Not his words. Or music. Or title. Written by Freddy Wexler. The entire song was finished. Joel said he just wanted to sing it because it "sounded like something he could have written" - but it's not nearly as good as his own songs.
@@redadamearthit was co written with Wexler and others I can’t remember their names. Billy went through his old unfinished work and with collaboration Turn The Lights Back On was created. So it wasn’t like Wexler wrote the whole song and then shoved Billy in front of the piano.
Back in the late 80's early 90's my husband and I had a 60' boat in Newport Beach Bay! We played "River of Dreams " CD EVERY time we were onvrge boat! My husband passed away Sept 17th 2021 and I'm listening to EVERY SONG on this CD, dancing I'm my kitchen and I'm smiling ear to EAR with memories flooding!! Thank God for music and memories!! Thank you Billy Joel!!!🥰👍✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏
I’m going back to Billy’s last album. It’s 2024 and his new song just came out. “Turn The Lights Back On.” I never knew how much I missed Billy Joel. Listening to some of these songs I felt like I was hearing some Beatles and some Bowie and some other artists in his music. It’s all good. It’s heavy guitar music. (At first) Not exactly my favorite. Bring on the piano and violins! also didn’t realize I had heard River of Dreams before! I guess they did give it airplay. The man has an incredible voice. I understand the hating the sound of your own voice. His voice though is strong and great range. Anyway. Just a random comment I felt like noting. I never was good at knowing all the artists and their music. Not trying to pretend I know anything. When I heard Billy say, in interview, River of Dreams (album) was HIS favorite and he worked so hard on it and…I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was to not have your hard work loved and popular. I can understand saying “fuck it” and retiring.
Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain Summer time has come and gone, and everybody’s home again Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs I can still taste the wedding cake and it’s sweet after all these years These are the last words I have to say That’s why this took so long to write There will be other words some other day But that’s the story of my life There’s comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall They’re pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade And these are the last words I have to say Before another age goes by With all those other songs I’ll have to play But that’s the story of my life And it’s so clear standing here where I am Ain’t that what justice is for? Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn anymore Stack the chairs on the table tops Hang the sheets on the chandeliers It slows down but it never stops Ain’t it sweet after all these years And these are the last words I have to say It’s always hard to say goodbye But now it’s time to put this book away Ain’t that the story of my life
I have chosen this song as my funeral song. Lyrically perfect and love the B3 played on it. Jan 2022: since writing my original post, I've been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. But I have no intention of using it quite yet.
The date is Mon January 22nd 2024 and about 30mins ago Billy Joel announced through RUclips that he is releasing a new single on Feb 1st. While I'm BEYOND HYPED for this I just got a twinge of sorrow realizing that this song will no longer be the final song he wrote and sang the lyrics of
Billy did insist at the time that maybe one day he might return to writing. He even had the line in the song "There will be other words some other day." At the same time, I don't disagree with you. It seemed a perfect bow on his pop career. It could still be that bow in the sense that it is still unlikely he will ever put out another new album of pop.
@@orbison I just re-watched the teaser and I just realized that it starts with him turning the page on Famous Last Words... What a way to announce that you're back in the game
And there goes the Entertainer, a great career of amazing songs from playing in bars to selling out stadiums. He’s been through it all and he leaves us with one final serenade. Long Live The Piano Man ❤️.
Though your album making and song writing days are gone but people will never forget your story and the lifes you changed. Long Island will never forget
If you watch the video for 'Turn The Lights Back On' the notebook at the piano has 'Famous Last Words' written on it, before he turns it to a blank sheet. At the end of the video the completed lyrics of 'Turn The Lights Back On' are written in the notebook.
The best end of the summer song! His last song on his last album, unless you count "Fantasies and Delusions" but there's no words in that album obviously. I'm actually glad he hasn't put out anymore albums. He's my favorite artist, and I think his discography is perfect the way it is. If he felt pressured to put out another album today it just wouldn't be as good.
Thank you Billy Joel i'll keep you in my heart i hope for you the best in your life and you'll inspire me to be a great pianist. I send you a big hug and see you around piano man!
so ....after all , these are his famous last words ,the last serenade ....? come on Billy, you said " there will be other words some other day " , we are waiting for 20 years now . we want to hear some other words ...
In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
I love , love this song ..I can visualize it so well. Resorts are lonely when the crowds go Billy Joel is such a talented singer/songwriter , I love to hear him talk about how he writes , really understands the message he's trying to express .
