Billy Mysteries!...
Mike Boxer
I am an avid fan and listener of Billy Joel, and certain mysteries of
his songs are really bothering me. Some of the answers seem a bit
obvious logically but I think they might have hidden meanings. If
anybody has the answers to these questions please post them! I'm sure
the other members of the newsgroup would like to know.
NAMES:
-----
I've noticed a few names in Billy's songs. A lot of these people sound
made up, but are they? If not, who are they and what significance do
they have in Billy's life? And if I neglected any names, let me know.
I'm not THAT uneducated, I know who some of these people are but I'm
asking anyway so that others can find out upon the answers.
1. Virginia from Only The Good Die Young
2. Eisenberg from Only The Good Die Young
3. Little Geo from Half A Mile Away
4. James from James
5. Anthony from Movin' Out
6. Mama Leone from Movin' Out
7. Sgt. O'Leary from Movin' Out
8. John at the bar from Piano Man
9. Paul the real estate novelist from Piano Man
10. Davy in the navy from Piano Man
11. Rosalinda from Rosalinda's Eyes
12. Bobby from Say Goodbye To Hollywood
13. Johnny from Say Goodbye To Hollywood
14. Roberta from Roberta
15. Judy from Why Judy Why
16. Ali from Zanzibar
17. Leyna from All For Leyna
18. Diane from Sleeping With The Television On
19. Captain Jack from Captain Jack
20. Laura from Laura
21. Christie Lee from Christie Lee
22. Alexa from The Downeaster Alexa
23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
MUMBLINGS:
---------
As for these, I don't know any of them. What is Billy saying?
23. Right before 52nd Street
24. Under the music towards the end of Great Wall Of China
There's a few others I can't think of right now. Can you remember them?
Please respond if you know the answers, but check to make sure nobody
beat you to it.
Mike
AJ Tru Blu
Well, here are a few answers....
<<Virginia from Only the Good Die Young>>
Virginia Callahan was a girl Billy knew growing up. He was hoping being
in a band would get her attention.
<<Rosalinda from Rosalinda's Eyes>>
Billy named this song for his mother
<<Christie Lee from Christie Lee>>
This is his wife at the time, Christy Brinkley (the whole Innocent Man
album was basically written for her).
<<Alexa from The Downeaster Alexa>>
Alexa is Billy and Christy's daughter
<<Captain Jack from Captain Jack>>
There's been some debate over this...some think it's a drug dealer Billy
once knew of, others say it's the drug itself
<<Eisenberg from Only The Good Die Young>>
???? Where is THAT in the lyrics???
<<Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me>>
One of the band members, though I can't remember which one. Russell
Javors?
<<Under the music towards the end of Great Wall Of China>>
I know A LOT of people trying to figure that one out! No luck so far.
AJ :-)
George H. Williams
Mike Boxer wrote:
>
> I am an avid fan and listener of Billy Joel, and certain mysteries of
> his songs are really bothering me. Some of the answers seem a bit
> obvious logically but I think they might have hidden meanings. If
> anybody has the answers to these questions please post them! I'm sure
> the other members of the newsgroup would like to know.
>
> NAMES:
> -----
> I've noticed a few names in Billy's songs. A lot of these people sound
> made up, but are they? If not, who are they and what significance do
> they have in Billy's life? And if I neglected any names, let me know.
> I'm not THAT uneducated, I know who some of these people are but I'm
> asking anyway so that others can find out upon the answers.
>
> 15. Judy from Why Judy Why
> 19. Captain Jack from Captain Jack
> 21. Christie Lee from Christie Lee
> 22. Alexa from The Downeaster Alexa
I think 21 & 22 are pretty obvious. If you don't know who they are, you
may want to stop calling yourself "an avid fan . . . of Billy Joel."
Judy, however, is a little less well known. Judy is the name of his
sister. I do not, however, know if it is a song about his sister.
I've always understood Captain Jack to be a slang term for LSD (although
in all of the times I've ever bought or used LSD this one has never come
up.)
As for the others, I think they're just names, but you never know.
George H. Williams
will...@uidaho.edu
"Obi-wan was wise to hide her from me."
