black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

every time I’ve held a rose, It seems I only felt the thorns

Billy Joel

I didn’t graduate high school, so I never got a teacher’s education, I’m mostly self-read, self-taught.
BILLY JOEL

Education Graduate School Self Teacher
I once believed in causes, too. Had my pointless point of view. Life went on no matter who was wrong or right.
BILLY JOEL

Matter Right Views Wrong
I watched the mighty skyline fall
BILLY JOEL

Fall Mighty Skylines Watched
There’s an old man sitting next to me, making love to his tonic and gin.
BILLY JOEL

Alcohol Drug Men
So many faces in and out of my life Some will last Some will be just now and then. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes I’m afraid it’s time for goodbye again.
BILLY JOEL

Baby Faces Goodbye Hollywood Life Many Series
Critics have said I write without spontaneity, in cold blood. I don’t. I write in hot blood.
BILLY JOEL

Blood Hot Writing
Like family, we are tied to each other. This is what all good musicians understand.
BILLY JOEL

Family Like Musician Tied
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – the sinners are much more fun.
BILLY JOEL

Fun Laughing Song
When I see an entire community disenfranchised, it disturbs me. Not that I’m a message guy, per se. I write about people. I like to write about human beings, not crap political rhetoric.
BILLY JOEL

Community People Writing
Musicians now find themselves in the unlikely position of being legitimate. At least the IRS thinks so.
BILLY JOEL

Musician Position Thinking Unlikely
I see the children with their boredom and their vacant stares.
BILLY JOEL

Boredom Children Reality
You’re not the only one who’s made mistakes, but they’re the only things that you can truly call your own.
BILLY JOEL

Made Mistake Reality
I am the entertainer, I’ve come to do my show You’ve heard my latest record, it’s been on the radio
BILLY JOEL

Beautiful Heard Record Song Writing
You’ve got yoga, I’ve got beer. You got overpriced, I got weird.
BILLY JOEL

Beer Relationship Yoga
When I first started I didn’t know a lot about the job, so I kinda had to figure it out by wire, ya know? It was hit and miss, I made mistakes, and fortunately I was able to recover from most of ’em.
BILLY JOEL

Fortunately Jobs Missing Mistake
When I was 19, I made my first good week’s pay as a club musician. It was enough money for me to quit my job at the factory and still pay the rent and buy some food. I freaked.
BILLY JOEL

Club Jobs Musician
Call you up in the middle of the night. It’s awful hard trying to make love long distance, but I really need stimulation.
BILLY JOEL

Distance Long Night Stimulations
No end to sorrow, caused by the same endless fears. Why can’t we learn from all we’ve been through after two thousand years?
BILLY JOEL

Education Endless Same Years
…And you’re the only one who knows.
BILLY JOEL

Good Inspirational Love Morning
In an age of incompetence, I’ve been able to last in this crazy business. I actually know how to play my ax and write a song. That’s my job.
BILLY JOEL

Birthday Business Jobs Crazy Song
I’ve lived long enough to have learned, the closer you get to the fire, the more you get burned.
BILLY JOEL

Education Fire Long
If it seems like I’ve been lost in ‘lets remember’, If it seems I’m gettin’ older and missin’ my younger days, well you shoulda known me much better, cause the past is something that never got in my way.
BILLY JOEL

Causes Past Way
So before we end And then begin We’ll drink a toast to how it’s been A few more hours to be complete A few more nights on satin sheets A few more times that I can say, I’ve loved these days.
BILLY JOEL

Drink Night Relationship
Nobody’s telling me, “Yeah, I left.” Everybody says, “You know, I’m there. It’s great. It’s really nice there, and you made our town famous.”
BILLY JOEL

Everybody Famous Really Town
I’m probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14-to meet women. …
BILLY JOEL

Music Probably Reason Started Writing
I am the entertainer, the idol of my age I make all kinds of money when I go on the stage You see me in the papers.
BILLY JOEL

Age Entertainer Idols Magazines Money
Honesty is the best part of any art form. If you don’t have that, you’re kidding yourself and your listener.
BILLY JOEL

Art Honesty Kidding Part Truth

every time I’ve held a rose, It seems I only felt the thorns

Related Topics

Popular Authors

every time I’ve held a rose, It seems I only felt the thorns

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Billy Joel Quotes