This song brings back childhood through adult memories of the East End, the place I call home! Billy calls it Avalon, my grandmother called the North Fork "God's Country. ". May its farmland and seashore continue to enchant and inspire all who visit and those lucky enough to live here
Grazie di tutto Piano Man ... Ancora oggi non passa un giorno che non ascolto qualcuna delle tue 100 canzoni .... Tutti gioielli .... Per me sei stato il miglioreb👏🎹👏🎹👏
Love tnis song with all my heartit really boost my energy make me wanna dance and dont worry about anything makes me happy and full of joy thanks Billy Joel love your songs❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I've said this for a long time now, this needs to be the very last song at his very last concert... If it's not, I'll be slightly disappointed, but he's Billy. Fucking. Joel. He can do what he wants. That's all there is to say, ;)
Steven Kaplan, This Is My Beautiful (Mother Linda Kaplan) as sick as she was with stage four + 1 cancer and covid-19 which killed her before she passed away, she wanted me to play all of Billy Joel's entire catalog which I did and at the time I had a nightclub sound system in my which had 90,000 Watt and her words she just loved to hear every single word phrase that's Billy Joel played. Unfortunately she never got the chance to see him live in concert which was one of her biggest desires I wanted to get tickets for her to take her to Madison square garden in New York. So you could say these are the last sweet words from her son who loved her so much. As well as her older son Mark who she's now with is now also with my beloved father Saul Kaplan from the time we were little kids in Brooklyn New York we always had a great music that's the legacy my parents gave us and I thank them so much
Famous last words are things people have said which turn out to be very wrong. Thus I hope his meaning is "these are the last words I have to write" may, or may not be the case. We will see...
In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
Billy Joel references this song at the start of the video for Turn the lights back on. It's the last worn out page of an old song book, with only blank pages afterwards. ruclips.net/video/UOf6CMbHPuA/видео.htmlsi=sRMx9pqTmRnwCkZU&t=4
Salve Magister. They changed the book! It used to be "A hunting we will go" and then a few pages past it "Halls of the Goblin King" - but my first piano teacher would kind of hit my hands if I stopped reading the music and just tried to play by ear. So I stopped going to lessons and stopped practicing. Every once in awhile I would try to pick it up again when I was in a place with a piano. Does not feel same on Keyboard we got for my son. Sons have both taken lessons. Josh on Keyboard/Piano and Bagpipes... Douglas on Piano. Douglas even composed! Sooo where should I start gentle Magister.
Nirvana have sold more after Cobain's death, however their commercial peak was obviously Nevermind. In 93 their final album only sold a million more than Joel. Pop artists Mariah Carey sold 30 million, Ace of Base 25 and Janet Jackson 20 It wasn't only Pop artists that easily outsold Nirvana that year it was also rock with Bryan Adams (10 million), Meat Loaf (15) and Aerosmith (20) IN UTERO NIRVANA Sales: 7,795,047 Rank in 1993 : 15 RIVER OF DREAMS BILLY JOEL Sales: 6,751,480 Rank in 1993 : 16
Why did I not know that Billy Joel's parents were German and English? Something about him seemed so Italian I just assumed he had changed his last name to something shorter.
Not true. In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
Sadder than this being his “last words” is the fact that the production is anything BUT true to his style. This dance rhythm mix is an insult to his talent. No wonder he didn’t want to perform it live. This track is WAY over-manipulated.
After 30 years we are finally getting the "other words". cant wait for the "some other day"
Unfortunately he didn’t write the new song by himself.
Not his words. Or music. Or title. Written by Freddy Wexler. The entire song was finished. Joel said he just wanted to sing it because it "sounded like something he could have written" - but it's not nearly as good as his own songs.
@@redadamearth To hell with it. It's perfect. Well worth 30 years.😎
@@redadamearthit was co written with Wexler and others I can’t remember their names. Billy went through his old unfinished work and with collaboration Turn The Lights Back On was created. So it wasn’t like Wexler wrote the whole song and then shoved Billy in front of the piano.
@@danielmarra1555 lmao this is the definition of trying too hard
Back in the late 80's early 90's my husband and I had a 60' boat in Newport Beach Bay! We played "River of Dreams " CD EVERY time we were onvrge boat! My husband passed away Sept 17th 2021 and I'm listening to EVERY SONG on this CD, dancing I'm my kitchen and I'm smiling ear to EAR with memories flooding!! Thank God for music and memories!! Thank you Billy Joel!!!🥰👍✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏
Sympathies for your loss from Down Under.
