billy joel
This song was the breakthrough for Billy Joel in 1973, and the scene is taken from his days as a lounge singer in LA, under the nick "Bill Martin" - his full name is William Martin Joel - while a conflict with his first record company was ongoing. He ended up with Columbia, and became a prominent singer/songwriter and later on also "serious" composer, recording classical compositions.
Joel *is* a piano man. This song originally contains an interlude which I've skipped to comfort most people with non-pro skills. It's just as good without. In fact; I've never even tried myself.
Another problem with the song, is that Joel is one of rather few singers able to alter a full octave. If your're not sure: drop it. The song is still exciting.
it's nine o'clock on a Saturday
the regular crowd shuffles in
there's an old man sitting next to me
making 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 sweet and I knew it complete
when I wore a younger man's clothes"
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 a light up your smoke
but there's someplace that he'd rather be
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"
now Paul is a real estate novelist
who never had time for a wife
and he's talking with Davey 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 drinking alone
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 coming to see
to forget about life for awhile
and the piano 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 doing here?"
da da da ... da da de de da da
da da de de da dum
sing us a song : you're the piano man
sing us a song tonight
we're all in the mood for a melody
and you've got us feeling all right
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
E G#m C#m E7 A F#7 B7 it's nine o'clock on a Saturday the regular crowd shuffles in E G#m C#m ...E7 there's an old man sitting next to me A B7 E making love to his tonic and gin E G#m C#m E7 A F#7 B7 he says "Son can you play me a memory I'm not really sure how it goes E G#m C#m E7 but it's sad and it sweet and I knew it complete A B7 E when I wore a younger man's clothes" C#m F#m A B7 da da da da da de de da da da da de de da dum E G#m C#m ...E7 sing us a song you're the piano man A F#m B7 sing us a song tonight E G#m C#m ...E7 we're all in the mood for a melody A B7 E and you've got us feeling all right
