PDF Playlist
Billy Joel
About Piano Man
"Piano Man" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. His first single in North America, it was included on Joel's 1973 album of the same name and later released as a single on November 2, 1973. The song is sung from Joel's point-of-view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there and the people he encountered. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972–73, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York-based record company at the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of the album Cold Spring Harbor. Joel describes various characters, including a bartender named John and a "real-estate novelist" named Paul, all based on real-life individuals. Joel's first major hit and his signature song, "Piano Man" peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974. Following Joel's breakthrough as a popular musician with the release of The Stranger, it became one of his most well-known songs. It is now a highlight of Joel's live shows, where he usually allows the audience to sing the chorus. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance."more »
- Year:
- 1973
- 5:38
- 15,838Views
- Playlists:
- #1
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(window.cf)c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="https://srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)};})();
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
It's nine o'clock on a SaturdayThe regular crowd shuffles inThere's an old man sitting next to meMakin' love to his tonic and ginHe says, "Son, can you play me a memoryI'm not really sure how it goesBut it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it completeWhen I wore a younger man's clothes"La la la, di da daLa la, di da da da dumSing us a song, you're the piano manSing us a song tonightWell, we're all in the mood for a melodyAnd you've got us feelin' alrightNow John at the bar is a friend of mineHe gets me my drinks for freeAnd he's quick with a joke or to light up your smokeBut there's someplace that he'd rather beHe 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 starIf I could get out of this place"Oh, la la la, di da daLa la, di da da da dumNow Paul is a real estate novelistWho never had time for a wifeAnd he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the NavyAnd probably will be for lifeAnd the waitress is practicing politicsAs the businessmen slowly get stonedYes, they're sharing a drink they call lonelinessBut it's better than drinkin' aloneSing us a song you're the piano manSing us a song tonightWell we're all in the mood for a melodyAnd you got us feeling alrightIt's a pretty good crowd for a SaturdayAnd the manager gives me a smile'Cause he knows that it's me they've been comin' to seeTo forget about life for a whileAnd the piano, it sounds like a carnivalAnd the microphone smells like a beerAnd they sit at the bar and put bread in my jarAnd say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"Oh, la la la, di da daLa la, di da da da dumSing us a song you're the piano manSing us a song tonightWell we're all in the mood for a melodyAnd you got us feeling alright
Struggling with Piano Man? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(window.cf)c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="https://srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)};})();
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA. He also has the third best-selling album in the United States with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2. more »
17 fans
Genre »
Rock
Style »
Folk Rock, Pop Rock
Sheet Music PDF Playlist
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
16 facts about this song
Album Details"Piano Man" is the title track of Billy Joel's second studio album, released in November 1973. |
InspirationBilly Joel wrote the song based on his experiences working as a piano-lounge singer for six months in 1972 at the Executive Room bar, in Los Angeles. |
Chart PerformanceThe song peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974. |
Signature Tune“Piano Man” has since become Joel’s signature song and it routinely closes his concerts. |
Song LengthThe original album version of "Piano Man" runs for 5 minutes and 37 seconds. |
StorylineThe song illustrates a narrative about a piano player in a bar who observes the world around him and captures the stories of the bar's regulars. |
Grammy NominationThe song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1975—Song of the Year and Record of the Year, although it didn't win either category. |
Harmonica Introduction"Piano Man" is recognized worldwide for its distinctive harmonica introduction. |
LegacyRolling Stone magazine ranked "Piano Man" at number 421 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. |
Cultural ImpactIn 2015, the Library of Congress selected "Piano Man" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its "cultural, historical, or artistic significance." |
Parallels to Real-LifeMany of the characters depicted in the song were based on real-life individuals Billy Joel met while working at the Executive Room. |
CertificationThe song was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 13, 2015, and Platinum on September 24, 2021. |
Music VideoDespite being released in an era before music videos became a common practice, a promotional film for the song was created in 1985, compiling clips from Joel's earlier promotional videos. |
Influence on Other ArtistsThe song and its distinctive piano riff have influenced and been referenced by numerous other musicians. |
Single VersionThe single version, also included on his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 collection, is shorter in duration (4:30), omitting the second verse and the second chorus. |
Unusual Song StructureUnlike many pop songs, "Piano Man" doesn't possess a traditional chorus. Instead, it has a refrain following each verse and serves as a kind of anthem. |
more »
