I'm so romantic
I'm such a passionate man Sometimes I panic What if nobody finds out who I am? "Big Man On Mulberry Street" is a brassy and swinging jazz tune, akin to the songs on 52nd Street and "New York State of Mind," but with a more overtly jazz or big band vibe. The song depicts a character who acts like a big shot but secretly knows that it is all just a show. He has self-awareness and fears being discovered as a phony. He rhetorically asks himself "so tell me what am I trying to prove?" As Billy describes the song as "a portrait of a nebbish who thinks he's cool" (from Schruers, Billy Joel).
At the same time, however, in the last line of the song we discover that he also wants to be discovered, he wants someone to know the real him. Instead of asking "what if somebody finds out who I am," he instead laments "what if nobody finds out who I am?" He recognizes that it's better to be discovered, to be known for who you really are, rather than lead a phony life where no one ever knows the real you. There is nothing too profound here, the song is mostly just a fun bluesy jazz jaunt that swings. The song was used for a dream sequence in the popular 1980's sitcom "Moonlighting" with Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd. See video below. Billy on "Big Man On Mulberry Street" from SiriusXM.
Of course, Billy recorded a live version of the song from his concerts in Russia which appears on Kohuept (1987) and A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014) (see video below) Billy also performed the song at the 2013 New Orleans JazzFest (see video below). And in 2014, Sting joined Billy on stage at Madison Square Garden to sing the song. See below. You can also see Sting talk about the first time he met Billy when Billy attended a Police concert in the 1970's and they hung out later; click here.
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Kohuept (1987) | A Matter of Trust: The Bridge to Russia (2014)
Originally released on The Bridge (1982) Words and Music by Billy Joel Why can't I lay low
Why can't I say what I mean Why don't I stay home And get myself into some boring routine Why can't I calm down Why is it always a fight I can't get unwound Why do I throw myself into the night I'm on the outside I don't fit into the groove Now I ain't a bad guy So tell me what am I trying to prove Why can't I cool out Why don't I button my lip Why do I lash out Why is it I always shoot from the hip I cruise from Houston to Canal Street A misfit and a rebel I see the winos talking to themselves And I can understand Why is it every time I go out I always seem to get in trouble I guess I made an impression on somebody North of Hester and south of Grand And so in my small way I'm a big man on Mulberry Street I don't mean all day Only at night when I'm light on my feet What else have I got That I'd be trying to hide Maybe a blind spot I haven't seen from the sensitive side But you know in my own heart I'm a big man on Mulberry Street I play the whole part I leave a big tip with every receipt I'm so romantic I'm such a passionate man Sometimes I panic What if nobody finds out who I am?
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Videos
Billy performs "Big Man on Mulberry Street" in Russia in 1987.
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Billy discusses how he came up with "Big Man on Mulberry Street," from the 1986 documentary "Building The Bridge."
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"Big Man on Mulberry Street" was featured on an episode of the television series ""Moonlighting."
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Billy and his band captivate the crowd with "Big Man on Mulberry Street" at the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2013. See Rolling Stone article.
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Sting performs "Big Man On Mulberry Street" as a surprise guest at Billy's concert at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2014.
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