This isn't easy for me to say Diane
I know you don't need anybody's protection I really wish I was less of a thinking man And more a fool who's not afraid of rejection "Sleeping With The Television On" is a forgotten gem of a song. It's pure pop fun. It's surprising it was not released as a single in 1980 since it is so catchy and clever.
The song begins with the last strain of The National Anthem followed by the tone of color bars from a television when a network signs off (which doesn't happen anymore). It's a hint of the title of the song, which is what happens to you when you don't take a chance on love. You end up alone sleeping with the television on, says the protagonist to the object of his desire. It is similar to "Only the Good Die Young" in theme and tune, but for a slightly older audience. Although not released as a single, it helped make Glass Houses one of the best pop/rock albums of the early 80s. "And more a fool who's not afraid of rejection"
David Cornelius at PopcornWorld does a very nice analysis of the song, noting that:
"The music of 'Sleeping With the Television On' – polished to pop perfection by frequent Joel collaborator Phil Ramone – strikes a natural balance between Joel’s songwriting and his new wave muse. There’s an organ solo that’s [Elvis] Costello all the way, and the poppy background vocals and Liberty DeVitto’s catchy beats bring to mind images of skinny ties and early MTV. "It’s the lyrics that turn the song into one of Joel’s career greats. Again we find a grown-up approach to love – and, more to the point, sex . . . It’s that portrait of two wounded hearts that keep 'Sleeping With the Television On' attractive, truthful, and maybe even a little romantic. . . . It’s a nice companion to 'I Don’t Want to Be Alone,' two complicated love songs with grown-up viewpoints on getting together and getting it on." |
I've been watching you waltz all night Diane
Nobody's found a way behind your defenses They never notice the zap gun in your hand Until you're pointing it and stunning their senses All night long, all night long You'll shoot 'em down because you're waiting for somebody good to come on But you'll be sleeping with the television on You say you're looking for someone solid here You can't be bothered with those "just for the night" boys Tonight unless you take some kind of chances dear Tomorrow morning you'll wake up with the white noise All night long, all night long You're only standing there 'cause somebody once did somebody wrong But you'll be sleeping with the television on Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But your attitude is "don't waste my time" Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But you won't hear a word 'cause it just might be the same old line This isn't easy for me to say Diane I know you don't need anybody's protection I really wish I was less of a thinking man And more a fool who's not afraid of rejection All night long, all night long I'll just be standing here 'cause I know I don't have the guts to come on And I'll be sleeping with the television on Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But my attitude is "boy, don't waste your time" Your eyes are saying talk to me, talk to me But I won't say a word 'cause it just might be somebody else's same old line All night long, all night long We'll just be standing here 'cause somebody might do somebody wrong, oh all night long And we'll be sleeping with the television on Sleeping with the television on Sleeping with the television on Sleeping with the television on Oh, sleeping with the television on Vertical Divider
Billy on "Sleeping with the Television On" SiriusXM.
Billy's handwritten lyrics.
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Another fun review of the song and Glass Houses is at the MeetInMontauk blog. It begins: "My #2 album of 1980 would elicit gasps among the critical elite, who have long dismissed Billy Joel as a hack. Fuck ’em. Glass Houses is a blast — not The Stranger or 52nd Street great, but a whole lot of fun. . .
"On Glass Houses, Joel goes for an Elvis Costello/Joe Jackson vibe, and as usual, proves that he can write winning tunes in any genre. The off-kilter mellow pop of ‘Don’t Ask Me Why,’ ‘I Don’t Want to Be Alone,’ ‘Through the Long Night’ and today’s SOTD is a new sound for him that still feels entirely his own. . . . You have to be a cynical bastard not to enjoy this album."
"On Glass Houses, Joel goes for an Elvis Costello/Joe Jackson vibe, and as usual, proves that he can write winning tunes in any genre. The off-kilter mellow pop of ‘Don’t Ask Me Why,’ ‘I Don’t Want to Be Alone,’ ‘Through the Long Night’ and today’s SOTD is a new sound for him that still feels entirely his own. . . . You have to be a cynical bastard not to enjoy this album."
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The conceptual rock duo Marmaduke, sampled the song heavily for their song "Rubber Lover."
Videos
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A video for "Sleeping With The Television On" © 2010 One Final Serenade. "Sleeping With The Television On" © 1980 Sony Music Entertainment.
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Live version (audio only) from a 1981 concert.
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Live version from the Best Buy bonus disc of 12 Gardens Live (2006), with video from another MSG concert.
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This is a good acoustic cover of "Sleeping With the Television On."
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