# Billy Joel

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York) is a pianist, singer and songwriter. A six-time Grammy award winner, he is one of the best selling artists in music history.

## Quotes

* Don't take any shit from anybody!
** After singing "Piano Man" at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, (25 February 2006), also used as farewell comment to the audience after many shows.
* And in truth, of course, I'm not just 60 - I'm twelve, I'm 23, I'm 37, I'm 42, I'm 18. I'm every age I've ever been. Depending on what day of the week it is and what the situation calls for at the moment.
** Without the Nazis, there wouldn't have been Billy Joel – Die Welt (10 May 2009)

## Song lyrics
### Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

* She's got a way about her I don't know what it is. But I know that I can't live without her. She's got a way of pleasin' I don't know what it is But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway.
** She's Got a Way.
* She comes to me when I'm feelin' down Inspires me without a sound She touches me and I get turned around.
** She's Got a Way.
* You can walk away from your mistakes You can turn your back on what you do Just a little smile is all it takes And you can have your cake and eat it too. Loneliness will get to you somehow But ev'rybody loves you now.
** Everybody Loves You Now

### Piano Man (1973)

* It's nine o' clock on a Saturday Regular crowd shuffles in There's an old man sitting next to me Making love to his tonic and gin.
** Piano Man.
* Sing us a song you're the piano man Sing us a song tonight. Well we're all in the mood for a melody And you've got us feeling alright.
** Piano Man.
* And the waitress is practicing politics As the businessmen slowly get stoned Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness But it's better than drinking alone.
** Piano Man.
* If I traveled all my life And I never get to stop and settle down Long as I have you by my side There's a roof above and good walls all around You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome I need you in my house 'cause you're my home.
** You're My Home.
* From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand And his daring life of crime made him a legend in his time East and west of the Rio Grande. Well, he started with a bank in Colorado In the pocket of his vest a Colt he hid. And his age and his size took the teller by surprise, And the word spread of Billy the Kid.
** The Ballad of Billy the Kid.
* So you play your albums and you smoke your pot And you meet your girlfriend in the parking lot Oh, but still you're aching for the things you haven't got, What went wrong? And if you can't understand why your world is so dead And why you've got to keep in style and feed your head Well, you're twenty one and still you mother makes your bed And that's too long.
** Captain Jack.

### Streetlife Serenade (1974)

* Streetlife serenaders Have no obligations Hold no grand illusions Need no stimulation.
** Streetlife Serenader.
* Hiding up in the mountains Laying low in the canyons Goin' nowhere in the streets With the Spanish names Makin' love with the natives In their Hollywood places Making up for all the time gone by Los Angelenos All came from somewhere.
** Los Angelenos.
* I am the entertainer and I know just where I stand Another serenader and another long haired band Today I am your champion, I may have won your hearts, But I know the game, you'll forget my name, And I won't be here in another year If I don't stay on the charts.
** The Entertainer.
* I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show You've heard my latest record, it's been on the radio It took me years to write it, they were the best years of my life It was a beautiful song but it ran too long If you're gonna have a hit you gotta make it fit So they cut it down to 3:05.
** The Entertainer.
* I am the entertainer, the idol of my age I make all kinds of money when I go on the stage You see me in the papers, I've been in the magazines But if I go cold, I won't get sold I get put in the back in the discount rack Like another can of beans.
** The Entertainer.