Darth Vader
THE RETURN OF THE JEDI
The Jade Emperor
On Fri, 31 Jan 1997, Mike Boxer wrote:
> I am an avid fan and listener of Billy Joel, and certain mysteries of
> his songs are really bothering me. Some of the answers seem a bit
> obvious logically but I think they might have hidden meanings. If
> anybody has the answers to these questions please post them! I'm sure
> the other members of the newsgroup would like to know.
>
> NAMES:
> -----
> I've noticed a few names in Billy's songs. A lot of these people sound
> made up, but are they? If not, who are they and what significance do
> they have in Billy's life? And if I neglected any names, let me know.
> I'm not THAT uneducated, I know who some of these people are but I'm
> asking anyway so that others can find out upon the answers.
>
> 1. Virginia from Only The Good Die Young
> 2. Eisenberg from Only The Good Die Young
^^^^^^^^^
umm, who's Eisenberg?
> 3. Little Geo from Half A Mile Away
> 4. James from James
> 5. Anthony from Movin' Out
> 6. Mama Leone from Movin' Out
> 7. Sgt. O'Leary from Movin' Out
> 8. John at the bar from Piano Man
> 9. Paul the real estate novelist from Piano Man
> 10. Davy in the navy from Piano Man
> 11. Rosalinda from Rosalinda's Eyes
> 12. Bobby from Say Goodbye To Hollywood
> 13. Johnny from Say Goodbye To Hollywood
> 14. Roberta from Roberta
> 15. Judy from Why Judy Why
> 16. Ali from Zanzibar
> 17. Leyna from All For Leyna
> 18. Diane from Sleeping With The Television On
> 19. Captain Jack from Captain Jack
> 20. Laura from Laura
> 21. Christie Lee from Christie Lee
> 22. Alexa from The Downeaster Alexa
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
>
>
> MUMBLINGS:
> ---------
> As for these, I don't know any of them. What is Billy saying?
>
> 23. Right before 52nd Street
> 24. Under the music towards the end of Great Wall Of China
>
> There's a few others I can't think of right now. Can you remember them?
>
> Please respond if you know the answers, but check to make sure nobody
> beat you to it.
>
> Mike
>
>
john
Marmalade Records
Christie Lee is a variation off of Christie Brinkley just without the
"Brink"... get it?
I was fortunate enough to ask Billy Joel a question at one of his soirees,
and he mentioned that Laura was about his x-wife Elizabeth. Isn't Laura a
variation on the name Elizabeth?
As for Virginia being a friend of Billy's, that's very possible, but I
think in the song, he's more making a joke. "Virginia", "Virgin"... "Come
out Virginia, don't make me wait" etc.
-- Peter Toth
Mike Boxer
George H. Williams wrote:
>
> Mike Boxer wrote:
> >
> > I am an avid fan and listener of Billy Joel, and certain mysteries of
> > his songs are really bothering me. Some of the answers seem a bit
> > obvious logically but I think they might have hidden meanings. If
> > anybody has the answers to these questions please post them! I'm sure
> > the other members of the newsgroup would like to know.
> >
> > NAMES:
> > -----
> > I've noticed a few names in Billy's songs. A lot of these people sound
> > made up, but are they? If not, who are they and what significance do
> > they have in Billy's life? And if I neglected any names, let me know.
> > I'm not THAT uneducated, I know who some of these people are but I'm
> > asking anyway so that others can find out upon the answers.
>
> > 22. Alexa from The Downeaster Alexa
>
> may want to stop calling yourself "an avid fan . . . of Billy Joel."
>
> in all of the times I've ever bought or used LSD this one has never come
> up.)
>
> As for the others, I think they're just names, but you never know.
>
> George H. Williams
> will...@uidaho.edu
Hmmm... seems like maybe that LSD has made you a bit quick to judge (just kidding
about the LSD, but the latter I really do mean).
Although I do know (his wife at the time and his daughter), just because one is
an avid listener or even fan doesn't mean they must be completely updated with
his personal life.
Did you notice this?:
> > I'm not THAT uneducated, I know who some of these people are but I'm
> > asking anyway so that others can find out upon the answers.
In other words, I do know them and I implied it. Try to read into purpose a bit
more, and just read period.
