I can't believe one man is so talented. He has an awesome voice, he's extremely good at playing piano, he's a great song writer, a great lyricist, and he can compose. I get chills when the violins play over the piano and the horns. It's just wonderfully written.
I believe he was porducing and writing for Broadway musicals too! I heard he was playing in Perth WA once at a hotel piano, and had to stop because a lady upstairs complained about the noise! Some people are just plain ignorant!! (lol)
Billy Joel has a half-brother, Alexander Joel, born to his father in Europe, who became a classical conductor there. Alexander Joel was the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig from 2001 to 2014
My mom and I stumbled upon Billy the kid’s grave on accident on one of our many road trips. After two weeks of traveling down Route 66, starting from Chicago and ultimately turning around at the Grand Canyon after we both got pretty sick, we decided to cut more down south and head to Austin to visit my sister. Along the way, it was getting dark and we wanted somewhere other than our tow-behind camper to sleep in for the night. We looked for hotels, and there was only one for miles and miles. The only other thing in this two-road town was a Mexican restaurant, so that’s where we ate before heading to the hotel. We woke up and headed a few more miles down the road and passed a small sign noting Billy the kid’s grave site in this small town in the middle of nowhere. So we pulled off into the small, old cemetery they had, and a groundskeeper talked to us for about an hour and told us all about Billy the kid, his gang, their story, and how they wound up dead in New Mexico. We’ve found a lot of cool stuff while on the road, but this one will always be a poignant memory.
"He never had a sweetheart, but he finally found a home, underneath the boot hill grave that bore his name" is one of the sadder lines in a song that I've heard. I know the real Billy was much different than this romanticized version, but the idea of a lonely kid who never had a home until he died is quite sad.
Willie Gordon which victim deserves his sympathy? The grown man who tried to murder him when he was 12? The corrupt lawmen and Sheriff who were paid to kill his boss? The outlaw who was bragging about murdering billy in the saloon but failed to recognize he was talking to billy? Billy didn’t murder just anyone and he certainly didn’t enjoy it, Jesse James at one point wanted billy to join his gang to steal from and murder innocent bankers which billy didn’t like so he refused the offer. Billy at one point after killing the corrupt sheriff, who had been murdering innocent people, testified against the rest of the corrupt lawmen in exchange for a pardon just so he could live a normal life.
Funfact: Billy the kid has two unofficial graves as torrist traps. His real grave is lost to time since he had a wooden headstone and the graveyard flooded.
@@samrobacker346 as I recall, Daniel Bonne has two or three, while his wife, Rebecca Boone has two. I don’t think anyone has figured out which has their bodies and which doesn’t, though that may have changed within the last couple of decades.
I feel the same about him and no wonder he has become a Broadway musical producer. IF American music makers were the world government, then I am sure we would be in a harmonious place eh?
That last part with the back and forth piano riff is amazing and shows you how talented a keyboardist Billy Joel really is. What incredible memories this brings back. This was and still is very exciting original material that's timeless. I was 14 when this came out and I remember how excited I was to hear this amazing music in the 1970s. We live in a completely different country now and our kids grew up in a completely different America than the Boomers did. Amazing vibes. Thank you Mr.Joel for taking those piano lessons.
Grew up in the Town of Oyster Bay. Always such a rush when you'd hear him play this live on Long Island or at The Garden. That last verse always drew a major cheer
Very nice community. Went through there back in the 90’s while I was working in Long Island. Pretty cool for a young boy from Massachusetts. Rode a boy from Oyster Bay , Long Island , with a six pack in his hand . I can relate !
Dude literally made an epic ass song about a guy who doesn't even exist anymore. The fact that he transports us to his world with such ease is a level of story telling I strive for. This is why Billy's music will forever be classic
Billy Joel’s piano is a certified illegal weapon of mass destruction, the destruction of war and violence. Billy Joel has brought so much happiness into my life, without him I would still be in the dark horrible place I was in. Billy you are a god in every way
I always said it was stupid to pay for radio but you Sir may have just changed my mind on the entire thing. My head-unit is Sirius ready after all seems to be going to waste, is Billy Joel worth how ever much it costs? I don't know, I have to see how much it costs!!
I always thought that paying for radio was an idiot thing to do until I started driving truck over the road worth every penny and I love when the Billy Joel channel comes out every so often he's so interesting to listen to talk about his music
I think I was about 15 years old in 1973 when I first heard and immediately purchased this album, Piano Man and fell in love with it and learned all the words for every song! The Ballad of Billy the Kid really taught me a piece of history I'll never forget in a way I loved to learn it...in music! My favorite album of Billy's I think.
I find it a bit ironic that you say this, because even Billy Joel admitted how historically inaccurate the song was. Virtually none of it is correct. But to be fair, I don't listen this song for historical research. I listen to it because Billy Joel is one of my all time favourite musicians. I've loved his music ever since I heard it at 5 years old, and this song is no exception.
