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Roberta
Streetlife Serenade (1974)

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     Roberta, how I've adored you 
     I'd ask you over but I can't afford
    you
    Oh, I wish you'd take the time 
    Oh, I wish you'd take the time

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      Billy tackles a somewhat controversial topic in "Roberta," which is about a prostitute or call girl.  The song is a ballad but the topic is not love; rather, it is about frustration.  The protagonist cannot get what he wants as he states "I suppose that my small change won't see you through" and "I'd ask you over but I can't afford you."   There are some lines that indicate the singer has feelings for Roberta such as "I know you're workin' but you must get lonely too, it's tough for me, ah, it's tough for you."  Ultimately, however, the song begins and ends in frustration.

     The song is rarely, if ever, played live and is more or less forgotten.  Billy did, however, discuss the song and play most of it at the New Yorker Festival in 2015 (see video, below right) at the request of some die-hard fans.  He said that Roberta was a real person he knew while he lived in Los Angeles.

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Billy on "Roberta" from SiriusXM in 2016.

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Billy Joel on Chip Monck's program "Speakeasy" in 1974.

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Roberta, you say you know me
But I see only what you’re paid to show me
Oh, I wish you had the time
Oh, I wish you had the time, oh

Roberta, I understand you
I know you need to move in other circles too
It’s tough for me
​It’s tough for you

Roberta, how I've adored you
I'd ask you over but I can't afford you
Oh, I wish you'd take the time
Oh, I wish you'd take the time

Oh, Roberta, the night goes slowly
I know you're workin' but you must get lonely too
It's tough for me, ah, it's tough for you

And I'm in a bad way
And I wanna make love to you, ooh, ooh
Oh, I wish you had the time
Oh, I wish you had the time

Oh, Roberta, I really need you
But I suppose that my small change won't see you through;
It's tough for me
Ah, it's tough for you

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Photo from the Streetlife Serenade songbook.  This is Billy on the Chip Monck program Speakeasy from 1974.  Jackson Browne is on the left, Frank Zappa is on the right.  Monck is at the piano with Billy.   Listen (use player on left).   Apparently a jam session broke out before taping of the program, read about it here (bottom of page).  On the program, Billy and Dave Mason sang Mason's "Feelin' Alright" and "Bring It On Home."

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Videos

 Audio only of "Roberta" from Streetlife Serenade.  
©  1974, 1998, 2011 Sony Music Entertainment

Billy discusses "Roberta" at the New Yorker Festival in October 2015.

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