Big Shot

Big Shot
52nd Street

From 52nd Street (1978)

US Release:
Peak US Chart:
OFS Rating

January 1979
14
8.5/10

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Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
   If you know when to leave it alone
   But you went over the line
   You couldn't see it was time to go home

Billy starts out 52nd Street with one of his hardest rocking songs to date, the blistering "Big Shot." Billy sounds a bit like Mick Jagger in this one, and the story is that he wrote the song about Mick's then wife, Bianca Jagger (though in earlier interviews Billy had said it was about himself, which made no sense in light of the reference to "Halston dress" but it was perhaps an attempt to deflect the true story). Apparently, Mick had been complaining about Bianca to Billy, and it became the inspiration for the song. Or, the story is that Billy had a dinner with the couple, and later wrote a song that Mick should sing to her. If you notice in the video, Billy strikes a classic Mick Jagger pose at 1:27.

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Bianca Jagger rides in on a white horse at her birthday party at Studio 54 (May 1977). Poor horse. Inspiration for the song? Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images.

The "big shot" in the song cavorts around New York as if she owns it and as if everyone cares. They don't. But she is oblivious to the fact that there is a price to pay for acting like a prima donna. Billy has called it a "hangover" song.

"Big Shot" was a big hit for Billy and became a staple of his live show when he'd somersault or jump off the piano, but it's not always in his current live set anymore. Too bad, even without the somersault, it's an energetic crowd-pleaser. The song reached #14 on the charts in the U.S.

Billy and The Lords of 52nd Street.

Well, you went uptown ridin' in your limousine
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
Ooh, and when you wake up in the mornin'
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me

Because you had to be a big shot, didn't ya?
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya?
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night

Well, they were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people that you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
But now you just don't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure that you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show

Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't ya
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
Oh oh whoa whoa oh . . .

Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't ya
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have the white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night, oh oh

Oh oh whoa whoa oh . . .
Big shot . . .
Big shot . . .

As with some other songs from 52nd Street, Billy recorded a music video for "Big Shot" which features him performing the song live. It's fun to watch both Billy and drummer Liberty Devitto in this video, they really get into it and ham it up, and Billy finally comes out from behind the piano. The videos were relatively rudimentary, mostly simple performances with some creative moments. When Billy's two-part Video Albums were released in 1986, a new video (see below) for "Big Shot" was recorded which spliced in scenes featuring an actress (Australian comedian Pamela Stephenson of Saturday Night Live) acting out scenes from the song in addition to Billy's original video performance.

In 2013, Brandon Urie of Panic From the Disco did a solid cover of "Big Shot" at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony honoring Billy and others. See video. Billy seemed to enjoy it. Don Henley, Garth Brooks, Rufus Wainwright and also sang covers of Billy's songs at the ceremony.

The Beastie Boys have covered "Big Shot" live in their concerts, click here to listen. Mike D of the Beastie Boys wrote a funny article explaining why Billy Joel is the "fifth Beastie Boy." Give it up for Mr. Billy Joel, indeed.