I truly miss the days when songs were as long as 10 minutes, and we'd listened to every single second of it, over and over again. And the melodies would stay and linger. I miss songs with solos in them and not the disposable, 3-minute songs that we poop out today.
AKA songs with a beginning, middle, and end! I do like a 90 second punk number though, right through to two-hour sets by DJ Shadow comprised entirely of other songs. It's all good if it's done well and with a bit of love.
How many musicians have such confidence and competence to not only write 3 minute pop songs but 6 minute epics that captivate like 3 minute pop songs? Very very few. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. Queen. The Who. Led Zep. Etc. a handful of the greats. But none of them wrote chart toppers like Billy Joel. He rises above in my book in terms of musical virtuosity and pop sensibility.
Billy Joel makes my day anyday. this song, the longest time, this is the time, scenes from an italian restaurant, just the way you are, we didn't start the fire, only good die young ,stiletto.. I think I just love all Billy Joel songs :)
Lyrics From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia Rode a boy with a six gun in his hand And his daring life of crime made him a legend in his time east and west of the Rio Grande. Well he started with a bank in Colorado in the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid and his age and his size took the teller by surprise and, the word spread of Billy the kid Well he never travelled heavy yes he always rode alone and he soon put many older guns to shame and he never had a sweetheart and he never had a home but the cowboy and the rancher knew his name Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma and the largest could not seem to track him down and it served his legend well For the folks they loved to tell about When Billy the kid came to town Well one cold day a posse captured Billy and the judge said "String him up for what he did" And the cowboys and their kin like the sea, came pouring in to watch the hanging of Billy the kid. Well he never travelled heavy yes he always rode alone and he soon put many older guns to shame and he never had a sweetheart but he finally found a home under the boothill grave that bears his name. From a town known as Oyster Bay Long Island Rode a boy with a six pack in his hand and his daring life of crime made him a legend in his time east and west of the Rio Grande
Drove from San Francisco down the Highway to San Diego over 3 weeks with my wife some years ago listening to Billy. The "Piano Man"album absolutely fitted in with our trip.
I agree with both of you. This should be on the radio, every day, at least one time on every radio station as a requirement to be on the public airwaves!
I got into this song when I bought my first car: a 1988 mercury grand marquis. I am 26, and I bought the car 2006. The car had a cassette player, and in the glove box was a Piano Man cassette. Blasted that until I was able to afford to put a new radio. Sadly, the car, is no longer running. I miss it every day.
An early epic hit from Billy Joel! And,amongst my favorite songs from him! I love the way he tells deep stories in his song lyrics...this one being about the lone cowboy from the Rio Grande! And,it all ends with that local boy from Oyster Bay,L.I. ...the local boy,who became a man & a gigantic star!!!
Knowing that this is the song that plays after you're my home honestly made this song hit me right in my feelings at 3 am. And, it hit 10 times harder being a Colorado kid, raised on westerns and 70s rock by his dad who has since passed. So, now this kid moved to a big city from a small country town, and now takes care of his mother, alone, and is coming into his own manhood as a 20 year old. But above all else, this young man is doing his damn'dest to do the best he can, every day, in order to make his old man proud. Rest in peace pops, I'll always carry that weight for you. Even if it means I have to be a space cowboy instead of a normal one like you wanted haha. Thank you for creating a life changing world of music, let alone this Album Mr Joel, you'll always be a idol and a Saint to me.
My mom bought me the Piano Man album, and Cheap Trick's In Color album one time when she was going by the discount record section at the Eaton's Centre Eatons in Toronto. This was 1981. Both are really great records.
Why does it matter if billy Joel brought you here, or family guy? One thing for sure the song is amazing, and we all liked it enough to listen to the song.
From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand And his daring life of crime Made him a legend in his time East and West of the Rio Grande Well, he started with a bank in Colorado In the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid And his age and his size Took the teller by surprise And the word spread of Billy the Kid Well he never travelled heavy Yes, he always rode alone And he soon put many older guns to shame And he never had a sweetheart And he never had a home But the cowboys and the ranchers knew his name Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma And the law just could not seem to track him down And it served his legend well For the folks they love to tell 'Bout when Billy the Kid came to town Well, one cold day a posse captured Billy And the judge said, ''"String 'im up for what he did."'' And the cowboys and their kin Like the sea came pourin' in To watch the hangin' of Billy the Kid Well he never travel'ed heavy Yes, he always rode alone And he soon put many older guns to shame Well he never had a sweetheart But he finally found a home Underneath the Boot Hill grave that bears his name
There was an old man in the 50s by the name of Brushy Bill Roberts who claimed to be Billy the Kid. Unfortunately he was discredited, despite several people confirming he was Billy, and died 28 days later. No one really knows if he was or wasn't.