Get well soon..keep his memories in your mond
Oh dear baby girl.
I'm so sorry for ur loss, but so happy for u that River of Dreams can take u back and give u joy. ❣️
So sorry for you loss...glad you have these great songs to remind you of many loving memories.
Closing down for the season
I found the last of the souvenirs
I can still taste the wedding cake
And it's sweet after all these years
Years back, the day before I graduated from university, I snuck into the music hall and played this to myself on the baby grand at 2AM.
A memory to enjoy for the rest of time....
I do that too. Spent hours on a 1982 ski trip sitting at a piano learning Allentown.
RIGHT ON!!🥰🥰👍👍👍👍
Nice👍
Baby grand, I see what you did there
I’m going back to Billy’s last album. It’s 2024 and his new song just came out. “Turn The Lights Back On.” I never knew how much I missed Billy Joel. Listening to some of these songs I felt like I was hearing some Beatles and some Bowie and some other artists in his music. It’s all good. It’s heavy guitar music. (At first) Not exactly my favorite. Bring on the piano and violins! also didn’t realize I had heard River of Dreams before! I guess they did give it airplay. The man has an incredible voice. I understand the hating the sound of your own voice. His voice though is strong and great range. Anyway. Just a random comment I felt like noting. I never was good at knowing all the artists and their music. Not trying to pretend I know anything. When I heard Billy say, in interview, River of Dreams (album) was HIS favorite and he worked so hard on it and…I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was to not have your hard work loved and popular. I can understand saying “fuck it” and retiring.
I appreciated River of Dreams!
And that's all he had to say, thank you Billy for many years of beautiful music.
Jonathan Krutsch well said!
...and it turns out it wasn't quite all he had to say.
This song and Turn The Lights Back On are perfect bookends to a three-decade hiatus.
Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain
Summer time has come and gone, and everybody’s home again
Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs
I can still taste the wedding cake and it’s sweet after all these years
These are the last words I have to say
That’s why this took so long to write
There will be other words some other day
But that’s the story of my life
There’s comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
They’re pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade
And these are the last words I have to say
Before another age goes by
With all those other songs I’ll have to play
But that’s the story of my life
And it’s so clear standing here where I am
Ain’t that what justice is for?
Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn anymore
Stack the chairs on the table tops
Hang the sheets on the chandeliers
It slows down but it never stops
Ain’t it sweet after all these years
And these are the last words I have to say
It’s always hard to say goodbye
But now it’s time to put this book away
Ain’t that the story of my life
Labour Day and post Labour Day song.
That´s the best departure an artist can do!
Love how he turns the page into his first new song in 30 years
In the music video for turn the lights back on?
@@DavidHimes_yes
I have chosen this song as my funeral song.
Lyrically perfect and love the B3 played on it.
Jan 2022: since writing my original post, I've been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
But I have no intention of using it quite yet.
I hope you are still with us!
@@sydbarrett6762 Thank you for asking.
I'm still around. Looking good 7 months on but with the C word, you never know.
@@tezza_213 I hope you are/keep doing good!
Joe Tippen Protocol.
@@tezza_213How are you doing now?
True to his word, an age has gone by and there is new music coming soon. The chandelier is being uncovered and the lights are being turned back on!
The date is Mon January 22nd 2024 and about 30mins ago Billy Joel announced through RUclips that he is releasing a new single on Feb 1st.
While I'm BEYOND HYPED for this I just got a twinge of sorrow realizing that this song will no longer be the final song he wrote and sang the lyrics of
Billy did insist at the time that maybe one day he might return to writing. He even had the line in the song "There will be other words some other day."
At the same time, I don't disagree with you. It seemed a perfect bow on his pop career. It could still be that bow in the sense that it is still unlikely he will ever put out another new album of pop.
@@orbison I just re-watched the teaser and I just realized that it starts with him turning the page on Famous Last Words... What a way to announce that you're back in the game
And there goes the Entertainer, a great career of amazing songs from playing in bars to selling out stadiums. He’s been through it all and he leaves us with one final serenade.
Long Live The Piano Man ❤️.
nice pfp 😽
damn Billy watered my eyes. Its like I was celebrating his life from the very beggining and now it comes to an end. its always hard to say goodbye
Not yet...!!
