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Don't Ask Me Why

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You can say the human heart is only make-believe
And I am only fighting fire with fire
But you are still the victim of the accidents you  leave
​As sure as I'm a victim of desire

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       Billy returns to pure pop with "Don't Ask Me Why" which sounds a bit like Paul McCartney.  The song has a Latin beat and rhythm, and sounds a bit out of place on Glass Houses.   The piano interlude, with castanets in the background, sounds like a vampy ballroom number.  It is a carefree tune, musically and lyrically.   

     Don't ask me what the lyrics mean, though I think it's about phoniness and pretension (see also "Big Man on Mulberry Street").   Billy speaks about a person who fools everyone into believing he (or she) is hot stuff as they throw roses at his feet, but is actually "no stranger to the street" and whose "ghosts have gone away."   Maybe a fan will ask him about the song's meaning at a future MasterClass.

    Update:  On SiriusXM radio in January 2016, Billy stated that "Don't Ask Me Why" was more figurative than literal.  It was a "stream of consciousness" song, with various thoughts that came to him.  He also said the Spanish or Latin feel, including the ballroom-dancing like piano solo, was influenced by time he had spent in Madrid.

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Billy Joel on "Don't Ask Me Why."  Subscribe to SiriusXM.

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​     The song was released as a single on July 24, 1980 and reached #19 on the US charts.   One fan apparently really enjoys the song, creating a YouTube playlist of the song.
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     In 2018, Billy dedicated "Don't Ask Me Why" to his daughter Della Rose (born 2015) at his 100th show at Madison Square Garden.  It is her favorite song. Billy has three daughters:  Alexa Ray, Della Rose, and Remy Anne.
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Embed from Getty Images

Della Rose Joel (2015).  Photo: Myrna Suarez.​

Words and Music by Billy Joel

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All the waiters in your grand cafe
Leave their tables when you blink
Every dog must have his every day
Every drunk must have his drink
Don't wait for answers
Just take your chances
Don't ask me why

All your life you've had to stand in line
Still you're standing on your feet
Oh, all your choices make you change your mind
Now your calendar's complete
Don't wait for answers
Just take your chances
Don't ask me why

You can say the human heart is only make-believe
And I am only fighting fire with fire
You are still the victim of the accidents you leave
As sure as I'm a victim of desire

All the servants in your new hotel
Throw their roses at your feet
Fool them all but baby I can tell
You're no stranger to the street
Don't ask for favors
Don't talk to strangers
Don't ask me why

Yesterday you were an only child
Now your ghosts have gone away
Oh, you can kill them in the classic style
Now you parlez-vous francais
Don't look for answers
You took your chances
Don't ask me why
Don't ask me why

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Billy experimenting with high heel shoes for the clapping sound of "Don't Ask Me Why."  Credit:  Larry Franke

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A cute rendition of "Don't Ask Me Why" by Della Rose Joel (2018).

Videos
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Billy and the Lords of 52nd Street perform "Don't Ask My Why" on the French (?) television program, Le Rendez-Vous du Dimanche, broadcast on April 2, 1980.  They also performed "C'etait Toi." 

There was no music video for "Don't Ask Me Why," but this is a high quality fan video of the song; nice sync of the song to video at 2:00.

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A brief behind-the-scenes look at the recording of "Don't Ask Me Why" from the ABC program 20/20 in 1980.

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This is a fun live performance of "Don't Ask Me Why" from Billy's concert at Wembley Arena in 1984.    

Billy appeared on Harry, Harry Connick Jr.'s morning television program in 2018 and they did a duet of "Don't Ask My Why."  This is a snippet of it.  A complete version on YouTube is here, but the video quality is not good.

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An early demo version of "Don't Ask Me Why."

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