Billy the kid was a very young desperado, bank robber also wanted for murder. Born 1859 died 1881 at the age of 22. There is no way he could still be around in 1950s. If you believe that he died at a ripe old age in the 1950s and NOT the documented age of 22, then. as of 1950 he would have been 91. So by that belief , it could be possible for Billy to still be alive. However, history shows that few gunslingers lived to see more than 50 or 60 years. Better ,faster guns Always came along, along with the challenge to prove they were better/ faster. Old age didn't kill many of them, high velocity lead poisoning did!!!🤔🤪
Hi, I did a bit of research and math, on your mention of Billy being alive in 1950. Please read my comment and hopefully this will help clear things up. BTW another thread on here said he is buried at what sounds like a tourist trap in New Mexico. I cant confirm that as of yet.
Avatar, Billy the kid was "legendary " but not in a good way. See my comments in this thread.A better word would be infamous. Billy Joel's song was indeed accurate in describing Billy the kid. It was a subtle tongue in cheek reference to Joel being tough in his youth. The songs lyric reprised the beginning ..alluding Billy was now Joel in the same sort of character. ie; From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island,Rode a boy with a six-pack in his hand, And his daring life of crime Made him a legend in his time East and West of the Rio Grande Source: LyricFind It makes you wonder if 6 pack was a modern era term for a gun, OR was it a reference to beer? His daring life of crime ??? Joel doesn't elaborate, we are left to ponder on our own. Maybe he got drunk and disorderly?? Committed a crime like drunk driving, speeding, both true for Joel in real life. Or was the 6 pack a gun, which as far as I know, is not true. Overall, a great song!! It mixed the Kid's life story with Joel's supposed story. Hopefully this clears things up for you.
I remember this one from a Birmingham radio in 1974. This song along with Worst Comes Worst, Captain Jack and of course Piano Man also liked You're My Home. To bad music like this is no longer being recorded.
I really wish Billy Joel would make another album. I know many would dismiss it because it isn’t his greatest hits, but I feel like we would all benefit from new material from him.
To those of you saying this is a load of poo, that Billy wasn't hanged just remember: this is just a song! I mean according to Michael Scott he died in the second war of humans vs elders in The Battle for Alctaraz.
No he was shot by pat Garrett in his lovers house in New Mexico after his lovers brother ratted out billies location as he disapproved of the relationship
Charlie Stevenson Did you even read the comment, are did you never even learn how to read? The song isn't supposed to be historically accurate, BJ himself said so.
He also wasnt fron Wheeling, WV. And thebriongrande doesnt run E to W. The Crimes he committed didn't start in CO, ...Billy Joel explicitly talks about how the song was devoid of factual accuracy to make it rhyme.
From a town known as Perth, Western Australia....rode a boy with an 8 ball in his hand...and his daring life of crime, made him a legend in in his time, east and west of the Rio Grande.
What a tremendous, horrendous & excellent tribute & honor, to at least two great Billy’s that I am glad to know, always too. And William H. Bonney received his Presidential Pardon defending his innocence, no matter what it was, Class, always, regardless of all always. And long before he died too, & he knew he was innocent always too, & so he didn’t have to live a life in fear & of prosecution for things he didn’t do. Billy the kids’ old 6 guns, his Colt .45’s were an instrument of peace & of keeping the peace, in his hands, always, with nothing to do with murder & death, yet rather much to do with defending all life always, Sir. Fantastic work to all involved..and thanks for it for true.
My wife and I saw billy in Washington D C in may of 1998. We stayed at the hilton and were awakened at 4 a m to a fire alarm. We had to exit the bulding for about an hour. When we got back to our room we did the deed for a 2nd time that night. 9 months later my daughter was born. I know she was conceived that night because i was working out of town for 2 months. That weekend I came home just to go to the concert. Thats how i know that was the night she was conceived.
We're in New México right around the time this song was release. Who else would think of waiting song about this? Absolut genius. I can't even play the radio.
if it wasn't for family guy I would never have known this musical masterpiece existed.despite its inacuraces the quality in song writing and musical arrangements is pure quality,long may billy go on doing what he does best
I can't believe one man is so talented. He has an awesome voice, he's extremely good at playing piano, he's a great song writer, a great lyricist, and he can compose. I get chills when the violins play over the piano and the horns. It's just wonderfully written.
I believe he was porducing and writing for Broadway musicals too! I heard he was playing in Perth WA once at a hotel piano, and had to stop because a lady upstairs complained about the noise! Some people are just plain ignorant!! (lol)
Billy Joel has a half-brother, Alexander Joel, born to his father in Europe, who became a classical conductor there. Alexander Joel was the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig from 2001 to 2014
Still does
And I was lucky enough to see him twice - Wembley was awesome but Old Trafford was simply magical!
One of his best vocal performances. Truly awesome.
I like how the instruments make this song sound like a movie score
That's what he was going for! It really would have been a good film score.
