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James
Turnstiles (1976) |
Do what's good for you
Or you're not good for anybody "James" is a wistful song about growing up and trying to balance pursuing one's dreams while balancing family and societal expectations. The song was based in part or inspired in part by Billy's childhood friend James Bosse who had played in the same band as Billy in their teens in Long Island (though Billy has sometimes said that it is not based on anyone of the same name). It is also based in part on his friend Bill Zampino who works in Billy Joel's management.
Billy Joel, Bill Zampino (seated), and Jim Bosse (center). I believe this is The Lost Souls or the Echos.
In the song, Billy asks James if he is pursuing what he loves ("Do what's good for you/Or you're not good for anybody James") or pursuing what he feels his duty to his family is ("Are you still in school/living up to expectations?"). Like many of us, instead of pursuing what we love, reality and expectations set in and we pursue something more practical in our lives, and we have to carry "the weight of family pride" and can end up staying "someone else's dream of who [we] are." We often never end up writing our "masterpiece," but settle into something more routine. But one has to "do what's good for you, or you're not good for anybody."
Fortunately, while Bosse pursued a more traditional life and career for a time as a doctor, he also continued to pursue his musical interests. In 1998, Bosse recorded classical guitar versions of some of Billy Joel's songs on CD. Click photo (right). He also wrote an article about his early days in bands with Billy, which appeared in the liner notes for My Lives. And here is an interesting blog article about Bosse and Billy Joel, with an update and old photo (above, right) Vertical Divider
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Words and Music by Billy Joel
James, we were always friends From our childhood days. And we made our plans, And we had to go our separate ways. I went on the road, You pursued an education. James, do you like your life? Can you find release? And will you ever change? Will you ever write your masterpiece? Are you still in school Living up to expectations? James, you were so relied upon, Everybody knows how hard you tried. Hey, oh, look at what a job you've done, Carrying the weight of family pride. James, you've been well behaved You've been working hard But will you always stay Someone else's dream of who you are? Do what's good for you Or you're not good for anybody James I went on the road, You pursued an education. James, how you gonna know for sure? Everything was so well organized. Hey, oh, now everything is so secure, and everybody else is satisfied. James, do you like your life? Can you find release? And will you ever change? When will you write your masterpiece? Do what's good for you Or you're not good for anybody James Billy discusses "James" on SiriusXM from 2016.
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Videos
Promotional video for "James" from 1976. The other video from this time period is for "Say Goodbye to Hollywood." © 1976 Columbia Records, Sony Music Entertainment.
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A live performance of "James" from 1976 at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, New Jersey.
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Billy discusses "James" in a 1976 interview from Countdown, an Australian television program. The song was released as a single in 1976 and reached #77 on Australian charts, but did not chart in the United States
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Billy explains the background behind "James" and that musically it was like a J.S. Bach composition.
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James Bosse playing "James" on classical guitar. Bosse has covered several Billy Joel songs. See his YouTube channel.
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