They burned the churches up in Harlem
Like in that Spanish Civil War The flames were everywhere But no one really cared It always burned up there before "Miami 2017" is one of Billy’s most popular songs that was not released as a single. It is a science fiction song about the invasion or destruction of New York city by some unnamed alien force. Science fiction in rock music was a popular theme in the 1970s such as David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Elton John's "Rocket Man." Billy has stated that he wrote it from the perspective of a grandparent recalling the tale of New York's destruction to his or her grandchild, in the distant future in Miami in the year 2017. The narrator recalls that it was "so many years ago" before "we all lived here in Florida" and "before the Mafia, took over Mexico."
Miami 2017: Liner Notes
(Recorded June 1980, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Turnstiles) 1975 -- New York Daily News Headline -- "Ford to New York - Drop Dead"! Remember Madrid -- No Pasaran? More science fiction now than then. A legacy for my unborn grandchildren. (From Songs In Attic liner notes) The lyrics are clever and rapid-fire, taking the listener on a whirlwind tour across New York city, from Broadway, to Battery Park, to Queens, to the Bronx, and then to Manhattan, which is sank out at sea by the unnamed invading force. The destruction is ironic in light of the already-existing decay of the city. In describing the flames in Harlem, Billy states that “no one really cared, it always burned up there before," and in describing the ruins on Broadway he says "you know we almost didn't notice it, we'd seen it all the time on 42nd Street."
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Words and Music by Billy Joel
I've seen the lights go out on Broadway I saw the Empire State laid low And life went on beyond the Palisades They all bought Cadillacs And left there long ago We held a concert out in Brooklyn To watch the Island bridges blow They turned our power down And drove us underground But we went right on with the show I've seen the lights go out on Broadway I saw the ruins at my feet You know we almost didn't notice it We'd seen it all the time on 42nd Street I've seen the rats lie down on Broadway I watched the mighty skyline fall. The boats were waiting at the Battery The union went on strike They never sailed at all They sent a carrier out from Norfolk And picked the Yankees up for free They said that Queens could stay They blew the Bronx away And sank Manhattan out at sea You know those lights were bright on Broadway But that was so many years ago Before we all lived here in Florida Before the Mafia took over Mexico There are not many who remember They say a handful still survive To tell the world about The way the lights went out And keep the memory alive 
Billy discusses "Miami 2017" from a 1981 interview about Songs In The Attic.
Billy discusses "Miami 2017" on SiriusXM from in or about 2016.
Billy discusses "Miami 2017" on WCRB's The Answered Question, Jan. 2, 2017
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Although Billy called the song "science fiction" in his liner notes to Songs In The Attic, it is also a commentary on the state of New York at the time as the federal government refused to bail the city out of a financial crisis. This led to the famous Daily News headline "Ford to City: Drop Dead" (above) and Billy's return to New York.
The songs starts slowly with an elegant and intricate piano introduction, and then suddenly picks up the tempo in the first chorus and becomes one of Billy's most satisfying rockers. The song then returns at the end to that same elegant piano.
Until 9/11, "Miami 2017" had been one of Billy's most underrated songs. It was popular in concert and among his die-hard fans, but relatively unknown among the general public. But soon after 9/11 Billy played the song at the Concert for New York City (along with "New York State of Mind") and the lyrics took on a whole new meaning, both ironic and prophetic. Watch a video from the MSG Network about Billy's impactful performance of the song at the Concert for New York City, here. It's one of Billy's best songs. I never get tired of hearing this song or seeing Billy play it.
The songs starts slowly with an elegant and intricate piano introduction, and then suddenly picks up the tempo in the first chorus and becomes one of Billy's most satisfying rockers. The song then returns at the end to that same elegant piano.
Until 9/11, "Miami 2017" had been one of Billy's most underrated songs. It was popular in concert and among his die-hard fans, but relatively unknown among the general public. But soon after 9/11 Billy played the song at the Concert for New York City (along with "New York State of Mind") and the lyrics took on a whole new meaning, both ironic and prophetic. Watch a video from the MSG Network about Billy's impactful performance of the song at the Concert for New York City, here. It's one of Billy's best songs. I never get tired of hearing this song or seeing Billy play it.
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Here is a good UpRoxx article about "Miami 2017" and its significance, written after Billy performed it on New Year's Eve 2016 in Miami.
In the live version for 2011's Live at Shea (recorded in 2008 just before Shea Stadium was demolished), Billy replaces the line "They said that Queens could stay/They blew the Bronx away" with "They said the Mets could play/Another game at Shea."
Richard Marx recorded a cover version of the song. You can hear it here (YouTube). He sang backup on the Storm Front album in 1989.
In the live version for 2011's Live at Shea (recorded in 2008 just before Shea Stadium was demolished), Billy replaces the line "They said that Queens could stay/They blew the Bronx away" with "They said the Mets could play/Another game at Shea."
Richard Marx recorded a cover version of the song. You can hear it here (YouTube). He sang backup on the Storm Front album in 1989.
Videos
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This is a nicely done fan video of "Miami 2017," the live version from Songs In The Attic.
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Billy and the band perform "Miami 2017" at a Midtown Manhattan recording studio in 1981, as aired on SNL.
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See more "Miami 2017" videos at the "Miami 2017 Videos Page."