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Temptation
The Bridge (1986)

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I look so tired cause I don't get much sleep
And I've got too many commitments that are too hard to keep
And I try to be rational
And I try to be wise
But it all gets blown to pieces
When I look in her eyes

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       "Temptation" is a ballad about someone who the singer cannot stop thinking about.  At first, one assumes it is a woman, but Billy has said that he wrote the song about his baby girl Alexa Ray who was born on December 29, 1985.  He adored her and could not stop looking at her and thinking about her.  He has said that he wanted to rush home to see her every day after leaving the music studio.   I know the feeling, when my daughters were born, it was hard not to want to spend all my time just watching and holding them.

      Billy explains the inspiration for the song on SiriusXM, listen below.

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     The song itself is mellow and pleasant, but not that memorable.  It is somewhat repetitive musically and lyrically, and does not really go anywhere.  It rarely gets played today in concert albeit but some Billy Joel fans love this ballad.  Billy said on SiriusXM that "once that baby was born, I wanted to be home, and I hear in the writing on The Bridge a certain reluctance to continue [recording] . . . I was in a hurry to get it over with . . . ."   Listen below:

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     Alexa herself discusses the song on SiriusXM in the audio clip below. ​

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     Billy's other song about his daughter is, of course, "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)," which is very moving and tender.  It is on his 1993 album River of Dreams.  While "Lullabye" has been covered by several other artists, "Temptation" was not as popular except among some hardcore fans.

​     Another song that Billy wrote about Alexa is "Opus 1, Soliloquy ("On A Separation")" on Fantasies & Delusions.   The song expresses the emotions Billy experienced when he would have to separate from his daughter after his divorce from Christie Brinkley in 1994.  It's a hard feeling to explain, even harder to experience, to be separated from your child like that on a regular basis; only divorced parents can really understand it.​​

      Billy has also mentioned that "Hey Girl," an old Carole King song that he recorded for Greatest Hits, Vol. III, reminds him of the feeling of the times that he had to say goodbye to his daughter.  It's a touching sentiment and a testament to the strong and loving father-daughter bond that Billy and Alexa share, in addition to their musical talents.
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Words and Music by Billy Joel

It's time for me to be on my way I know
I've got business to conduct
And I've got places to go
But I can't help looking at her sleeping instead
Another morning I'll have trouble climbing out of this bed

Because, she's such a temptation
It's driving me crazy
And it's my fascination
That's making me act this way
And I know what all of my friends say
They're afraid that I'm losing my touch
But she's such a temptation

I look so tired cause I don't get much sleep
And I've got too many commitments that are too hard to keep
And I try to be rational
And I try to be wise
But it all gets blown to pieces
When I look in her eyes

Because, she's such a temptation
And nothing can save me
But I might find salvation
If I could tear myself away
And I know what all of my friends say
There's a danger in wanting too much
But she's such a temptation

I should be leaving
But I can't cut loose
I have my reasons for resistance
But I have no excuse
And I lose my composure
I could use some restraint
I never claimed to be a hero
And I never said I was a saint

She's such a temptation
It's driving me crazy
And it's my fascination
That's making me act this way
And I can just hear all my friends say
"Better watch out, you're losing your touch"
But she's such a temptation

Yes she is
She's such a temptation
Yes she is
Yes she is
She's such a temptation

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The proud parents and Alexa in 1985.
​Source: Alexa Ray Joel Instagram.
Credit:  Patrick Demarchelier (?)

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Christie, Alexa, and Billy.  
​​​Source: Alexa Ray Joel Instagram.

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1) and 2) Alexa Ray Joel Instragram, 3) from fan Pinterest page, 4) unknown.

Videos
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Lyrics video for "Temptation"
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Billy discusses how he came up with "Temptation" and "Lullabye (audio).

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This is an unreleased alternative demo version of "Temptation" (audio only) which is quite different than the original.  It is an upbeat rocker.  Thanks to Rob Prisament for posting.

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Billy discusses having a daughter, Alexa, in this excerpt from a 60 Minutes profile in 1990. The clip, however, is from the documentary A Matter of Trust from 1987. It appears to be the same day that the iconic photo of Alexa sitting on his piano (above) was taken. The song he sings to her, Alexa Ray, can also be heard here at 43:52.

Billy answers the question if he sings with Alexa (yes), and what it has been like for her being the daughter of a famous couple, at a Q&A session in 2010.

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