Ross Adrian
23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
unless you ask us for help, thats another story, thats perfectly
OK.
sorry for any disruptions.
rossman
Ross Adrian
2. Eisenberg from Only The Good Die Young
^^^^^^^^^
umm, who's Eisenberg?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
i have looked in the lyrics and there is no Eisenberg, you
must be getting confused with another song writer.
rossman
R2MAZ
captain jack/drug dealer on long island.alexa (da) boat named after his
daughter.laura made up name but it's his mother(got that info from
liberty)ali the boxer.judy his sister roberta anan. slut.rosalinda his
mothers real name. virginia a girl he knew in hi teens
AJ Tru Blu
<<As for Virginia being a friend of Billy's, that's very possible, but I
think in the song, he's more making a joke. "Virginia", "Virgin"... "Come
out Virginia, don't make me wait" etc.>>
LOL! But no, it's DEFINITELY about Virginia Callahan. That info. is
straight from Billy himself.
AJ :-)
Mike Boxer
You're not the only one. Sorry guys I realize the mistake but the
explanation is a long story - too long and boring to post.
Andrew Mogford
Interesting post, Mike - I will be interested to hear some of the repies myself. I
still cannot hear these "mumblings" in Great Wall of China - although everyone is going
on about them.
I see several conflicting post about "Captain Jack". In England, it means Heroin
specifically. I always took the song to be about Heroin.
Just One push and you'll be happy. I rest my case.
Andy
Boober15
Hey everyone!
Actually, there is a part in "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me"
where Billy says "Alright Rico!" It's right before the bridge
and hard to understand. But that is what he says, so cut
Rossman a little slack. As for Eisenberg, well....I have no
comment except for that and even if Billy would say that (which
he didn't) who in the world would think up a name that
strange or even relate that to being a name at all?!? I would
think it's someplace in Europe if I heard that! Oh well. And
just a reminder, I'm always here to provide all Billy fans with
any Billy waves, midis, pictures, lyrics, chord progressions,
parodies, movies, and other stuff. I also just got this
absolutely hilarious AIF sound file of Billy saying "Don't take
any sh*t from anybody!" This can also be found at the best
freakin' Billy Joel site on the web at:
http://www.clarkson.edu/~bullivtm/billyjoel/ so go check it out.
E-mail me for a list of my stuff.
Until then I remain,
- Kevin
Tom Gaynor
Rico is said in the song, right b4 the horn solo. I believe he is saying
the horn players nickname. I think his real name is Mark Rivera.
And Ross, why so nasty?
--
Tom
LI, NY USA
"So we'll argue and we'll compromise and realize that nothing's ever
changed" BJ from Summer, Highland Falls
Ross Adrian <rad...@comcat.com> wrote in article
<radrian-0202...@u010.comcat.com>...
Macavity
Ross Adrian wrote:
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
>
> unless you ask us for help, thats another story, thats perfectly
> OK.
>
> sorry for any disruptions.
>
> rossman
Gee, Ross... Maybe you should listen to, "it's still rock and roll to
me" on the greatest hits album very closely one more time, and then
apologize for your rudeness.
Keep The Faith,
--Mac.
Macavity
figure it out tonight... i'm bored. <g>
Funny, I always took "Captain Jack" to be about masturbation... Perhaps
it's meant to be rather ambiguous.
Keep The Faith,
--Mac.
Andrew Mogford
Come on man, lighten the tone. In Rock N Roll to me, Billy definitely
shouts "Come on Rico", or words to that effect. Genuine questions
deserve genuine answers.
Andy.
The Segals
About "Rico":
Just before the sax solo in "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" Billy yells"
alright Rico..." I'm pretty sure he's talking to Richie Canata, his
phenomenal sax player.
Don't rag on the guy for asking. Even some of us uber-avid fans don't know
everything.
Jeremy S.
The Segals
In article <32F80A...@wolsi.com>, maca...@wolsi.com wrote:
> Andrew Mogford wrote:
> Funny, I always took "Captain Jack" to be about masturbation... Perhaps
> it's meant to be rather ambiguous.
>
Mac:
We all hear what we want to hear, I guess.
Some evidence the song is about drugs:
1. Someone earlier in the thread said it was slang for drug (LSD
specifically but I still think heroin) in England.
2. The liner notes in Songs in the Attic mention drugs.
3. "...just another PUSH, and you'll be smiling" If it was masturbation,
wouldn't it be "pull?" This is assuming of course Billy would be singing
about m-a-l-e masturbation as I figure that's what he more familiar with.
