One Final Serenade: Songs of Billy Joel
 From Storm Front (1989)
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A great fan video created by Tony Walker. Billy in fine form. Mindy Jostyn was a great addition to the band, albeit it was short-lived.
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I've been sailing a long time on this ocean
Man gets lonesome, all those years at sea I've got a woman, my life should be easy Most men hunger for the life I lead The title track "Storm Front" is another bluesy rocker. It opens with a nice groove that was inspired by Peter Gabriel's hit "Sledgehammer" from 1986, as Billy recently stated on SiriusXM. Listen to Billy describe it, click player below: The song is a metaphor about an impending crisis or a breakup of a relationship, or simply restlessness with an existing relationship. Billy writes "I've been sailing a long time on this ocean/Man gets lonesome, all those years at sea," hinting at the roots behind his desire to explore (a metaphor to seeing other women). He continues: "I'm still restless, for the open water Though she gives me, everything I need She asked me to stay, but I'd done my navigation I drove her away, but I should have known to stay tied up at home." Those feelings of restlessness can be dangerous, and the singer recognizes this. There is a storm front coming should he give in to those temptations and pursue the "open water." The metaphor is well done containing some clever analogies and lines, but is a bit undeveloped. One keeps waiting for the killer line or a wrap up. Still, "Storm Front" is a fun song to hear in concert with its driving beat, rousing chorus, and clever metaphors. 
Billy's Shelter Island Runabout, from Boats.com. The "Beaufort scale" mentioned in the song is a measurement of wind speed.
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Safe at harbor, everything is easy
Off to starboard, daylight comes up fast Now I'm restless for the open water Red flags are flying from the Coast Guard mast They told me to stay, I heard all the information I motored away and steered straight ahead Though the weatherman said There's a storm front coming (mood indigo) White water running and the pressure is low Storm front coming (mood indigo) Small craft warning on the radio I've been sailing a long time on this ocean Man gets lonesome, all those years at sea I've got a woman, my life should be easy Most men hunger for the life I lead The morning was gray, but I had the motivation I drifted away and ran into more Heavy weather off shore There's a storm front coming (mood indigo) White water running and the pressure is low Storm front coming (mood indigo) Small craft warning on the radio We've got a low pressure system and a northeastern breeze We've got a falling barometer and rising seas We've got the cumulonimbus and a possible gale We've got a force nine blowing on the Beaufort scale I'm still restless for the open water Though she gives me everything I need She asked me to stay, but I'd done my navigation I drove her away, but I should have known To stay tied up at home There's a storm front coming (mood indigo) White water running and the pressure is low Storm front coming (mood indigo) Small craft warning on the radio |
Videos
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Live performance of "Storm Front" from Live at Yankee Stadium. © 1990 Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
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Peter Gabriels' Sledgehammer from 1986, which was a huge hit. The opening groove inspired the "Storm Front" groove, as Billy said on SiriusXM.
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Billy discusses "Storm Front" and his love of boating on a 60 Minutes profile from 1990 (starting at 10:05). "There's always going to be a storm out there, it's how you're going to deal with it."
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Billy performs "Storm Front" in concert and discusses the meaning of the song in this excerpt (starting at 21:49) from an MTV Rockumentary in 1990. "It is a metaphorical song, it is analogous to things that are going to happen in life."
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