14 Billy Joel Lyrics That Prove He's Still 'The Entertainer' Of Our Lifetime | The Odyssey Online
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14 Billy Joel Lyrics That Prove He's Still 'The Entertainer' Of Our Lifetime

From "The Stranger" to "An Innocent Man" to "The River of Dreams," Billy Joel has been releasing albums filled with lyrical genius.

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14 Billy Joel Lyrics That Prove He's Still 'The Entertainer' Of Our Lifetime

Everyone knows the classic Billy Joel songs. "Uptown Girl," "Piano Man," "Only the Good Die Young," etc. But have you ever taken a moment to truly listen to a Billy Joel song and appreciate the lyrics? His lyrics are incomparable to any other artist. Joel takes inspiration from prominent real-world events and things that he witnesses in his own life and neighborhood and turns them into beautiful poems set to beautiful melodies.

Here are 14 lyrics that prove that Billy Joel is the ultimate king of songwriting.

"We Didn't Start the Fire"

The entire song, really.

"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"

"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 drinkin' alone"

"The River of Dreams"

"I don't know why I go walking at night

But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore

I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life

Until I find what it is that I've been looking for"

"She's Always a Woman"

"She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool

But she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree

And the most she will do is throw shadows at you

But she's always a woman to me"

"Goodnight Saigon"

"We came in spastic

Like tameless horses

We left in plastic

As numbered corpses"

"Just The Way You Are"

"I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble

We never could have come this far

I took the good times; I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are"

"New York State of Mind"

"It was so easy livin' day by day

Out of touch with the rhythym and blues

But now I need a little give and take

The New York Times, the Daily News"

"You're My Home"

"If I travel all my life

And I never get 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"

"Only the Good Die Young"

"The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind

Never lets in the sun

Darlin' only the good die young"

"It's Still Rock and Roll To Me"

"Oh, what's the matter with the crowd I'm seeing?

'Don't you know that they're out of touch?'

Well, should I try to be a straight-A student?

'If you are then you think too much'"

"You May Be Right"

"Remember how I found you there

Alone in your electric chair

I told you dirty jokes until you smiled

You were lonely for a man

I said take me as I am

'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while"

"The Ballad of Billy the Kid"

"Well he never traveled heavy

yes he always rode alone

and he soon put many older guns to shame

and he never had a sweetheart

but he finally found a home

under the boothill grave that bears his name."

"Vienna"

"You've got your passion, you've got your pride

But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?"

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