Ronnie Tutt on drums.
Definitely one of my Billy Joe favorite
A "Western" movie, because the Kid. Also Billy borrowed more than a bit from Copland. Which is fine.
He said that he wanted to write a score for an western movie, but since nobody agreed, he did it anyway
This is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. It should've been much bigger.
@@fripso Agree. 👍 🎵
Agreed. It's a masterpiece.
My mom and I stumbled upon Billy the kid’s grave on accident on one of our many road trips. After two weeks of traveling down Route 66, starting from Chicago and ultimately turning around at the Grand Canyon after we both got pretty sick, we decided to cut more down south and head to Austin to visit my sister. Along the way, it was getting dark and we wanted somewhere other than our tow-behind camper to sleep in for the night. We looked for hotels, and there was only one for miles and miles. The only other thing in this two-road town was a Mexican restaurant, so that’s where we ate before heading to the hotel. We woke up and headed a few more miles down the road and passed a small sign noting Billy the kid’s grave site in this small town in the middle of nowhere. So we pulled off into the small, old cemetery they had, and a groundskeeper talked to us for about an hour and told us all about Billy the kid, his gang, their story, and how they wound up dead in New Mexico.
We’ve found a lot of cool stuff while on the road, but this one will always be a poignant memory.
@Moon Unit glad you enjoyed!
That’s so cool
my friend is actually related to billy the kid
Ok man didnt have to tell us your life story
@@REMAINS1666 No, but he did tell us a bit about Billy The Kid. And it was a great memory for him I'm sure.
"He never had a sweetheart, but he finally found a home, underneath the boot hill grave that bore his name" is one of the sadder lines in a song that I've heard. I know the real Billy was much different than this romanticized version, but the idea of a lonely kid who never had a home until he died is quite sad.
Willie Gordon which victim deserves his sympathy? The grown man who tried to murder him when he was 12? The corrupt lawmen and Sheriff who were paid to kill his boss? The outlaw who was bragging about murdering billy in the saloon but failed to recognize he was talking to billy? Billy didn’t murder just anyone and he certainly didn’t enjoy it, Jesse James at one point wanted billy to join his gang to steal from and murder innocent bankers which billy didn’t like so he refused the offer. Billy at one point after killing the corrupt sheriff, who had been murdering innocent people, testified against the rest of the corrupt lawmen in exchange for a pardon just so he could live a normal life.
I know it may be disturbing but then again I am a high functioning sociopath so is it really all that weird? Anyway I kinda feel sorry for the kid
Funfact: Billy the kid has two unofficial graves as torrist traps. His real grave is lost to time since he had a wooden headstone and the graveyard flooded.
@@samrobacker346 as I recall, Daniel Bonne has two or three, while his wife, Rebecca Boone has two. I don’t think anyone has figured out which has their bodies and which doesn’t, though that may have changed within the last couple of decades.
Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid. Billy never got a trial.
The whole song emits a feeling of epic-ness.
I want to go on a cattle drive, right now. YEEHAH!
Agreed by a Texan....
came here from the hilarious family guy scene where Peter is riding at the rodeo and playing piano to this song, so good
Billy Joel can sing, write, and play piano wonderfully. He really is one of the world's most talented musicians. He's s musical genius.
So true, Mick, so true
Guess you're right.
1000x more talented than self described musical genius Kanye West
I feel the same about him and no wonder he has become a Broadway musical producer. IF American music makers were the world government, then I am sure we would be in a harmonious place eh?
Yup 👍
Billy Joel was like the Mozart of the 20th century
He really wasn't. He was just awesome.
DaveDexterMusic yeah, he was great, but not the best of all time
He’s the do-whop Beethoven 😎
Wtf? Must be some good oil you're dabbing
harry callahan I don’t do what you do
That last part with the back and forth piano riff is amazing and shows you how talented a keyboardist Billy Joel really is.
What incredible memories this brings back. This was and still is very exciting original material that's timeless. I was 14 when this came out and I remember how excited I was to hear this amazing music in the 1970s. We live in a completely different country now and our kids grew up in a completely different America than the Boomers did.
Amazing vibes.
Thank you Mr.Joel for taking those piano lessons.
Grew up in the Town of Oyster Bay. Always such a rush when you'd hear him play this live on Long Island or at The Garden. That last verse always drew a major cheer
Very nice community. Went through there back in the 90’s while I was working in Long Island. Pretty cool for a young boy from Massachusetts.
Rode a boy from Oyster Bay , Long Island , with a six pack in his hand . I can relate !
When I was at his concert he corrected all the historical errors afterwards
He did prior to it at ours
He's a hero
Now that's class.
well tell us about them then?
I AM WILLIAM H.
Commack, Long Island, NY brought me here. Dreary morning in Manhattan today I needed a little pick me up. Thanks Billy.
Dude literally made an epic ass song about a guy who doesn't even exist anymore.
