I have the music for Billy Joel's classic song called Piano Man. Lately, as I learn to play it, I have marveled at how well written it is. Not only can Bill turn a phrase but he can write a short story and stick it in a song.
The singer is playing piano in a bar and paints an enduring picture of the bar's inhabitants. The regular crowd shuffles in. The old man sitting next to me, making love to his tonic and gin. He says, "Son, can you play me a melody? 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." Clearly, this is something that the writer had experienced.
We hear about the bartender who is quick with a joke or to light up your smoke, but he thinks, quite humbly, that he should be a movie star. And of course, there is Davy, who is still in the Navy, and probably will be for life.
Everyone who has drank in a bar or pub can identify with this song a bit. "They're sharing a drink they call loneliness, but it's better than drinking alone." For folks who play piano or keyboard, this song is a big favorite to play. For those who like to listen to music, it is a short story crammed into a song. It paints a picture that's sad and sweet, but I know it complete.
I just went over to Wikipedia and typed in a search for the song. I saw that it only made it to #25 on the charts when released, which is incredible. I also saw that they made him cut the length. Oh, yeah, the waitress who was practicing politics? She became his wife.
It's hard to believe that this song came out in 1973. Where have all those years gone? The kids are grown and gone. The grandkids have been born and are nearly grown.My hair is grey, what there is left, and I feel like going to a bar and slowly getting stoned. Maybe listening to some live music simply because "I'm in the mood for a melody."
From the keyboard of life, I'm CE Wills.
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