### Turnstiles (1976)

* So many faces in and out of my life Some will last Some will be just now and then. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again. Say goodbye to Hollywood Say goodbye my baby Say goodbye to Hollywood Say goodbye my baby.
** Say Goodbye to Hollywood.
* Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity Our reason coexists with our insanity And though we choose between reality and madness It's either sadness or euphoria.
** Summer, Highland Falls.
* Some folks like to get away Take a holiday from the neighborhood. Hop a flight to Miami Beach Or to Hollywood But I'm talking a Greyhound On the Hudson River Line. I'm in a New York state of mind.
** New York State of Mind.
* It was so easy living day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, The Daily News.
** New York State of Mind.
* There's a place in the world for the angry young man With his working class ties and his radical plans He refuses to bend he refuses to crawl And he's always at home with his back to the wall And he's proud of his scars and the battles he's lost And struggles and bleeds as he hangs on his cross And likes to be known as the angry young man.
** Angry Young Man.
* I believe I've passed the age of consciousness and righteous rage I found that just surviving was a noble fight I once believed in causes too I had my pointless point of view And life went on no matter who was wrong or right.
** Angry Young Man.
* So before we end and then begin We'll drink a toast to how it's been A few more hours to be complete A few more nights on satin sheets A few more times that I can say I've loved these days.
** I've Loved These Days.
* Seen the lights go out Broadway I saw the Empire State laid low And life went on beyond the Palisades They all bought Cadillacs And left there long ago.
** Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).
* You know those lights were bright on Broadway That was so many years ago Before we all lived here in Florida Before the Mafia took over Mexico. There are not many who remember They say a handful still survive To tell the world about The way the lights went out And keep the memory alive.
** Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway).

### The Stranger (1977)

* It seems such a waste of time If that's what it's all about If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.
** Movin' Out (Anthony's Song).
* Well, we all fall in love But we disregard the danger Though we share so many secrets There are some we never tell. Why were you so surprised That you never saw the stranger? Did you ever let your lover see The stranger in yourself?
** The Stranger.
* I don't want clever conversation I never want to work that hard. I just want someone that I can talk to I want you just the way you are. I need to know that you will always be The same old someone that I knew What will it take till you believe in me The way that I believe in you.
** Just the Way You Are.
* I remember those days hanging out At the village green Engineer boots, leather jackets And tight blue jeans Drop a dime in the box play the Song about New Orleans Cold beer, hot lights My sweet romantic teenage nights.
** Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.
* Brenda and Eddie were the popular steadies And the king and the queen of the prom Riding around with the car top down and the radio on Nobody looked any finer Or was more of a hit at the Parkway Diner We never knew we could want more than that out of life Surely Brenda and Eddie would always know how to survive.
** Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.
* Brenda and Eddie had had it already By the summer of '75 From the high to the low To the end of the show For the rest of their lives. They couldn't go back to the greasers. The best they could do was pick up the pieces. We always knew they would both find a way to get by. That's all I heard about Brenda and Eddie. Can't tell you more than I told you already. And here we are wavin' Brenda and Eddie goodbye.
** Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.
* But you know you can't always see when you're right You got your passion you got your pride But don't you know only fools are satisfied? Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
** Vienna.
* You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud We might be laughing a bit too loud But that never hurt no one. Come on Virginia show me a sign Send up a signal I'll throw you the line. The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind Never lets in the sun. And only the good die young.
** Only the Good Die Young.
* They say there's a heaven for those who will wait Some say it's better but I say it ain't. I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints Sinners are much more fun... And only the good die young.
** Only the Good Die Young.
* She can kill with a smile She can wound with her eyes She can ruin your faith with her casual lies And she only reveals what she wants you to see She hides like a child But she's always a woman to me.
** She's Always a Woman.
* Oh, she takes care of herself She can wait if she wants She's ahead of her time Oh, and she never gives out And she never gives in She just changes her mind.
** She's Always a Woman.

### 52nd Street (1978)

* Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you You had to open up your mouth You had to be a big shot, didn't you All your friends were so knocked out You had to have the last word, last night You know what everything's about You had to have a white hot spotlight You had to be a big shot last night.
** Big Shot.
* Honesty is such a lonely word Everyone is so untrue Honesty is hardly ever heard And mostly what I need from you.
** Honesty.
* I can always find someone To say they sympathize If I wear my heart out on my sleeve. But I don't want some pretty face To tell me pretty lies. All I want is someone to believe.
** Honesty.
* I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright. I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home. I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life. Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone.
** My Life.
* I never said you had to offer me a second chance. I never said I was a victim of circumstance. I still belong, don't get me wrong. And you can speak your mind But not on my time.
** My Life.
* They will tell you, you can't sleep alone in strange place. Then they'll tell you, you can't sleep with somebody else. Ah, but sooner or later you sleep in your own space. Either way, it's okay, you wake with yourself.
** My Life.

