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Discussion » Questions » Music » Has this been happening to you with Billy Joel's "Piano Man"?
WelbyQuentin

Has this been happening to you with Billy Joel's "Piano Man"?



For the past year or so, any time I hear the song on any radio station, the following lyrics are left out and they skip directly to "the waitress is practicing politics."

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, di da da
La la, di da 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



Uh, no thanks.

That song is my favorite, favorite, favorite Joel song. I want to hear the entire song.
I get pissed off every time.


While we're at it, let's all watch Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" without the shower scene. It's all good.

Posted - February 20, 2023
Tags : None

Responses


  • 44602
    Now that you have pointed that out, I did notice. That song is my second fav by him. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is my fav.
      February 20, 2023 11:23 AM MST
    5

  • 23572
    I've never heard this song, though I know of his The Stranger album.
    I'm listening as I type. This is a wonderful song! Very nice.
    At over seven minutes long, I bet radio stations would not play this entire song.
    I'm figuring Piano Man is now too long and they cut it. But I have no idea.

    Cool that you noticed, too.  :)


    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at February 26, 2023 5:02 PM MST
      February 20, 2023 7:18 PM MST
    4

  • 44602
    Piano Man is not that long. Also, Italian Restaurant gets played in full.
      February 23, 2023 8:55 AM MST
    3

  • 23572
    Took me a while to get back. Sorry.
    The version of "Piano Man" that I remember is close to six minutes long. (That seems to me to maybe be long for a radio play song, I don't know.)
    The version of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" to which I listened was over seven minutes. 
    But, to Joel' credit, neither song seems long at all. I've known "Piano Man" for forever but just the one listen to "Italian Restaurant" song surprised me at its length when I looked. I was into it all the way.
    :)
      February 28, 2023 5:31 PM MST
    3

  • 2128
    New York State Of Mind! Great too and I will post it for you!
      February 28, 2023 5:35 PM MST
    3

  • 2128
      February 28, 2023 5:37 PM MST
    3

  • 23572
    Yeah, you're right -- that is a good one, too!  :)
    Thanks!
      February 28, 2023 5:40 PM MST
    1

  • 23572
    I like his "Allentown," too.

    And my favorite part of his "we Didn't Start the Fire" is when a small section of the movie music score of Hitchcock's 'Psycho" is heard when he mentions the movie in the song.  :) This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at February 28, 2023 6:13 PM MST
      February 21, 2023 6:40 AM MST
    4

  • 1953
    I just heard that song on my way home from work and those lyrics were still there
      February 20, 2023 1:40 PM MST
    6

  • 23572
    That's good to know.  :)
      February 20, 2023 7:12 PM MST
    4

  • 34246
    I don't remember the last time I heard it on the radio. So sorry, I do not know if it has been modified in my area or not. 
     
    But I agree they should play all the lyrics.
      February 20, 2023 4:52 PM MST
    4

  • 23572
    I'm figuring it may be too long in length. But I don't really know. 

    Yeah, I like all the lyrics, and in songs we like, we want to hear them all.  :)
      February 20, 2023 7:21 PM MST
    5

  • 10052
    I haven't noticed missing lyrics, but I'll pay more attention the next time I hear it on the radio!


      February 20, 2023 7:31 PM MST
    5

  • 23572
    Like I've said elsewhere, maybe it's just because the song is long. :)

    And I admit I've heard it always happen on only two radio stations.
      February 20, 2023 8:12 PM MST
    5

  • 53503

     

      What is the significance of those particular lyrics in view of being omitted? What might have been offensive about them to cause someone to order such action?
    ~

      February 20, 2023 7:40 PM MST
    5

  • 23572
    I think it's maybe just because it's a long song.  :)

    As far as offensive lyrics, I still prefer Dire Straits' original version of "Money for Nothing." I like the part with the little faggot. I never found it offensive. I find the whole song sort of out there and just fun.


    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at February 26, 2023 5:03 PM MST
      February 20, 2023 8:10 PM MST
    5

  • 16763
    Do the Stones still play Brown Sugar? I'm not the type that gets offended by songs, but that one is atrocious.
      February 21, 2023 7:23 AM MST
    5

  • 23572
    I don't know. 
    I admit I recognize the title but may not even know the song well or know the lyrics.
      February 21, 2023 5:55 PM MST
    4

  • 16763
    Racist and misogynist at the same time.
    "Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
    Sold in a market down in New Orleans
    Scarred old slaver knows he's doing all right
    Hear him whip the women just around midnight"
      February 21, 2023 6:41 PM MST
    3

  • 53503
    :(
      February 21, 2023 9:54 PM MST
    2

  • 23572
    Wow.  :(
      February 28, 2023 5:33 PM MST
    1

  • 10052
    Real estate novelist who never had time for a wife? 

    Davy's still in the navy and probably will be for life? 

    Yep, I'm sure someone, somewhere, somehow could get offended by that. 
      February 21, 2023 7:18 PM MST
    4

  • 23572
    :)
      February 28, 2023 5:43 PM MST
    1

  • 17592
    I notice this kind of thing more often on video of movies and TV shows I watched previously. 
      February 20, 2023 10:09 PM MST
    4