The fact that he transports us to his world with such ease is a level of story telling I strive for.
This is why Billy's music will forever be classic
Billy Joel is a weapon of mass destruction with the piano
Brolly5 declare war on north Korea Billy wit dat piano of yours
Billy Joel vs. Elton John Dawn of Piano justice
Brolly5 *Correction* A piano is a weapon of mass destruction with Billy Joel
BABY BABY BABY BABY
Brolly5 Billy Joel is one of the best pianists AND singer-songwriters Ever!! Definitely one of my favorites of all time!
Underrated song
Sir_Mercury Leningrad is underrated this ahh I don't think underrated is the right term.
Highly underrated And his voice is amazing
I agree! But it's a great song, for those of us who know it and love it!
:)
Can't believe he played this in London 2019!
FIRST NAME LAST NAME Leningrad in one of my favorites
Billy Joel’s piano is a certified illegal weapon of mass destruction, the destruction of war and violence. Billy Joel has brought so much happiness into my life, without him I would still be in the dark horrible place I was in. Billy you are a god in every way
Amen
Just eat some edibles bra
he's good, but he's no God.
I would say a Godsend.
Bruce Hornsby is GOD of piano
Song is criminally underrated, one of my favorites
As a lifelong Billy Joel fan, I wish he played this song live. Also as a lifelong Long Islander always loved this song.
Back in the day when you could be a young, budding artist and have a full orchestra play on one of your tracks! My how times have changed.
Still gives me chills... Great memories. Saw him with Elton performing it live. Amazing!
What an icon
The both of them
What an absolute banger, wish I found this song sooner. Favorite Billy Joel song and current favorite song.
thank you because my home town is in this song
SFalcon Billy is one of my favorite artists up there with Paul Simon and The Beatles
I love how every single song I listen to has its own set of people claiming it’s his best song lol
Burger_BazookaYT TheMLG Throw Stevie Wonder in there too and you got yourself a list.
5 years later i saw you comment and felt real kinship )
Thank god for the Billy Joel radio station on Sirius....
i hate it. i was just about to cancel my subscription and then this beautiful Billy Joel station comes on.
I always said it was stupid to pay for radio but you Sir may have just changed my mind on the entire thing. My head-unit is Sirius ready after all seems to be going to waste, is Billy Joel worth how ever much it costs? I don't know, I have to see how much it costs!!
huzzah! :)
My dad and I love it. If only it was there for forever instead of being replaced by the Christmas garbage in November
I always thought that paying for radio was an idiot thing to do until I started driving truck over the road worth every penny and I love when the Billy Joel channel comes out every so often he's so interesting to listen to talk about his music
One of my favorite Billy Joel songs, we used to do a hard rock guitar version of this when I was in my band. Still great!
This song is a plagiarism of a Brazilian singer from the 60s
After an almost a week later, I'm still stunned he played this at Wembley! You better believed I sang my lungs out!
You lucky lucky sod 😂
We played this in marching band in the late 70s. What a great song!
Any song by Billy Joel is perfect driving music.
I think I was about 15 years old in 1973 when I first heard and immediately purchased this album, Piano Man and fell in love with it and learned all the words for every song! The Ballad of Billy the Kid really taught me a piece of history I'll never forget in a way I loved to learn it...in music! My favorite album of Billy's I think.
I find it a bit ironic that you say this, because even Billy Joel admitted how historically inaccurate the song was. Virtually none of it is correct.
But to be fair, I don't listen this song for historical research. I listen to it because Billy Joel is one of my all time favourite musicians. I've loved his music ever since I heard it at 5 years old, and this song is no exception.
I would like to say this in the nicest way possible, but this song is amazingly inaccurate, albeit amazing
+Sam Stentz yeah it is, but who cares when the song is awesome. :)
i caught his tour thru my hometown one time. Dude grabbed two foam coffee cups and did his Madonna vogue impression. It was priceless!
Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York...represent!!!
Tommy from the Bronx here !!!!!! :)
Nakrin27 Deer Park here!!! :P
Patchogue Medford!
back when you could carry around a six pack lol
Nakrin27 im from there
Even if you don't like this genre you got to admit this is one of the best songs ever.
4:22 holy- I could listen to these vocals on repeat! That vibrato is absolutely perfect!
4:26
damn! I must be old. people taking about Family Guy brought them here. a random memory of an 8 track tape is what brought me here.
A whole bunch of Billy Joel starting with Zanzibar.Sounds just as good as they did 40 years ago.
joe yancey I love 8 track tapes
I heard my boss sing this at his desk, because he loves this song
I’m here because the fucking piano solo was stuck in my head
if you knew what an 8 track tape looked like
Cruised Long Island every Saturday night with this song on the radio. Precious times.
I truly miss the days when songs were as long as 10 minutes, and we'd listened to every single second of it, over and over again.
And the melodies would stay and linger.
