Loneliness will get to you somehow
But everybody loves you now "Everybody Loves You Now" is arguably 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:
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 This theme of stardom going to one's head is one that Billy would explore again later in songs like "Big Shot" and "That's Not Her Style." 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 audiences enthusiastically welcomed it back. It was even used on an episode of the television program Smash in 2013, see here. There is also a great version on 1981's Songs In the Attic. Vertical Divider
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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 Yeah, 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 Hey, 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. Billy discusses the song on SiriusXM (2016). It was influenced by Bob Dylan.
Billy Joel's band in the early 1970s. Photo from Danny V's 52ndStreetBand.com.
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Videos
There is a promotional music video for "Everybody Loves You Now" from 1971, which aired on the UK television program, The Old Grey Whistle Test.
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Studio version of "Everybody Loves You Now." © 1971, 1983 Sony Music Entertainment.
Live performance, with lyrics, from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" from 2005.
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This is the music video for the live version on "Songs In The Attic" (1981)
From "Live At Shea Stadium" in 2008. © 2011 Sony Music Entertainment.
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