Then again "push" could be about f-e-m-a-l-e maturbation.
Just shedding a little light and doing a hand-check on the subject.
Jeremy S.
Mike Boxer
Boober15 wrote:
> As for Eisenberg, well....I have no
> comment except for that and even if Billy would say that (which
> he didn't) who in the world would think up a name that
> strange or even relate that to being a name at all?!? I would
> think it's someplace in Europe if I heard that!
>
> Until then I remain,
> - Kevin
What's so strange about the name Eisenberg? It's a name. just like
Eilenberg, Greenberg, Goldberg, Berg, etc. I know about 7 people named
Eisenberg, just in my hometown. And no I don't live in Europe, actually
I live in Billy's home state of New York.
And you folks, not just Kevin can stop taking out your aggression on me
and calling me stupid for that Eisenberg reference. Like I said it's a
long, weird story.
On that note, yes I know who Alexa, Christie Lee and in fact a lot of
others are, and I don't need you to point out how stupid I am for
asking. I wish you would have paid attention to the fact that I NOTED
that I knew the answers to some of the questions I was asking, but
requesting the answers so that those who DIDN'T know could find out, not
ME.
My thanks, though, to the people who were observant enough to notice,
and those who were not but were decent enough not to take shots at me.
Mike
Mike Boxer
Ross Adrian wrote:
>
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
Let's not be hypocritical here! It seems to me, my friend, that the one
who doesn't know what he is talking about is YOU.
If you actually listen to the song, you will notice that right before
the saxophone solo, Billy's voice is transferred to the background, at
which point he screams, "All right Rico!!"
And I know what I'm talking about.
But even so, what the hell is the big deal?
> unless you ask us for help, thats another story, thats perfectly
> OK.
Well yes, that's just what I was doing, and given what you said above
your post just makes no sense.
> sorry for any disruptions.
>
> rossman
YOU'RE sorry?...
Mike
Joelfn1949
Lets Start:
The Down Easter is his Boat, Alexa is his DAUGHTER!!!!!
Rosalinda from Rosalinda's eyes is his Mother!!!
CHRISTIE Lee from The song was his X wife Christie
Brinkley!!!!!!!!!
Virginia was a girl who he used to go out with
What Billy Mumbles before 52 street is I believe "With
These Hands I say"
If you have any comments e-mail me
PJandJP
Ross Adrian wrote:
>
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There's a place in the wold for the Angry Young Man"
This isn't it ...
PJ
Todd Bullivant
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
> OK.
Actually, there is. There is a break in the singing of the song and Billy
yells out "All Right Rico!" which is why you hear "All right Alfie" yelled
out in Weird Al's "Still Billy Joel to Me". Rico, I believe, is Richie
(sp), his saxaphone player at the time. I can't remember his last name,
but I beleieved we've talked abou this here and on the mailing list before,
and we agreed on this. Before you post, make sure you know what your
talking about! :) Sorry, I just had to get that in!
Todd
Mike Forrest
In article <radrian-0202...@u010.comcat.com>, rad...@comcat.com
(Ross Adrian) wrote:
> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
Doesn't Billy say ' Alright Rico' just before a saxophone break. As far
as I can remember Billy's sax player at the time was Ritchie Canatta.
Could it have been Rico for short.
papajock
mfor...@cix.compulink.co.uk
Boober15
Okay well since I don't want to seem like a bad guy
I'd like to first say I'm sorry to Mike Boxer for
critisizing the Eisenberg thing. Although I've never
heard of anyone named that, I guess I must be
mistaken. Anyhoo, I was just trying to be funny
and I guess it didn't work out that way. And since
I'm posting another little message here I guess I'll
take the time to put up the address of the BEST Billy site
on the web (no, it's not mine). But go check it out, it'll
be worth your while.
As always I am,
- Kevin
Scott Crumpler
>Ross Adrian wrote:
>>
>> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
>> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
>> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
>
Look you moron, there is to a Rico. He says it on the album and he
says it at the concerts just before Richie Canata starts to play.
Richie -- Rico...... see the resemblence. Perhaps you should take
some of your own advice and make sure you know what you're talking
about before you go off on somebody making them feel like they made a
mistake.
-For the rest of the readers: I regret that both this message and the
one it refers to must be in the newsgroup.
