Piano Man by Billy Joel
Ranked #5,348 in Music, #147,030 overall
Billy Joel Piano Man
Piano Man is an early hit for Billy Joel, and arguably one of his best known and best loved songs to date.
Billy Joel is a well known and respected American Pianist and Singer/Songwriter. He was born in The Bronx, New York in 1949. He came from a musical family, and decided to follow that career having seen The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
Piano Man was released in 1973, and was the first in a long line of hit singles for Billy Joel.
I saw Billy Joel in concert in late 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand, where he put on an excellent outdoor show at Mount Smart Stadium, with Australia's singer/songwriter John Farnham as the opening act.

Song Lyrics: Piano Man by Billy Joel
Written by: Billy Joel from the Album: "Piano Man" - 1973
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin
He says, "Son, can you play me a memory?
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes"
La la la, de de da
La la, de de da da da
(Chorus:)
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 feelin' alright
Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me."
As the smile ran away from his face
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"
Oh, la la la, de de da
La la, de de da da da
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talkin' with Davy who's still in the navy
And probably will be for life
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
(Chorus)
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been comin' to see
To forget about life for a while
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"
Oh, la la la, de de da
La la, de de da da da
(Chorus)
Original Billy Joel CD's from Amazon
Billy Joel produced many great songs that you won't find on his Greatest Hits collections. If you enjoy his music, why not add some of his original CD's to your collection today.
Billy Joel Compilations from Amazon
Billy Joel has released a number of Greatest Hits and Live CD's. Why not pick up one of these today.
Billy Joel DVD's from Amazon
Relive a Billy Joel concert in your own living room, it helps bring the music to life.
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NYtoSCimjustme
Dec 24, 2011 @ 8:01 pm | delete
- This song always reminds me of my grandfather - At family get togethers for the holidays, Grampa used to play the piano and some of the family would sing along. I grew up on Long Island, NY where Billy Joel lived most of his life. Local guy singing a song that made me remember my grandfather fondly... even if gramps wasn't singing in a bar he was and always will be my 'Piano Man'... Great lens! Thanks Tony!
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poddys
Dec 25, 2011 @ 3:04 am | delete
- It's comments like this that make creating lenses worth while. Thanks so much for the lovely comment, and I am pleased this lens helped bring back fond memories.
My Dad was also the "Piano Man" in our family. He would always get on the piano and play all the old sing-a-long songs that people loved, and it brought the family together.
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Liveliferead
Dec 10, 2011 @ 7:56 pm | delete
- Awesome lens!!! Love this song!!!
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CruiseReady
Dec 8, 2011 @ 7:59 am | delete
- I know i'm not alone - I love this song!
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MAMellott
Oct 8, 2011 @ 2:33 am | delete
- Great lens, thank you for sharing! Billy Joel is one of my all time favorites.
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golfspice
Aug 15, 2011 @ 8:39 am | delete
- One of my favourites. I was introduced to BJ via "The Stranger" album and then seeing him live at Wembley Arena in the eighties. My favourite track is probably "Scenes form An Italian Restaurant"
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CastleRoy
May 22, 2011 @ 5:38 pm | delete
- a real fav great lens
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A-Redneck
Mar 3, 2011 @ 11:15 am | delete
- My favorite billy joel song is the one where he is standing on the edge of a bridge and is shown what his future will be if he doesn't jump. Powerful.
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Jewelsofawe
Jan 28, 2011 @ 1:59 pm | delete
- Very cool! I have a number of Billy Joel songs I like. He has a great voice~
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Momsbusy247 Dec 21, 2010 @ 12:29 pm | delete
- Love Billy Joel and Piano Man was probably one of his best. Nice lens, lots of fun,
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Tempus
Sep 22, 2010 @ 11:06 am | delete
- Love this song and love your lens. Piano Man's got that haunting melancholy quality to it that somehow burrows into your brain and stays there for ages. La la de de da da da.
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KarenTBTEN
Jan 29, 2010 @ 2:41 pm | delete
- Billy Joel is a favorite of mine, too.
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cannedguds
Mar 12, 2009 @ 11:43 pm | delete
- good work, poddys. Billy Joel's my main man and here in our place, I'm the only one who knows how to sing this and Captain Jack! I really like the part, " Yes, they're sharing a drink called loneliness and it's better than drinking alone"... a sip of hope & acceptance... thanks for sharing this! and thanks for visiting my lens!
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AndyPo
Jan 3, 2009 @ 5:58 am | delete
- Great lens. Another one of my favourites
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OhMe
Nov 25, 2008 @ 8:08 am | delete
- I saw Billy Joel one time in concert and it was quite a treat. I enjoyed it very much and I enjoyed this lens.
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Evelyn_Saenz Nov 21, 2008 @ 6:09 pm | delete
- The Piano Man is one of my favorite songs. Whenever it comes on the radio it makes me smile.
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debnet
Nov 16, 2008 @ 9:50 am | delete
- Great lens! i really enjoy Billy Joel :)
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lisadh Oct 29, 2008 @ 11:21 am | delete
- The Piano Man is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs (along with Goodnight Saigon). Great lens!
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Joan4
Oct 27, 2008 @ 9:33 pm | delete
- Oh this is one of my favorite songs - especially for piano bar sing-alongs!
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clouda9
Oct 22, 2008 @ 11:56 am | delete
- Hey guy...long time no see :) This is one of my favorite songs! Love how you put together your lyric lenses! 5*'s for this one for sure.
Spread the positive love on Squidoo this week. More info at my SquidTop blog http://oncloud9.squidtop.com/
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Aug 29, 2008 @ 9:54 pm | delete
- Great lens! Do you know, I bought a 2-cassette set (remember cassettes) of Billy Joels Greatest Hits when I lived in Japan ~ there were two bonus tracks that had not been released in the US on that set.
See you on gather.....
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animal_lover79 Jun 24, 2008 @ 7:58 pm | delete
- Love this song, and I'm a big fan of Billy Joel!
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About Poddys
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Tony Payne is a freelance writer who lives on the South Coast of England with his wife Debbie.
He has worked in the IT Industry all his life, and has...
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