@@ScottlandShaffner0423 true! Haha
One of those artists that never produced a dud album. My favourite track from his last one
He produced some meh albums, but overall what a track record. If you make stranger, you've made a whole career.
@@jasonsnusberry3654He had at least 1 top 100 hit on every album.
So cool that his last song is one of his best.One of my favorites from him.
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE OTHER WORDS COMING OUT TOMORROW
It's not lost on many of us that his next and final album had no lyrics. These were indeed his famous last words.
Though your album making and song writing days are gone but people will never forget your story and the lifes you changed. Long Island will never forget
The last hurrah of the great Billy Joel.
Not yet...!!
Last song on the last track of his last album Thank you Billy Joel for all the years
Billy Joel your music is a huge part of the soundtrack of my life!
If you watch the video for 'Turn The Lights Back On' the notebook at the piano has 'Famous Last Words' written on it, before he turns it to a blank sheet. At the end of the video the completed lyrics of 'Turn The Lights Back On' are written in the notebook.
A perfect final song
The best end of the summer song! His last song on his last album, unless you count "Fantasies and Delusions" but there's no words in that album obviously. I'm actually glad he hasn't put out anymore albums. He's my favorite artist, and I think his discography is perfect the way it is. If he felt pressured to put out another album today it just wouldn't be as good.
He put out two singles after “River of Dreams.” They’re “All My Life” and “Christmas in Fallujah.”
@@thelevisullivan he also had a album called collected additional masters which has 17 songs, all my life was his last song he ever wrote and recorded
This song is one of his finest achievements... and there are many! This song is a masterpiece of human introspection and hope.
Underrated tune by billy
This song always gets me. So amazing.
Same With Me I Hear This Song When I Think Of My High School Class in 2011 and My College Class of 2017!
Do some more songs Bill there's never a need for any last words.... Not when you're songs are concerned, your music now more than ever must carry on ✊
Wow 30 years ago! still sounds great. I loved BJ's infectious melodies something truly lacking in modern music.
I guess these were no longer the last words he had to say
Thank you Billy Joel i'll keep you in my heart i hope for you the best in your life and you'll inspire me to be a great pianist. I send you a big hug and see you around piano man!
Best send of to the great piano man
Thank you Billy.
Thank you very much.
Great!! Billy Joel is a genious!
Yes Billy its still sweet, even after all these years
大好きな歌なので聴けてよかったです！ありがとうございます
so ....after all , these are his famous last words ,the last serenade ....? come on Billy, you said " there will be other words some other day " , we are waiting for 20 years now . we want to hear some other words ...
In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
we want more other words
...not from him!
It’s funny to think that the next album doesn’t have lyrics.
I love , love this song ..I can visualize it so well. Resorts are lonely when the crowds go Billy Joel is such a talented singer/songwriter , I love to hear him talk about how he writes , really understands the message he's trying to express .
This song brings back childhood through adult memories of the East End, the place I call home! Billy calls it Avalon, my grandmother called the North Fork "God's Country. ". May its farmland and seashore continue to enchant and inspire all who visit and those lucky enough to live here
You sing from the heart, what more can one ask.
Bye Billy, is an honor be your fan
Big brother that I never had,,,,,,I miss you...
He's Back!
A favourite of mine, and what a tune.
Grazie di tutto Piano Man ... Ancora oggi non passa un giorno che non ascolto qualcuna delle tue 100 canzoni .... Tutti gioielli .... Per me sei stato il miglioreb👏🎹👏🎹👏
Love tnis song with all my heartit really boost my energy make me wanna dance and dont worry about anything makes me happy and full of joy thanks Billy Joel love your songs❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
He should sing this song at his last concert
Agreed 100% Billy Joel is The Best!
I've said this for a long time now, this needs to be the very last song at his very last concert... If it's not, I'll be slightly disappointed, but he's Billy. Fucking. Joel. He can do what he wants. That's all there is to say, ;)
I designed a set list I want him to use for his final show and I have it end with piano man, however this is included in the set
He won’t know when his last concert is
@@cactichris9829 unless he decides to stop singing and retire from touring
There should be an album in 2023 otherwise it will really be all over.
i have bad news...
@2v_5r84 i mean its not 2023 anymore but yeah im excited nonetheless
heheee@@GamBoiPA
Beautiful.
