from WashingtonI just read Idol's own explanation/creation of both the song and video in his autobiography (Dancing With Myself, 162-170). His sister HAD just gotten married after she got pregnant and the whole thing was written, according to him, as what would have happened in an earlier era. His girlfriend Perri plays the bride in the video, but it is NOT about her, necessarily.
  • Myself from Where I AmLittle sister is not slang for girlfriend... That's their best cover up.. to try and convince us that was slang only he knew about...
  • Suevo from Carjo, CastanaviaThe song is about a man who has an addiction to drugs. He is so obsessed with it, like he wants to get married to it (hence the song title, White Wedding). A common "white" drug is Cocaine, so I would guess that the man is an avid crack addict.
  • Danny from FlI always thought that the song was about white trash/trailer park incest with the 'narrator' of the song having just gotten out of prison and is anxious to start abusing his sister again.
  • La Garcia from Los AngelesWrong, it was about his little sister, I saw a documentary about Billy Idol, and it mentioned this song because his little sister was pregnant, reference to shot gun wedding. When the documentary aired late 90's she was still married to him and they had a couple of kids. Now he did have a girlfriend, and when he got into a accident, there was another women in car, and she said he was his girlfriend, which she was not, so his longtime girlfriend had a press conference to explain the situation, and the other girl stopped getting press time.
  • Mikeok from Germany Sorry, but with all that has rightly been said about this song here, to me it has definitely a drug reference. „Start again“ and „White Wedding“ could mean different things.
  • Jimmy from Mt Holly, Nc UsI've always been curious about the name of the woman in the black dress.
  • 80' I Was There from CaIdol's music was dance and party music. He put the lyrics in so he could say a few key phrases he liked, and the rest was filler. The songs were for club dancing. That is the entire meaning of all the words to all of his songs.
  • Cooper from MissouriI always thought it was about his little sister marrying someone he disliked/hated so he was gonna take the frequently mentioned shotgun to the wedding and kill the would-be husband and possibly his extended family too.
  • Dave from Greer, ScUntil I read the story behind this song, I always thought it was about 'marrying' your little sister

