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Weekend Song
Streetlife Serenade (1974) |
And tonight when I'm leaving I'll be just breakin' even But I know it's gonna be alright Come on baby, take me away We got some money to spend tonight The only rock song on Streetlife Serenade is "Weekend Song." It's a rollicking soulful rocker, somewhat like Piano Man's "Ain't No Crime" (both influenced by Leon Russell), but not quite as memorable as "Ain't No Crime." The song is also reminiscent of Elton John's "Take Me To The Pilot." Billy, Elton, and Leon were considered the top rock pianists in the early 1970s. On SiriusXM, Billy briefly discusses how the song was inspired by Leon Russell. He plays a short bit of the song too. See player (below, right).
The protagonist in "Weekend Song" longs to leave his 9-to-5 job and enjoy the weekend with his girl. While it's not a very original sentiment or tune, and almost feels like it was written to fill out the album in order to add a "rock" song, it is still nonetheless an enjoyable and fun song, perfect for a Friday night. And the live versions (click player below) are even better. If "Weekend Song' is the young single man's ode to leaving work and going out, then "Allentown" from The Nylon Curtain is that same guy in his 30s, and "When In Rome" from Storm Front is that same guy even older and married. And one wonders if the protagonist in "Weekend Song" will be joining his buddies just a half a mile away.
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Leon Russell passed away in 2016. His most famous song is probably "Tight Rope" or "This Masquerade." The latter was covered by many artists including jazz guitarist and vocalist George Benson. In his later years, Russell recorded a cover of Billy's classic "New York State of Mind" (YouTube audio).
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This back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin'
Two more hours to go Yes it's keeping me alive doin' nine to five And I ain't got nothin' to show Pretty soon I'll be leavin' with the wages I'm receiving But I know it's gonna be all right Come on, babe, and take me away We got some money to spend tonight Pick me up at the station Meet me at the train Have a meal and a shower and a change of clothes I can't afford a vacation But I can take the strain Long as I can be with you Find a way to burn it as quickly as I earn it And it's back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin' Two more hours to go Seven long years for the same corporation And I ain't got nothin' to show And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin' even But I know it's gonna be all right Ah, shake off my blues when you put on your shoes We got some money to spend tonight Oh, I don't wanna stand here and sound accusin' Everybody does their share of losin' If I'm gonna lose it I might as well be doin' it right Pick me up at the station Meet me at the train Have a meal and a shower and a change of clothes I can't afford a vacation But I can take the strain Long as I can be with you Find a way to burn it as quickly as I earn it Yes, it's back-breakin', bone-shakin', belly-achin', hard-workin' Two more hours to go Yes it's keepin' me alive doin' nine to five And I ain't got nothin' to show And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin' even But I know it's gonna be all right Oh come on baby, take me away We got some money to spend tonight Come on baby, take me away We got some money to spend tonight Billy discusses "Weekend Song" on SiriusXM.
A live version of "Weekend Song" from 1976. Thanks to BillyJoelConcertArchive for posting.
Photos: Peter Cunningham/Columbia Records Publicity Photos (1974). More at Cunningham's site with many other great photos.
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