I miss songs with solos in them and not the disposable, 3-minute songs that we poop out today.
Oh, and Family Guy brought me here.
Magna Proxy lol i'll bet family guy brought a lot of people here haha
drummaguyhixy I had no idea Family Guy had been running a people-trade business.
Magna Proxy same. one of my new favorite songs too
AKA songs with a beginning, middle, and end! I do like a 90 second punk number though, right through to two-hour sets by DJ Shadow comprised entirely of other songs. It's all good if it's done well and with a bit of love.
Billy Joel is an angel of creative beauty with the piano.
He’s a cutie pie. 🥰
How many musicians have such confidence and competence to not only write 3 minute pop songs but 6 minute epics that captivate like 3 minute pop songs? Very very few. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. Queen. The Who. Led Zep. Etc. a handful of the greats. But none of them wrote chart toppers like Billy Joel. He rises above in my book in terms of musical virtuosity and pop sensibility.
Elton John
And yet he wrote this turd.
Billy Joel makes my day anyday.
this song, the longest time, this is the time, scenes from an italian restaurant, just the way you are, we didn't start the fire, only good die young ,stiletto.. I think I just love all Billy Joel songs
:)
Lyrics
From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia
Rode a boy with a six gun in his hand
And his daring life of crime
made him a legend in his time
east and west of the Rio Grande.
Well he started with a bank in Colorado
in the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid
and his age and his size
took the teller by surprise
and, the word spread of Billy the kid
Well he never travelled heavy
yes he always rode alone
and he soon put many older guns to shame
and he never had a sweetheart
and he never had a home
but the cowboy and the rancher knew his name
Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma
and the largest could not seem to track him down
and it served his legend well
For the folks they loved to tell about
When Billy the kid came to town
Well one cold day a posse captured Billy
and the judge said "String him up for what he did"
And the cowboys and their kin
like the sea, came pouring in
to watch the hanging of Billy the kid.
Well he never travelled heavy
yes he always rode alone
and he soon put many older guns to shame
and he never had a sweetheart
but he finally found a home
under the boothill grave that bears his name.
From a town known as Oyster Bay Long Island
Rode a boy with a six pack in his hand
and his daring life of crime
made him a legend in his time
east and west of the Rio Grande
Magnus Thorensen Thanks for the lyrics
congratulations, you can use CTRL C, CTRL V
@@evanmann3447 Thank him or leave to Wheeling
'And the largest'... Should be 'and the law just...'
I already knew the lyrics second time I listened did not need this
Drove from San Francisco down the Highway to San Diego over 3 weeks with my wife some years ago listening to Billy.
The "Piano Man"album absolutely fitted in with our trip.
One of my favourite albums of all time.
Everytime I hear the piano solo, I picture Peter Griffin dancing. Almost spit out my coffee laughing. Have a good one folks!
Besides his music, the ghostly cover image of Joel on 'Piano Man' has seared my memories forever.
Rick Carlson it gets scarier and funnier at the same time when you drag it into Photoshop and don’t emerge from the computer screen for an hour
It is mad fucking creepy ain't it? Used to scare me as a kid lol
That song is so masterpiece and joyfulness Billy Joel is always the ultimate singer
you never hear this, and it's a crime
Brandon Chabner it's a damn shame
I agree with both of you. This should be on the radio, every day, at least one time on every radio station as a requirement to be on the public airwaves!
Sirius XM channel 30 - Billy Joel
I listen every day and hear it often 😁
I made this mistake !
Terry Bates it’s a damn shame he can’t word a sentence correctly
I got into this song when I bought my first car: a 1988 mercury grand marquis. I am 26, and I bought the car 2006. The car had a cassette player, and in the glove box was a Piano Man cassette. Blasted that until I was able to afford to put a new radio. Sadly, the car, is no longer running. I miss it every day.
James Valentin: I know exactly how you feel.
Greatest song maybe ever, by Billy Joel or anyone else for that matter. Gives me chills and right now I'm in Florida - go figure
Saw him at wembley 2019. Still rocks at 70. LEGEND.
Underrated banger right here
2:53 and 5:00 Chills. Every time.
Same, Mr. Spiff.
I always get em half way through that instrumental break when the strings come in.
Oh yeah!!! X
Same, Mickey Mouse cap Aron
Yo what movie theme/song does that specific instrumental sound like?
Great song. Timeless. Thanx
An early epic hit from Billy Joel! And,amongst my favorite songs from him! I love the way he tells deep stories in his song lyrics...this one being about the lone cowboy from the Rio Grande! And,it all ends with that local boy from Oyster Bay,L.I.
...the local boy,who became a man & a gigantic star!!!
Oh my god. if there is such thing as human perfection. clearly, this is it.
This is a masterpiece.
so touching! my best friend showed me this song. makes me feel like a cowboy. my friend is dead 20 years now.