    But with nothing but the lyrics to go on, can you really blame me? Lol
  • Brian Foley from TasmaniaI still believe this song is about suicide, the lyric 'nice day to start again' to me signifies suicide, quite common in the early 80's with teens and satanism. And if you listen very carefully to the end of the song as it fades you will hear Billy Idol sing in German the phrase Weiss Trauer [Weißer Trauer] translation is 'White Mourning' those are the flowers used in Funerals.
  • Bob from IndianaNot saying you guys are wrong on the lyrics but, there is one thing when it comes to looking up song lyrics on the internet, different websites and people on YouTube who make song lyric videos always have different lyrics to a certain songs, so who is right and who is wrong on the lyrics?
  • Roxanne from OregonThis song is about a former crack addict who has returned to his life of addiction. In the 80s the word "white" was used as a slang word for cocaine. People addicted to crack cocaine are so consumed by it, they spend all their money and time on it. Thus, they are basically married to it. "It's a nice day to start again..."
  • Kisu One from KyivThis song is about psychotechnology or occult practice. Wedding means attraction and joining together something that is deep inside man's nature with something that is outside. Actually this song is about satanization.
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesI heard this song again today after soooo many years (the last time, I clearly remember,I was 5 years old,and now I'm 22! 17 years!!) When I heard the intro, I was elated and told myself "Been so long!" I do not know its title earlier... but I had a close listen to the lyrics now I know English and heard White Wedding. I read about the White Wedding music video in a website inthe80's so from there, I realised "So this is the White Wedding song by Billy Idol!" I really like it... but gosh the meaning, especially that one given by Andy from Las Vegas, Nevada. That also makes sense actually. It supports the "I've been far away for so long" and the "Nothing is pure/safe, etc. in this world." It seems like a threat song to his sister, telling her she couldn't escape him even if she weds someone. Gosh I'm going too far over this "what this song means" thing. Ok, this songs has various meanings. (7-25-2015)
  • Hb from D.c., DcI'm very surprised that only 3 mentioned "shotgun wedding" but didn't define it...younger people may not be aware. John said a "Shotgun wedding" is where the bridge is pregnant but it's more: there is a reference to violence or a threat of violence against the man (in contrast to or in complement to images like the bridge finger made to bleed) In 18th/19th century, it literally was done, today, rarely literal; wikipedia, white wedding is "an American colloquialism, though it is also used in other parts of the world, based on a supposed scenario (usually hyperbole) that the father of the pregnant daughter, almost by accepted custom, must resort to using coercion (such as threatening with a shotgun) to ensure that the man who impregnated her marries her.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhI have to make a reference here to the movie "The Wedding Singer". It is one of my all time favorite comedies. Billy Idol makes a cameo appearance as himself towards the end, and it is one of the funniest parts of the whole film, the icing on the cake...er, that could be a wedding cake. Even tho I've seen that movie many times, I still love the 'surprise' of seeing Billy Idol.
  • Laura from El Paso, TxThis song is sinister and deliciously creepy and just like "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, people who are not really listening continuously mistake it for a love song and play it as "their" song at their weddings. Go figure!
  • Andy from Las Vegas, NvI'm afraid that this song is much darker than most people realize. I believe when Idol sings about his sister he is being quite literal, with the lines about "Who's your superman," and "Who's your only one" being quite literal. It's about an incestuous relationship with his sister and the dark realization about her "shotgun wedding" and how ridiculous the idea of a "White Wedding" is. This song has always had my nomination for the darkest song of it's era, and I've always been surprised that so few people pick up on this.
  • Amy from Pensacola, FlThis song was not written until 1983. The label rushed to get it out once I finished writing it. It was inspired by one of my favorite Elvis songs. Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley. The music video also inspired the wedding in Beetlejuice which is a film I worked on with Spielberg and Michael Jackson. I was discovered by Joe Elliott of Def Leppard who brought in Mutt Lange to work with me. Mutt had produced Australian band AC/DC's Back in Black and brought Adam & The Ants and Australian band INXS to work with me. Adam & The Ants was managed by Malcolm McLaren which Billy Idol was a follower.
  • Charlie from Las Vegas, Nvi don't give a damn what you guys all think, this song rocks!
  • Len from Nj, NjCool that Steve Missal is getting his come uppins' in this thread. Hit the skins mad good! Awesome talent and a really nice guy. Hung with him a bit when he was playing with my then cousin in law Warren Keller's band Ronnie and The Jitters which was post White Wedding in the mid 80's some time. He never played live with Billy only did the studio drumming. At least when i knew him.
  • James from New Market, Inso..Let's get this straight. He's not talking about his actual sister, because I wouldn't put it past him. I would've done her at the time
  • Jerry from New York, NyThis is for the guy who said Billy Idol did not have a drummer named Steve Missal. What crap! Steve and I ran a recording studio on 48th and 8th in New York, Shelter Studios. When Steve joined Billy's band the White Wedding album was rehearsed in our studio. A lot of it was written, or developed there. I do not know if Steve wrote the song, he never claimed he did to me, but when musicians are rehersing, creative things happen. I can tell you a lot of creative stuff happend in that room. Jerry Roberts
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI saw the video,too.The bride's finger bleeds when the ring comes on.
  • Anthony from Cape May, NjGreat song, it reminds me of my ex messing up haha, and overall cheating me, her loss..