### Glass Houses (1980)

* Now think of all the years you tried to Find someone to satisfy you. I might be as crazy as you say. If I'm crazy then it's true That it's all because of you And you wouldn't want me any other way. You may be right I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for. It's too late to fight It's too late to change me. You may be wrong for all I know But you may be right.
** You May Be Right.
* It's just a fantasy It's not the real thing It's just a fantasy It's not the real thing. But sometimes a fantasy Is all you need.
** Sometimes a Fantasy.
* All your life you had to stand in line Still you’re standing on your feet. All your choices made you change your mind Now your calendar's complete. Don't wait for answers Just take your chances Don't ask me why.
** Don't Ask Me Why.
* Yesterday you were an only child Now your ghosts have gone away. You can kill them in the classic style. Now you, "parlez vous francais" Don't look for answers You took your chances Don't ask my why.
** Don't Ask Me Why.
* What's the matter with the crowd I'm seeing? "Don't you know that they're out of touch?" Should I try to be a straight 'A' student? "If you are then you think too much. Don't you know about the new fashion honey? All you need are looks and a whole lotta money." It's the next phase, new wave , dance craze, anyways It's still rock and roll to me. Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me.
** It's Still Rock and Roll to Me.

### The Nylon Curtain (1982)

* Every child had a pretty good shot To get at least as far as their old man got But something happened on the way to that place They threw an American flag in our face.
** Allentown.
* Well I'm living here in Allentown And it's hard to keep a good man down But I won't be getting up today.
** Allentown.
* You have to learn to pace yourself. Pressure. You're just like everybody else. Pressure. You've only had to run so far, So good. But you will come to a place Where the only thing you feel Are loaded guns in your face. And you'll have to deal with Pressure.
** Pressure.
* We held the coastline They held the highlands And they were sharp As sharp as knives They heard the hum of our motors They counted the rotors And waited for us to arrive. And we would all go down together We said we'd all go down together Yes we would all go down together.
** Goodnight Saigon

### An Innocent Man (1983)

* You don't have to start a fight I'm a man who can't say no If you've got a little risky business Just point me where you want to go Take me to the power Take me to the heat Take me to the cleaners If it's open to the street Something's got to pay off Something's got to break Someone's got a fortune that they're begging Me to take.
** Easy Money.
* Some people stay far away from the door If there's a chance of it opening up They hear a voice in the hall outside And hope that it just passes by. Some people live with the fear of a touch And the anger of having been a fool. They will not listen to anyone So nobody tells them a lie.
** An Innocent Man.
* Some people hope for a miracle cure Some people just accept the world as it is. But I'm not willing to lay down and die Because I am an innocent man.
** An Innocent Man.
* If you said goodbye to me tonight There would still be music left to write. What else could I do? I'm so inspired by you. That hasn't happened for the longest time.
** The Longest Time.
* I don't care what consequence it brings I have been a fool for lesser things. I want you so bad. I think you ought to know that I intend to hold you for The longest time.
** The Longest Time.
* Didn't I say I wasn't ready for romance? Didn't we promise we would only be friends? And so we danced, though it was only a slow dance. I started breaking my promises right there and then.Didn't I swear there would be no complications? Didn't you want someone who's seen it all before? Now that you're here, it's not the same situation, Suddenly, I don't remember the rules anymore.This night is mine. It's only you and I. Tomorrow is a long time away; This night can last forever.
** This Night
* Listen boy Don't want to see you let a good thing Slip away. You know I don't like watching Anybody make the same mistakes I made. She's a real nice girl And she's always there for you. But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do.
** Tell Her About It.
* Tell her about it Tell her everything you feel Give her every reason to accept That you're for real. Tell her about it. Tell her all your crazy dreams. Let her know you need her Let her know how much she means.
** Tell Her About It.
* Tell her about it Let her know how much you care When she can't be with you Tell her you wish you were there. Tell her about it. Every day before you leave Pay her some attention Give her something to believe.
** Tell Her About It.
* Uptown girl She's been living in her uptown world. I bet she never had a backstreet guy I bet her mama never told her why. I'm gonna try for an uptown girl. She's been living in her white bread world As long as anyone with hot blood can And now she's looking for a downtown man That's what I am.
** Uptown Girl.
* I know the moment isn't right To tell the girl a comical line To keep the conversation light I guess I'm just frightened out of my mind. But if that's how I feel Then it's the best feeling I've ever known It's undeniably real Leave a tender moment alone.
** Leave a Tender Moment Alone.
* Learned stickball as a formal education. Lost a lot of fights But it taught me how to lose O.K.. Oh, I heard about sex But not enough. I found you could dance And still look tough anyway. Oh yes I did. I found out a man ain't just being macho. Ate an awful lot of late night drive-in food, drank a lot of take home pay. I thought I was the Duke of Earl When I made it with a red-haired girl In the Chevrolet.
** Keeping the Faith.
* You can get just so much From a good thing. You can linger too long In your dreams. Say goodbye to the Oldies but goodies. You know the good ole days weren't always good, And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.
** Keeping the Faith.
* I told you my reasons For the whole revival. Now I'm going outside to have An ice cold beer in the shade. Oh, I'm going to listen to my 45's. Ain't it wonderful to be alive When the rock 'n' roll plays, yeah. When the memory stays, yeah. I'm keeping the faith. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Keeping the faith.
** Keeping the Faith.

### Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II (1985)

* You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good; You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood. It's alright, it's alright; Sometimes that's what it takes. You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes.
** You're Only Human (Second Wind).
* Don't forget your second wind; Sooner or later you'll get your second wind. It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain. You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again. It's alright, it's alright.
** You're Only Human (Second Wind).
* I'm young enough to still see the passionate boy I used to be. But I'm old enough to say I got a good look at the other side. I know we got to work real hard, maybe even for the rest of our lives. But right now I just want to take what I can Get tonight.While the night is still young, I want to keep making love to you, While the night is still young.
** The Night Is Still Young.

### The Bridge (1986)

* This is the time to remember 'Cause it will not last forever. These are the days to hold on to 'Cause we won't, although we'll want to. This is the time, But time is gonna change. You've given me the best of you But now I need the rest of you.
** This Is the Time.
* Some love is just a lie of the heart The cold remains of what began with a passionate start. And they may not want it to end But it will, it's just a question of when. I've lived long enough to have learned The closer you get to the fire the more you get burned. But that won't happen to us Because it's always been a matter of trust.
** A Matter of Trust.
* She's got style and she's got her own money So she's not another honey you can quickly disarm She's got the eyes that make you realize She won't be hypnotized by your usual charm. You've got your plan of attack That won't attract the modern woman When you're an old fashioned man She understands the things you're doin' She's a modern woman.
** Modern Woman.
* Late at night When it's dark and cold I reach out For someone to hold When I'm blue When I'm lonely She comes through She's the only one who can My baby grand Is all I need.
** Baby Grand (sung with Ray Charles).
* They say that no one's gonna play this on the radio They said the melancholy blues were dead and gone But only songs like these Played in minor keys Keep those memories holding on.
** Baby Grand.
* I'm so romantic I'm such a passionate man Sometimes I panic What if nobody finds out who I am?
** Big Man on Mulberry Street.