Went a Billy Joel concert with my daughter, and she was bummed, that he did not play this!!
Lol I saw him in concert and he played this. Look up the Billy Joel 2015 Wrigley Field setlist. Best setlist you could ask for.
Knowing that this is the song that plays after you're my home honestly made this song hit me right in my feelings at 3 am. And, it hit 10 times harder being a Colorado kid, raised on westerns and 70s rock by his dad who has since passed. So, now this kid moved to a big city from a small country town, and now takes care of his mother, alone, and is coming into his own manhood as a 20 year old. But above all else, this young man is doing his damn'dest to do the best he can, every day, in order to make his old man proud. Rest in peace pops, I'll always carry that weight for you. Even if it means I have to be a space cowboy instead of a normal one like you wanted haha. Thank you for creating a life changing world of music, let alone this Album Mr Joel, you'll always be a idol and a Saint to me.
This is an amazing song.
Can't wait to see Billy in concert in a few months!
My mom bought me the Piano Man album, and Cheap Trick's In Color album one time when she was going by the discount record section at the Eaton's Centre Eatons in Toronto. This was 1981. Both are really great records.
Torontonian shout out to that mess. And no were not some obscure native Indian Tribe. Irish omour.
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
Why does it matter if billy Joel brought you here, or family guy? One thing for sure the song is amazing, and we all liked it enough to listen to the song.
Corey Dawson no one cares who brought you here, jus listen to the fucking song its amazing
+XironDarkar76 you need to learn how to read, cause that's what I said!
Corey Dawson i said it with other words xD but yeah thaths what you said
Spin bliss
R.I.P Billy he died of a heart attack today :(
From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia
Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and West of the Rio Grande
Well, he started with a bank in Colorado
In the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid
And his age and his size
Took the teller by surprise
And the word spread of Billy the Kid
Well he never travelled heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
And he never had a sweetheart
And he never had a home
But the cowboys and the ranchers knew his name
Well he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma
And the law just could not seem to track him down
And it served his legend well
For the folks they love to tell
'Bout when Billy the Kid came to town
Well, one cold day a posse captured Billy
And the judge said, ''"String 'im up for what he did."''
And the cowboys and their kin
Like the sea came pourin' in
To watch the hangin' of Billy the Kid
Well he never travel'ed heavy
Yes, he always rode alone
And he soon put many older guns to shame
Well he never had a sweetheart
But he finally found a home
Underneath the Boot Hill grave that bears his name
This song is so unbelievably fucking awesome
@@huntymcbunty Agree! 💯 👍 🎵
I’m about to tell you about a ballad. A ballad of Billy The Kid. HIT IT BILL!!!!!
I pay my respects to Billy I don't know who he was but he sounds like he was a legend
He was. Was a better man than this song portrays.
There was an old man in the 50s by the name of Brushy Bill Roberts who claimed to be Billy the Kid. Unfortunately he was discredited, despite several people confirming he was Billy, and died 28 days later. No one really knows if he was or wasn't.
Billy the kid was a very young desperado, bank robber also wanted for murder. Born 1859 died 1881 at the age of 22. There is no way he could still be around in 1950s. If you believe that he died at a ripe old age in the 1950s and NOT the documented age of 22, then. as of 1950 he would have been 91. So by that belief , it could be possible for Billy to still be alive. However, history shows that few gunslingers lived to see more than 50 or 60 years. Better ,faster guns Always came along, along with the challenge to prove they were better/ faster. Old age didn't kill many of them, high velocity lead poisoning did!!!🤔🤪
Hi, I did a bit of research and math, on your mention of Billy being alive in 1950. Please read my comment and hopefully this will help clear things up. BTW another thread on here said he is buried at what sounds like a tourist trap in New Mexico. I cant confirm that as of yet.
Avatar, Billy the kid was "legendary " but not in a good way. See my comments in this thread.A better word would be infamous. Billy Joel's song was indeed accurate in describing Billy the kid. It was a subtle tongue in cheek reference to Joel being tough in his youth. The songs lyric reprised the beginning ..alluding Billy was now Joel in the same sort of character. ie; From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island,Rode a boy with a six-pack in his hand, And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and West of the Rio Grande
Source: LyricFind
It makes you wonder if 6 pack was a modern era term for a gun, OR was it a reference to beer? His daring life of crime ??? Joel doesn't elaborate, we are left to ponder on our own. Maybe he got drunk and disorderly?? Committed a crime like drunk driving, speeding, both true for Joel in real life. Or was the 6 pack a gun, which as far as I know, is not true. Overall, a great song!! It mixed the Kid's life story with Joel's supposed story. Hopefully this clears things up for you.
One of my first and fav albums... listened and listened and listened to the whole album...thanx Billy!
OK a huge family guy fan.. and if that's how you came here, so be it, but explore yourself some joel.... brilliant artist!