-Scott
Scott Crumpler
For your information, down easter is a kind of boat, this particular
one is named Alexa.
>
>
occo
In article <E5778...@cix.compulink.co.uk>, mfor...@cix.compulink.co.uk
says...
>
>> 23. Rico fom It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> There's no Rico, where the hell did you get this name?
>> I don't know but before you post, make sure you know what your
>> talking about. I'm sorry if i'm i little rude, but come on.
There is a Rico, its Richie Cannata's nickname. In fact Cannata nowadays
has his own band called Rico.
occo
INFO GOD
James is about James Woods the actor! He and Billy grew up together.
Mike Boxer
INFO GOD wrote:
>
> James is about James Woods the actor! He and Billy grew up together.
What is your source?
Mike
Sac1990
Re: the mumblings at the beginning of 52nd Street...
This one has bothered me since I first noticed it when the album came out,
so I took it straight to the source. I saw Billy do his college Q & A at
USF in Tampa and I got the chance to ask him the question.
Would you believe he didn't remember. Didn't even seem to know there was
any. He said that they often mumble random things during sound checks and
such.
But one of the other people in the audience yelled out what I always
thought he said: "Italian Sausage."
-Steven
Mike Boxer
Woody wrote:
> hard at school to get into college and get a regular job. Is that James
> Woods? Is he looking for his release. Get real. Also, Woods has said he
> was a first class nerd in school... Who did Joel hang around with? Not
> James Woods...
>
> Woody!
WRONG AGAIN! A girl I know went to one of the Q & A sessions here in NY, and some
guy asked that question - "Who is James?"
Billy's reply: James is simply that person we all know who are too serious, have
no eccentricity and always take the sure, straight path. Part of why it's "James"
and not "Jimmy". Billy was never like that, and that outlook on life he feels got
him where he is, and as a result he scoffs at it. Why did he choose the name
"James"? Well, Billy says it just "sounded nice", flowing and eloquent. He went as
far as to provide a musical aid - "It just wouldn't sound as nice if it were
something like, [singing] 'Fred...'" Billy proceeded to play the entire song
substituting "Fred" for "James". Guess you had to be there, but she says it was
hysterical.
Mike
CHERYL1DRJ
On Sun, 9 Feb 1997, Mike Boxer wrote:
> INFO GOD wrote:
> >
> > James is about James Woods the actor! He and Billy grew up together.
At one of the Q&A's I went to, someone asked Billy if "James" was a guy
Billy went to school with that he (the guy asking the question) also
knew. Billy said it was a true story of someone he knew, but his name
wasn't James. He said "some names just don't work. They aren't good rock
'n roll names to sing. Imagine James being Bob or Fred. It just doesn't
work."
JMFisher
In "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me" the words "All right Rico" refer to
Richie Cannata, the sax player. Billy calls Richie, "Rico". I have a
live concert tape where Billy calls Richie "Rico" right before he takes
his sax solo in "New York State Of Mind". So there you go!
Geffer
I believe "Rico" was a nickname for Richie Cannata, the sax player. Sort
of apropos considering Billy says this right before the sax solo.
I had always been led to believe that "Captain Jack" was a song about
masturbation. Not a pervert, just what I read :)
Geffer
Dana L. Johnson
Geffer wrote:
> I had always been led to believe that "Captain Jack" was a song about
> masturbation. Not a pervert, just what I read :)
>
> Geffer
I was under the impression it referred to Jack Daniels Whiskey...?
Dave
Actually, 'Captain Jack' is a euphemism for whatever you shoot, drink,
snort, drop, or rub into your belly. The idea is that he's hooked on
something that makes him feel a whole lot better, even thought it
costs him big in the long run.
The song was banned from many radio stations because they thought
the 'C' in Captain referred to Cocaine.
--------------------------------------------
rat...@ibm.net
(Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.)
Mike3277
Captain Jack was the neighborhood drug dealer. Case closed.
Dave
In <19970217184...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, mike...@aol.com (Mike3277) writes:
>Captain Jack was the neighborhood drug dealer. Case closed.
It's just not that simple. Give Billy a little more credit than that.
Mike Boxer
NO! MIKE IS RIGHT! BILLY HIMSELF HAS SAID IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN! If you won't believe the
guy who wrote the song himself, who will you believe?
Mike