 Download "A Minor Variation"
Ain't no way to fight 'em darling
Ain't no way around 'em baby Ain't no way to take 'em honey Nowhere to hide and believe me I've tried to shake 'em "A Minor Variation" is an ode to depression and the blues. It is a downbeat blues song of course, featuring the Hammond organ and guitar. Despite a few vocal growls from Billy, the song does not really come together for me, but maybe that is the point. Billy is in a bad mood here and just wants to be left alone with his "bad disposition." Alternatively, he could be describing depression and how hard it is to do anything to lose them except to simply suffer through them and perhaps have some wine as there is "Nowhere to hide and believe me I've tried to shake 'em." 
"Nowhere to hide and believe me I've tried to shake 'em." Publicity photo (1993).
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Words and Music by Billy Joel
Some days I have to give right in to the blues Despite how I try to keep fightin' It's a sure shot I'm going to lose And I'll tell you why You think I'm crazy It's such a sad composition But can you blame me For what's been causing my bad disposition? Ain't nothing new with my blue situation And nothing's fine, it's just a minor variation When troubles want to find me, I ain't hard to find They know where I am Like a hungry pack of wolves when it's feeding time They tear up a man And it's a strange thing "Cause now it don't really matter More of the same thing Don't even hurt it's been part of the pattern But still in all it's a small consolation I just define it as a minor variation Ain't no way to fight 'em darling Ain't no way around 'em baby Ain't no way to take 'em honey Nowhere to hide and believe me I've tried to shake 'em I'm getting to the point where I don't feel the pain And I've had enough I'm ready for the next time it hits me again "Cause I've gotten tough It doesn't faze me And now I've made my decision I may be crazy It's not as though I don't know that condition Until I'm through with this blue situation Pass me the wine, it's just a minor variation Ain't nobody's business, baby Ain't nobody's worry darlin' Ain't nobody's problem No way to win when you've already been forgotten And it's a strange thing "Cause now it don't really matter More of the same thing Don't even hurt, it's a part of the pattern Until I'm through with this blue situation Pass me the wine, it's just a minor variation |
Thematically, the songs on Side One of River of Dreams (remember this was still the age of vinyl) are generally bleak and angry, before turning more hopeful and positive on Side Two, and "Minor Variation" is probably one of the bleakest songs Billy has ever written. When Billy sings "no way to win when you've already been forgotten," that is about as hopeless a line as he has penned. In fact, "A Minor Variation" was ranked #3 on this list of top ten bleakest Billy Joel songs, which had some curious choices ("Falling of the Rain" is not a bleak song). Musically the song is vaguely similar to "Storm Front" from the album of the same name, but does not have the same drive as that song.
Videos (audio only)
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"A Minor Variation" (audio only)
© 1993 Sony Music Entertainment |
Raw version (audio) of "A Minor Variation" from the Shelter Island Sessions. I like this version better.
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First time live, "A Minor Variation," at a 2018 concert at Madison Square Garden.
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Billy discusses giving in to the blues and "A Minor Variation" in this 1993 interview.
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