This makes me think of driving in summer from Los Angeles with my dad to his hometown in Sacramento to see my grandma circa 1991. Good times..
I love this song so much I could listen to it for the rest of my life and it’ll be timeless.
I still can't believe that I'm going to see him live in July I'm so excited!
I'm a big fan of Billy Joel. Amazing talent shows through in this song.
This is by far one of my favorites of his Why is this not considered one of his best? Because it surely is.
The piano/orchestra "battle" I'll call it, is just beautiful!
Billy lived as a free man, then a outlaw, now a legend
I remember this one from a Birmingham radio in 1974. This song along with Worst Comes Worst, Captain Jack and of course Piano Man also liked You're My Home. To bad music like this is no longer being recorded.
Whoever plays the 🥁 here is a genius
At the end of the song Billy Joel talking about himself.
dsoave61 actually he insists it was another Billy, a bartender from Oyster Bay who worked at a bar he performed at. Billy Joel isn’t from Oyster Bay.
But from Levittown.
Matthew Woodruff billy joel has a mansion on the water in oyster bay. I pass it a lot.
YES the boy from LI...love him
No it’s when billy the kid is resurrected he becomes an alcoholic in long island
I really wish Billy Joel would make another album. I know many would dismiss it because it isn’t his greatest hits, but I feel like we would all benefit from new material from him.
My older brothers had this album in the collection, can still remember cranking this after school when I was about 8
When a harmonica sounds more bad ass then most heavy metal rhythm guitarists
-thrash metal fan
Me Too
Still more than a song on the radio. Brilliance and story telling. So rare now
To those of you saying this is a load of poo, that Billy wasn't hanged just remember: this is just a song! I mean according to Michael Scott he died in the second war of humans vs elders in The Battle for Alctaraz.
No he was shot by pat Garrett in his lovers house in New Mexico after his lovers brother ratted out billies location as he disapproved of the relationship
Charlie Stevenson Did you even read the comment, are did you never even learn how to read? The song isn't supposed to be historically accurate, BJ himself said so.
pat garret let him slide that's not bonneys body in the grave..Billy The Kid lived to be an old man
He also wasnt fron Wheeling, WV. And thebriongrande doesnt run E to W. The Crimes he committed didn't start in CO, ...Billy Joel explicitly talks about how the song was devoid of factual accuracy to make it rhyme.
I like to think that Machiavelli managed to save him.
This album is a treasure trove of great songs. Before Billy was a superstar.
Legend singing about a Legend, what more to ask for? Masterpiece.
From a town known as Perth, Western Australia....rode a boy with an 8 ball in his hand...and his daring life of crime, made him a legend in in his time, east and west of the Rio Grande.
2:55 when peter griffin killed that piano work😂😎
I first heard Billy on Philly's legendary radio station WMMR in 1972 . Concert was introduced by Ed Sciaky one of the best DJ's ever .
Who listens to it in the middle of the quarantine July 2020, by the way, it came out in the chapter of the family guy !!!
What a tremendous, horrendous & excellent tribute & honor, to at least two great Billy’s that I am glad to know, always too.
And William H. Bonney received his Presidential Pardon defending his innocence, no matter what it was, Class, always, regardless of all always.
And long before he died too, & he knew he was innocent always too, & so he didn’t have to live a life in fear & of prosecution for things he didn’t do.
Billy the kids’ old 6 guns, his Colt .45’s were an instrument of peace & of keeping the peace, in his hands, always, with nothing to do with murder & death, yet rather much to do with defending all life always, Sir.
Fantastic work to all involved..and thanks for it for true.
always loved this one
My wife and I saw billy in Washington D C in may of 1998. We stayed at the hilton and were awakened at 4 a m to a fire alarm. We had to exit the bulding for about an hour. When we got back to our room we did the deed for a 2nd time that night. 9 months later my daughter was born. I know she was conceived that night because i was working out of town for 2 months. That weekend I came home just to go to the concert. Thats how i know that was the night she was conceived.
Thanks to my parents for owning every single Billy Joel album
This song is just so epic. And Billy Joel is so amazingly talented, I'm finding it kind of hard to breathe right now.
Young Billy Joel is eerily pretty in this album cover.
Underrated but highly appreciated.
As a musician and pianist myself. This is awesome!
Captain Crazy lol, no one knows who you are
@@davidcross9811 hehe, look who's talking
Probably my favorite Billy Joel song
I have this song on Billy's Songs in the Attic album, but I like this version better.
We're in New México right around the time this song was release. Who else would think of waiting song about this? Absolut genius. I can't even play the radio.
if it wasn't for family guy I would never have known this musical masterpiece existed.despite its inacuraces the quality in song writing and musical arrangements is pure quality,long may billy go on doing what he does best
+craig eastham
yeah it has craigs seal of approval
HAHA
Billy is the most underrated song writer in the history of music.. Yeah , he has been give accolades ...but not near enough.