All about soul

From the album RIVER OF DREAMS (1993)
by BILLY JOEL
Also released as a single

when this came out as a single, I didn't at first hear the love song or the even deeper meditation on faith in each other and in a greater reality. I was working for a pair of abusive managers, and the line that spoke to me, jumped out and grabbed me by the throat, was "there are people who have lost every trace of human kindness". The song helped me get through that whole time - thanks, Billy.

She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence
She gives me all her tenderness and takes away my pain
And so far she hasn't run, though I swear she's had her moments
She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain

It's all about soul
It's all about faith and a deeper devotion
It's all about soul
'Cause under the love is a stronger emotion
She's got to be strong
'Cause so many things gettin' out of control
Should drive her away
So why does she stay?
It's all about soul

She turns to me sometimes and she asks me what I'm dreaming
And I realize I must have gone a million miles away
And I ask her how she knew to reach out for me at that moment
And she smiles because it's understood there are no words to say

It's all about soul
It's all about knowin' what someone is feelin'
The woman's got soul
The power of love and the power of healin'
This life isn't fair
It's gonna get dark, it's gonna get cold
You gotta get tough, but that ain't enough
It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, Yes it is
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, Yes it is

There are people who have lost every trace of human kindness
There are many who have fallen, there are some who still survive
As she comes to me at night and she tells me her desires
And she gives me all the love I need to keep my faith alive

It's all about soul
It's all about joy that comes out of sorrow
It's all about soul
Who's standing now, who's standing tomorrow
You've got to be hard
As hard as the rock in that old rock 'n' roll
But that's only part, you know in your heart
It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, Yes it is
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, Yes it is
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, It's all about soul
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na, Yes it is

Summer highland Falls

Words and music by BILLY JOEL
From the album TURNSTILES (1976)

Billy Joel has famously struggled with depression, but has given hints in interviews that he feels he might be manic-depressive. Being manic-depressive myself, when I hear the words of this song I think his hints are right.

They say that these are not the best of times
But they're the only times I've ever known
And I believe there is a time for meditation
In cathedrals of our own

Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes
And I can only stand apart and sympathize
For we are always what our situations hand us
It's either sadness or euphoria

And so we'll argue and we'll compromise
And realize that nothing's ever changed
For all our mutual experience
Our separate conclusions are the same

Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity
Our reason coexists with our insanity
And though we choose between reality and madness
It's either sadness or euphoria

How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies
Perhaps we don't fulfill each other's fantasies
And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives
With our respective similarities
It's either sadness or euphoria

Always a Woman

Words and music by BILLY JOEL
From the 1977 album THE STRANGER

Billy Joel found himself being saddled with accusations of mysogyny because of this song, by individuals who thought that the title was "She's only a woman". It seems that his sin was to have the dexterity to be able to describe a man's experience of loving a flesh-and-blood woman with the darkness as well as the splendour that entails, as opposed to expressing solidarity with whoever could best deconstruct an oppressive patriarchal narrative which, more often than not, didn't exist in the first place. Joel was surprised that this song was a hit because of its unusual time-signature, but his fans weren't surprised. It was the best of songs from a songwriter who demands nothing but the best from himself.

She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
But shes always a woman to me

She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her, as long as its free
She steals like a thief
But shes always a woman to me

Chorus

Oh-she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
Shes ahead of her time
Oh-and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more
Than the garden of eden
Then shell carelessly cut you
And laugh while youre bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause shes always a woman to me

Chorus

She is frequently kind
And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She's nobodys fool

But she can't be convicted
Shes earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But shes always a woman to me