### Storm Front (1989)

* We didn't start the fire It was always burning Since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No we didn't light it But we tried to fight it.
** We Didn't Start the Fire.
* I've got bills to pay and children who need clothes. I know there's fish out there but where God only knows. They say these waters aren't what they used to be. But I've got people back on land who count on me.
** The Downeaster Alexa.
* Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot. Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got. Maybe I'm headed over the hill Maybe I've set myself up for the kill. Tell me how much do you think you can take Until the heart in you is starting to break? Sometimes it feels like it will.
** I Go to Extremes.
* Well I'm shameless when it comes to loving you. I'd do anything you want me to I'd do anything at all. And I'm standing here for all the world to see There ain't that much left of me That has very far to fall.
** Shameless.
* And so my child and I came to this place To meet him eye to eye and face to face. He made my daughter laugh, then we embraced. We never knew what friends we had Until we came to Leningrad.
** Leningrad.
* But darling there you go, slipping away into a state of grace Granted, this world is not a perfect place. Still it's the world that I'm in. Here I am talking while you don't hear a word I say. Knowing you're watching me from far away Somewhere that I've never been.
** State of Grace.
* And every time I've held a rose It seems I only felt the thorns. And so it goes, and so it goes. And so will you soon I suppose.
** And So It Goes.

### River of Dreams (1993)

* I've seen those big machines come rolling through the quiet pines. Blue suits and bankers with their Volvos and their valentines. Give us this day our daily discount outlet merchandise. Raise up a multiplex and we will make a sacrifice. Now we're gonna get the big business. Now we're gonna get the real thing. Everybody's all excited about it.
** No Man's Land.
* Advice is cheap you can take it from me. It's yours to keep 'cause opinions are free. Nobody knows about the trouble I've seen. Nobody's perfect, mister, nobody's clean. It cost too much and takes too long to find out too late. Some words are not heard 'til after they're spoken. Your role was protective, your soul was too defective. Some people just don't have a heart to be broken.
** The Great Wall of China.
* We could have gone all the way to the Great Wall of China If you'd only had a little more faith in me. In lieu of diamonds, gold and platinum, reminders will still shine bright. All the king's men and all the king's horses Can't put you together the way you used to be. We could have been standing on the Great Wall of China.
** The Great Wall of China.
* These days there's a million ways To be pulled and torn, to be misdirected. These times there are sins and crimes On the morning shows for the disconnected. I look and I write my book And I walk away with the wrong impressions. I don't care 'cause I've done my share. And I need some time for my own obsessions It doesn't matter, I've let that life go by. It's been forgotten 'cause all I wanted was you.
** Blonde Over Blue.
* Some days I have to give right in to the blues Despite how I try to keep fightin'. It's a sure shot I'm going to lose. And I'll tell you why. You think I'm crazy. It's such a sad composition. But can you blame me For what's been causing my bad disposition? Ain't nothing new with my blue situation And nothing's fine it's just a minor variation.
** A Minor Variation.
* Some things were perfectly clear, seen with the vision of youth. No doubts and nothing to fear, I claimed the corner on truth. These days it's harder to say I know what I'm fighting for. My faith is falling away. I'm not that sure anymore. Shades of grey wherever I go The more I find out the less that I know. Black and white is how it should be But shades of grey are the colors I see.
** Shades of Grey.
* She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence. She gives me all her tenderness and takes away my pain. And so far she hasn't run, though I swear she's had her moments. She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain.
** All About Soul.
* It's all about soul. It's all about faith and a deeper devotion. It's all about soul. 'Cause under the love is a stronger emotion. She's got to be strong 'Cause so many things getting out of control Should drive her away. So why does she stay? It's all about soul.
** All About Soul.
* Goodnight, my angel Time to close your eyes. And save these questions for another day. I think I know what you've been asking me. I think you know what I've been trying to say. I promised I would never leave you. And you should always know Wherever you may go No matter where you are I never will be far away.
** Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel).
* Goodnight, my angel Now it's time to dream. And dream how wonderful your life will be. Someday your child may cry And if you sing this lullabye Then in your heart There will always be a part of me. Someday we'll all be gone. But lullabyes go on and on... They never die. That's how you And I Will be.
** Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel).
* In the middle of the night I go walking in my sleep Through the valley of fear To a river so deep. And I've been searching for something Taken out of my soul Something I would never lose Something somebody stole.
** The River of Dreams.

## External links

* Billy Joel's Official Site