    Good song though
  • Cynthia from Scranton, Pathis song rocks! drugs or weddings who cares? billy idol is the man!!
  • Joe from Denver, CoI wrote a term paper on this song, and it is definitely about crack cocaine. Crack is often referred to as cocaine's "little sister" since it is much cheaper. The "white wedding" is when a cocaine or crack addict quits and then starts again (also supported by "I've been away for so long" and "It's a nice day to start again"). As for the "There is nothin' fair/safe/sure/pure in this world," those terms refer to the danger involved with drugs and drug deals. The "shotgun" is referring to the practice where smoked drugs are exhaled by one user into the mouth of another user. The "superman" refers to the invulnerability experience by users. It's not a real wedding!
  • Susan from Toronto, CanadaBilly Idol said on an MTV special about the Doors that WHITE WEDDING was heavily inspired by the Doors song L.A. WOMAN.
  • Maria Isabel from New London, CtI don't know where the person saying this is about his girlfriend got this, but Billy Idol himself says he wrote this song for his sister. He's against marriage, and when he became rich and famous he kind of ditched his sister and then when he heard she was having a shotgun wedding he wrote this song for her.
  • Tara from Wittenberg, WiI too also belive this song is about drugs.. Quote.."I've been away for so long, I've been away for so long, I let you go for so long.. It's a nice day to start again" Sounds like dope to me.
  • Sarah from Gloversville, Nybilly idol is awesome!!! This song has definetly got to be about drugs. If you watch the video you can see different ingrediants to make them. Plus the girl in the video, the bride, seems to be shaking violently.(a seizure) and you get those when you go through drug withdrawal. In any event this is a great song
  • Matt from Somerset, Njyah, Steve Missal is my neighbor here in NJ now, he has a recording studio in is basement, i can hear him play every now and than
  • Rob from Long Beach, NyGet your facts straight people!! Go to ASCAP.COM and you'll find that Willaim Broad wrote White Wedding, if you don't know that's Billy Idol's real name!!

    Steve Missal while he was at one time Billy's drummer, did not write the song. Idol claims it was written to show his displeasure with his sister's fiancé. So it seems it is about his "little sister."
  • Randell from Sydney, AustraliaVery cool song. Probably my favourite by Billy Idol.
  • Sherry from Saskatoon, CanadaIs it possible that "White Wedding" is a tribute song to Scareface the movie? How Tony tried to control his sister?

    -Sher,Saskatoon,CAN
  • Meg from New Mat, OhBIlly claims its about his sister Joan getting married and he personally is against marriage.

    White Wedding is a slang term for stopping cocaine and than starting it back up again hince the repeat of the line "it's a nice day to start again"
    also if you watch the video on the table there are many different object used to do crack.

    but it IS an anti-marriage song.
  • Kate from Falls Church, VaI've always thought of this song as a punk-rock type mockery of traditional values and just a morbid take on both weddings and the mindset behind the decision to marry. The common conceptions of weddings being "white" and being a chance to "start again" are being derided in this song, as the idea of "your only one" reverberates with connotations of submission and imprisonment- the nail in the coffin. "Nothing is pure/safe in this world" suggests that people are wrong when they think that life after marriage will solve all their problems, which is an increasingly true fact with the divorce rate in this country.
  • Laura from Suonenjoki, FinlandI agree with EB and Liquid Len, the song is about starting using cocaine again. "White" is a slang word for cocaine as "snow" and "white wedding" symbolizes starting using cocaine again.
  • Rusty from Raleigh, NcI seen that music video a bunch of times. People are telling that Billy Idol is crazy. It sounds like punk rock.
    I was thinking about trying to play the guitar the same way from that song.
  • Eb from Richmond Hill, GaCORRECTION > > > > The song is about FREEBASE (1982 term for CRACK) smoking.
  • Eb from Richmond Hill, GaYou have to watch the video to get this. The song is about FREEBASE (1882 term for CRACK) smoking. Hey little sister what have you done
    Hey little sister who's the only one
    Hey little sister who's your superman
    Hey little sister who's the one you want
    Hey little sister shot gun . . . . The "WHITE WEDDING" is what happens when addiction sets in. And likely death (start again)from overdose . . . Take me back home, yeah
    There is nothin' fair in this world
    There is nothin' safe in this world
    And there's nothin' sure in this world
    And there's nothin' pure in this world
    Look for something left in this world
    Start again
    "Watch the video and you see the bride having a gran mal seisure on the table. Look at the kitchen counter and you will see the items spread around for making up a batch of crack (remember this was in 1982).

