Ah, you know that nothing lasts forever
And it's all been done before Ah, but you ain't got the time to go to Cold Spring Harbor . . . no more "Everybody Loves You Now," first released in 1971 on Cold Spring Harbor. is the first of Billy's many "femme fatale" songs, about a woman who attracts many admirers and followers, including the singer, but treats them with disdain or callousness. In this song, the singer addresses a local girl who has apparently made the big time and no longer has "the time to go to Cold Spring Harbor....no more." The singer recognizes that this woman is losing touch with reality, being surrounded by fawning fans and "yes" men, but it's not clear that she realizes this:
This theme of stardom going to one's head is one that Billy would explore again later in songs like "Big Shot."
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Everybody Loves You Now
Words and Music by Billy Joel
Baby all the lights are turned on you Now you're in the center of the stage Everything revolves on what you do Ah, you are in your prime; you've come of age And you can always have your way somehow But everybody loves you now You can walk away from your mistakes You can turn your back on what you do Just a little smile is all it takes Ah, you can have your cake and eat it too Loneliness will get to you somehow But everybody loves you now Ah, they all want your white body And they await your reply Ah, but between you and me and the Staten Island ferry . . . so do I All the people want to know your name Soon there will be lines outside your door Feelings do not matter in your game Yeah, 'cause nothing's gonna touch you anymore So your life is only living anyhow And everybody loves you now Close your eyes when you don't want to see Stay at home when you don't want to go Only speak to those who will agree Yeah, and close your mind when you don't want to know You have lost you innocence somehow But everybody loves you now Ah, you know that nothing lasts forever And it's all been done before Ah, but you ain't got the time to go to Cold Spring Harbor . . . no more See how all the people gather 'round Ah, isn't it a thrill to see them crawl? Keep your eyes ahead and don't look down Yeah, and lock yourself inside your sacred wall This is what you wanted, ain't you proud? 'Cause everybody loves you now. |
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Musically, "Everybody Loves You Now" is a fast-moving gallop, with rapid-fire lyrics that never miss a beat. It is one of the best songs on Cold Spring Harbor and one of two (including "She's Got A Way") that Billy chose to put on 1981's Songs In The Attic.
Billy resurrected the song in the late 2000's for his concerts, and it was very well-received. It was even used on an episode of the television program Smash in 2013, see here. Billy discusses the song on SiriusXM (2016). It was influenced by Bob Dylan.
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Everybody Loves You Now
(Recorded July 1980, Bijou, Washington, D.C. Cold Spring Harbor) Macho rationale for being rejected. Her? Leave me? She must be a self-possessed bitch! Anyway everybody didn't really love her. I just thought they did. (From Songs In Attic liner notes) Vertical Divider
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Videos
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The 1981 music video for "Everybody Loves You Now" was another live performance shot in black and white.
© 1971, 1981 Sony BMG Music Entertainment. |
Studio version from Cold Spring Harbor. This is the 1983 version. The original 1971 version on vinyl which was mixed too fast can be heard here.
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Promo version from 1971, aired on The Old Grey Whistle Test.
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Live version from Conan Late Show in 2005.
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