Fictional single cover
"Turn Around" is a country-tinged song like several other songs that would later appear on Piano Man such as "Travelin' Prayer," "Stop In Nevada," and "The Ballad of Billy the Kid." It is lyrically and musically rather simple. The song appears to be a plea to a woman to return back to a relationship.
The mention of "Eliza" in the song is a reference to Billy's girlfriend Elizabeth who was married to Billy's friend Jon Small, and who left after their relationship was discovered. Of course, Billy and Elizabeth eventually reunited and got married, so maybe the song worked. |
Oh, sweet lady, runnin' like a stream
You don't look back because you know your hands are clean You make believe that the past was just a dream You make believe the past was just a dream Turn around, turn around And I will sing for you a song I don't know where you been But you've been gone too long Oh Eliza, you must begin again And all the roads that you have walked are comin' to an end I was your lover but I thought I was your friend I loved you but I thought I was your friend So turn around, oh turn around And I will sing for you a song I don't know where you been But you've been gone too long Oh, sweet lady, stand beside the sea Maybe you will find a little time to think of me Won't you please remember what I tried so hard to be Yeah, remember what I tried so hard to be So turn around, turn around And I will sing for you a song And I don't know where you been But you've been gone too long Billy on "Turn Around." Subscribe to SiriusXM.
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Billy said on SiriusXM that the song was influenced by James Taylor's music, particularly "Fire and Rain" with its country tinge. The original version of "Turn Around" featured a pedal steel guitar by Pete Kleinow ("Sneaky Pete") who played the instrument on many popular songs during the 1970s. For some reason, however, Kleinow's pedal steel guitar was cut dramatically from the re-mixed version that appeared on the 1983 version of Cold Spring Harbor. Perhaps it sounded dated during the 1980's emphasis on electronic synthesizers. It's too bad. Sneaky Pete's pedal steel guitar gave the song more character. The original version, with pedal steel guitar, can be heard on the video below (right) though it seems mixed a little too high. A remastered version of the entire 1971 vinyl version of the album can be found here, with "Turn Around" starting at 16:29). This is a good version.
Videos
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Studio version of "Turn Around" from 1983. Photos are famous female country singers from the 1970s. "Turn Around" © 1983, 2011 Sony Music Entertainment.
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The original 1971 version of "Turn Around" features the pedal steel guitar of Pete Kleinow. © 1971 Sony Music Entertainment.
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