Learn the story behind Billy Joel’s Piano Man lyrics, which reveal the struggles and camaraderie of a bar pianist and his patrons.
About
Billy Joel’s hit song “Piano Man” was released in 1973 and has since become one of his most popular and enduring songs. The lyrics tell the story of a piano player at a bar who entertains the patrons with his music, while also revealing the struggles and loneliness that he feels.
The song begins with the line “It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday,” setting the scene in a bar where the piano player is performing. The chorus features the now-famous line, “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.”
Throughout the rest of the song, the piano man describes the various characters who frequent the bar, including a waitress named “Molly” and a real estate novelist named “Paul.” He also reflects on his own life, admitting that “the microphone smells like a beer” and that “it’s me they’ve been coming to see / To forget about life for a while.”
Despite the melancholic undertones, the song has a sense of optimism and camaraderie, as the patrons come together to enjoy the music and forget their worries. The piano man’s role as a performer is both a source of joy for himself and comfort for those around him, making him an important figure in the community of the bar.
Billy Joel-piano man lyrics video
Billy Joel-piano man lyrics
It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There’s an old man sittin’ 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, di-di-da
La-la di-di-da da-dum
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 some place that he’d rather be
He says, “Bill, I believe this is killing me”
As a 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, di-di-da
La-la di-di-da da-dum
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
Sing us the 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
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, di-di-da
La-la di-di-da da-dum
Sing us the 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
FAQS
Was Piano Man a number 1 hit?
No, “Piano Man” was not a number 1 hit. It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973.
Is Piano Man a hard song to learn?
“Piano Man” is a moderately difficult song to learn to play on the piano. It is in the key of A major and has a moderate tempo. The song has a simple melody, but the chords can be challenging for beginners to play.
Is Piano Man one of the greatest songs of all time?
“Piano Man” is often ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and was ranked number 41 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Why is Piano Man such a good song?
“Piano Man” is a good song for a number of reasons. The melody is catchy and the lyrics are relatable. The song paints a vivid picture of a lonely piano player in a bar, and it captures the feeling of being an outsider. The song is also well-written and performed, and it has stood the test of time.
Who has the longest 1 hit song?
The longest number 1 hit song is “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin. It was on the charts for 57 weeks in 1959.
What rapper has the most number 1 hit songs?
Drake has the most number 1 hit songs of any rapper. He has 10 number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Who is number 1 in music right now?
According to Billboard, the number 1 artist in music right now is Olivia Rodrigo. She has had three number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2021.
Which male artist has the most number 1 songs?
The male artist with the most number 1 songs is Elvis Presley. He has 17 number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Which rap record was the first to hit number one?
The first rap record to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang. It was released in 1979.
Which one singer holds the world record for the most #1 hit singles on any chart or genre the artist’s music genre is?
The singer who holds the world record for the most number 1 hit singles on any chart or genre is Mariah Carey. She has 19 number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Does Kendrick have a number 1 hit?
Yes, Kendrick Lamar has a number 1 hit. His song “Humble” was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2017.
What was the first #1 hit not in English?
The first number 1 hit song that was not in English was “Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)” by Domenico Modugno. It was released in 1958 and became a hit in Italy and around the world.
Who was the most famous piano player in the world?
The most famous piano player in the world is probably Ludwig van Beethoven. He was a German composer and pianist who lived from 1770 to 1827. Beethoven is considered one of the greatest composers of all time, and his music is still performed and enjoyed by people all over the world.
What is the most notes in one song?
The song with the most notes in one song is “In C” by Terry Riley. It was written in 1960 and has 4,976 notes. The song is a minimalist piece of music that is based on a repeating pattern of four notes.