  • Annie from Norman, OkThis song is about billy idols sister Jane. She was pregnant, and the reference to the 'shotgun wedding' clearly states this. Jane had a beautiful son. The song was written by billy about the circumstances. The song has nothing what so ever to do with drugs. Billy has never been married, he was with perri lister for nine years. They also had a son, Willem. Willem has his own band now called LMNOP.
  • Mike from Easton, PaThis is one of the coolest song ever.
  • Sara from Savannah, GaThis is a song about his ex-wife, Cherie.
  • AnonymousIdol did write the song. He never had a drummer named Steve Missell(?).
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrScottie, Sydney, Australia. Are you SERIOUS? Cash's version of "hurt" is one of the most heartfelt songs ever. Don't get me wrong, The Police did a good job to but THIS IS CASH.
  • John Smith from Southington, CtJeff, for me this song is always after Some Kind Of Wonderful on K-DST, I dont know about you though. I LOVE Grand Theft Auto San Andreas!
  • Mark from Humboldt, IaI agree with Liquid Len, I heard it had to do with getting back on Coke or Heroin...Can't confirm though. Otherwise great song
  • Jeff from Sothington, CtThis Song is also played on the fictional radio station K-DST in GTA: San Andreas
  • Scottie from Sydney, Australiathe murderdolls ruined white wedding. Its up there for worst covers with Johney Cash's Hurt and All Saints Under the bridge
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, Calol this is NOT about a wedding.
  • Benn from Toronto, CanadaI watched this on Pop-Up Video once. That was when I first started getting into Billy Idol a lot. It said there that this song IS about his sister. He also recieved scars from the music video when he jumped through the glass.
    I watched the Wedding Singer just to see him in it.
  • Dylan from Sydney, United Statesbilly when he recorded white wedding he held a mic that was not turned on infront of a mic that he did not hold that was turned on so he could get the feel of the white wedding
  • Cory from Boonville, InJOSH IN LONDON, CHINA-- This song is not about Idol's actual little sister. "Little sister" is slang for girlfriend. He is singing about a woman/girl he loves marrying someone else while he still loves her. (thanks, Jon - Atlanta, GA)
  • John from Fairport, NyI find it interesting that no one has mentioned that a shotgun wedding is one in which the bride is pregnant. I had always thought that was what it was about, what with the irony of having a white wedding, a traditional symbol of virginity, and all.
  • Josh from London, ChinaNOOOOOOO! ur alll stupid Billy Idol rote this song about his little sister marrying a real jerk and billy disagreese with it but she has the wedding anyway god ur all such nimrods. u have almost insuted Billy Idol u brutal brutal people. my god
    thanx a bunch!
  • Cherrie from Cedar Lake, InMegan.
    I agree with you on the White Wedding Steve Missal is a brilliant man i have known and dated him and watched him for years playing with the Tellstars,(Back in the day).
    Cherrei.
    Cedar Lake,In
    Formally Chicago,Pullman,Roseland.
  • Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaI have heard that if a cocaine addict quits his drug, then later starts again, it's called a 'white wedding'. I have never been able to confirm this, but it would make a lot of sense. He keeps repeating, "It's a nice day to start again".
  • Someone from SomewhereThis song has also been covered by Doro (female German rock singer), Sentenced (Finnish metal band), and some other artists... There are even some dance mix of White Wedding around...
  • Megan from Cedar Lake, InIdol did NOT write this, his once-drummer, Steve Missal, did.
  • Khris from I Falls, MnIn CKY1, starring Bam Margera and the West Chester crew, on the DVD there is a music video for White Wedding. It is basically Bam and Brandon Dicammalo dressed up as hicks harassing a penniless street corner guitar player and a hitchhiker.
  • Jacquie from Somewhere, CanadaThe murderdolls re did this, and the music video.They re did the music video to be a spoof of american idol..it was horrible, but the song cover was great. They should of stuck to the orginal movie idea 'Creepy'
  • Chas from Webster, Nycovered by the band "Murderdolls" good song covered
  • Lani from Esco, CaThe character John Bender makes a reference to this song in the movie "The Breakfast Club".
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