Am I the only one who thinks they should use this song on the final episode of Castle (should that day ever come.)
Great song!!
Steven Kaplan, This for My Beautiful Mother (Linda Kaplan) Who died 83 years old young a big fan of Billy Joel's. And even as sick she was
Steven Kaplan, This Is My Beautiful (Mother Linda Kaplan) as sick as she was with stage four + 1 cancer and covid-19 which killed her before she passed away, she wanted me to play all of Billy Joel's entire catalog which I did and at the time I had a nightclub sound system in my which had 90,000 Watt and her words she just loved to hear every single word phrase that's Billy Joel played. Unfortunately she never got the chance to see him live in concert which was one of her biggest desires I wanted to get tickets for her to take her to Madison square garden in New York. So you could say these are the last sweet words from her son who loved her so much. As well as her older son Mark who she's now with is now also with my beloved father Saul Kaplan from the time we were little kids in Brooklyn New York we always had a great music that's the legacy my parents gave us and I thank them so much
"God Bless" your mother, she sounds wonderful.
I never knew the meaning until now
A great song for today 'Labor Day' 7 Sept 2020.
It slows down, but it NEVER stops.
Listening to this before 'Turn The Lights Back On'
This album is excellent ! 😊
サンキューですね!!!!!
I really cannot make a top 5 list of his songs. This is never happened to me!
Famous last words are things people have said which turn out to be very wrong. Thus I hope his meaning is "these are the last words I have to write" may, or may not be the case. We will see...
In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
September 10th, 2016, Wembley
Wow, it Really was his last words, cause he never made another Album again after River of Dreams, wow, Pretty interesting, Total Genius!!!!!!!!
Thank you billy for everything. By the way I touched your modercycle and sat on the innocent man steps.
THE BEST!
love it.....
Billy is the most yummiest man ever ❤❤❤
What?
MCR x Billy Joel is what the world needs rn
er ist einfach gut
Love & (hugs)
Ain't it sweet after all these years = question mark
1993 World Series in game 06 anyone!! [Joe Carter 3-Run Walk-Off Home Run in magical ending for the Toronto Blue Jays]
CBS played Famous Final Scene & Famous Last Words for their credits montage which to date was the last MLB game CBS televised.
Now he has a new song
Billy Joel references this song at the start of the video for Turn the lights back on. It's the last worn out page of an old song book, with only blank pages afterwards.
ruclips.net/video/UOf6CMbHPuA/видео.htmlsi=sRMx9pqTmRnwCkZU&t=4
Bookends this kind of writing....
The next movement after "Famous Last Words."
Salve Magister. They changed the book! It used to be "A hunting we will go" and then a few pages past it "Halls of the Goblin King" - but my first piano teacher would kind of hit my hands if I stopped reading the music and just tried to play by ear. So I stopped going to lessons and stopped practicing. Every once in awhile I would try to pick it up again when I was in a place with a piano. Does not feel same on Keyboard we got for my son. Sons have both taken lessons. Josh on Keyboard/Piano and Bagpipes... Douglas on Piano. Douglas even composed! Sooo where should I start gentle Magister.
❤
I thought of this song when they announced that Arthur would end with Season 25 in winter 2022
tough year for pop artist, 1993 was nirvanas peak.
This album reached number 1 on the US charts and has sold 5 million copies....not too shabby for a pop artist in the early 90s.
Nirvana have sold more after Cobain's death, however their commercial peak was obviously Nevermind. In 93 their final album only sold a million more than Joel. Pop artists Mariah Carey sold 30 million, Ace of Base 25 and Janet Jackson 20
It wasn't only Pop artists that easily outsold Nirvana that year it was also rock with Bryan Adams (10 million), Meat Loaf (15) and Aerosmith (20)
IN UTERO
NIRVANA
Sales: 7,795,047
Rank in 1993 : 15
RIVER OF DREAMS
BILLY JOEL
Sales: 6,751,480
Rank in 1993 : 16
Why did I not know that Billy Joel's parents were German and English? Something about him seemed so Italian I just assumed he had changed his last name to something shorter.
Last song of BJ :(
Not true. In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).
Excited as balls
&
xoxoxox
RFS Israel *
You get WHAT, please?
Whats wrong with this recording
Sadder than this being his “last words” is the fact that the production is anything BUT true to his style. This dance rhythm mix is an insult to his talent. No wonder he didn’t want to perform it live. This track is WAY over-manipulated.