"Piano Man" by Billy Joel tells the story of a piano player who performs at a bar and interacts with various patrons who come to the establishment. The song's lyrics paint vivid portraits of the regulars at the bar, each with their own struggles, dreams, and stories.
The piano player, known as the "Piano Man," observes and empathizes with the individuals who frequent the bar, from the "real estate novelist" who dreams of escaping his mundane life to the "waitress practicing politics" who dreams of pursuing her own ambitions. Despite their diverse backgrounds and circumstances, they all come together at the bar to find solace, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
As the Piano Man plays his music, he becomes a central figure in the lives of the patrons, providing them with a temporary escape from their troubles. The song captures the bittersweet essence of life, the power of music to unite people, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Letter notes
F° (G° C EG)
G° G°
F° E° F° E° C°
C° (C°AF) C° C° C°
D° D°
E° F° (G° CEG)
G° G°
F° E° F° E° C°
C° A A E° F° E° C° (C° CEG)
F° G° (G° CEG)
G° G°
F° E° F° E° C°
C (C°AF) C° C° C°
D° D°
E° F° (G° CEG) G G G°
F° E° F° E° E° E°
C° C° C° E° F° E° C° (C° CEG)
A°
A°
B° C°° B° A°
A° A° A°
B° C°° B°
A° G°
F
E
D
(G° CEG) G° G° G°
F° E° F° E° C°
(C°AF) C° C° C°
E° D°
E° F° (G° CEG)
G° G°
F° E° F° E° C°
C° A A E° F° E° C°
(C° CEG)
Number notation
4° (5° 1 35)
5° 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 1°
1° (1°64) 1° 1° 1°
2° 2°
3° 4° (5° 135)
5° 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 1°
1° 6 6 3° 4° 3° 1° (1° 135)
4° 5° (5° 135)
5° 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 1°
1 (1°64) 1° 1° 1°
2° 2°
3° 4° (5° 135) 5 5 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 3° 3°
1° 1° 1° 3° 4° 3° 1° (1° 135)
6°
6°
7° 1°° 7° 6°
6° 6° 6°
7° 1°° 7°
6° 5°
4
3
2
(5° 135) 5° 5° 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 1°
(1°64) 1° 1° 1°
3° 2°
3° 4° (5° 135)
5° 5°
4° 3° 4° 3° 1°
1° 6 6 3° 4° 3° 1°
(1° 135)
