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Big Shot Lyrics
Well you went uptown riding in your limousine
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
And when you wake up in the morning
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me
Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
They were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people that you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
Aw but now you just can't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show
Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spot light
You had to be a big shot last night
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
And when you wake up in the morning
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
And the people that you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
Aw but now you just can't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spot light
You had to be a big shot last night
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Billy has said in a couple of lectures/interviews that the song was about a particularly bad date with Bianca Jagger. He added that he wanted to write a song about a hangover, but apparently didn't. He was probably boozed (or on something else) too, but the song is about the woman ... hence the Halston dress.
@neurotic.housewife Honestly, I think "Halston dress" was just a regurgitated insult that Joel wanted to put in (even if it didn't quite fit). He was such a show off, I wouldn't put wearing one past him. The rest of the lyrics seem to be a recollection of accusations leveled at Joel, by someone else (or a supposed mash of others) who he allegedly offended.
@neurotic.housewife Honestly, I think "Halston dress" was just a regurgitated insult that Joel wanted to put in (even if it didn't quite fit). He was such a show off, I wouldn't put wearing one past him. The rest of the lyrics seem to be a recollection of accusations leveled at Joel, by someone else (or a supposed mash of others) who he allegedly offended.
Hey New Generation, guess what? This was a song about a date with Bianca Jagger gone bad. It was relased on the 52nd Street album by Columbia in 1978. He wouldn't have even met Christie Brinkley let alone be married to her at that time. But good guess.
@beeman33 I heard Mick could be a prick at parties. He'd mimic his friends and wife, often in front of them, utterly oblivious to any pain caused by his atrocious renditions.
@beeman33 I heard Mick could be a prick at parties. He'd mimic his friends and wife, often in front of them, utterly oblivious to any pain caused by his atrocious renditions.
The song is a parody of Mick (Jagger) mocking his associates. Joel sends up Mick when he performs the song. Apparently the sight of Mick mocking his own wife at a dinner party was too much for others to bear watching, and Joel decided to rip-off Mick ripping off everyone else.
The song is a parody of Mick (Jagger) mocking his associates. Joel sends up Mick when he performs the song. Apparently the sight of Mick mocking his own wife at a dinner party was too much for others to bear watching, and Joel decided to rip-off Mick ripping off everyone else.
When asked, Joel couldn't bring himself to mention Mick's name (he probably didn't think Mick deserved any more...
When asked, Joel couldn't bring himself to mention Mick's name (he probably didn't think Mick deserved any more of the "spotlight"), and instead attributed the song (in sympathy) to Mick's long-suffering wife Bianca (who Mick drunkenly ridiculed at a party once while off his face).
The "honey" was Mick, who did a dreadful camp imitation of a lady wearing a Halston dress at Elaine's. Basically Mick was an arsehole when out-of-it or when he had a hang-over (which was quite a lot of the time).
@beeman33
@beeman33
The line "...you had to open up your mouth" gives it away. Mick's mouth was legendary, and (to those who suffered his "friendship") so were his mouthy imitations of peers. The big shot wasn't Bianca, it was Mick who hypocritical parodied a high-society lady at dinner. It's a mimicry of Mick mimicking a "friend".
The line "...you had to open up your mouth" gives it away. Mick's mouth was legendary, and (to those who suffered his "friendship") so were his mouthy imitations of peers. The big shot wasn't Bianca, it was Mick who hypocritical parodied a high-society lady at dinner. It's a mimicry of Mick mimicking a "friend".
Great tune. I can relate to running my mouth after having a few, and having crippling anxiety about it the next day. fun stuff!
I've heard this song was written about a date Billy Joel had with Bianca Jagger. Judging from the lyrics, I'd say it didn't go well.
billy joel rocks! this song is one of my favorites by him!
Well whoever it was with they were stuck up and he was so jealous he sounds like he was getting rather violent and, er, wanted to shoot and kill her ...ahem "Big Shot"
Unless he is a cross dresser (they were all impressed with your Halston dress), its not about him. He did say he wanted to write a hang-over song, but this does seem to be directed at a date with a woman (I'll give you on ehint honey) who acted like a jerk (I also heard it was Jagger around this time when his 1st marriage was in the toilet ).
@crdesq There's more than one voice in the song. The lyrics are a transcription of an argument between at least two parties, who appear to know each other too well, both having a "bitch" about each other's poor behaviour the night before.
@crdesq There's more than one voice in the song. The lyrics are a transcription of an argument between at least two parties, who appear to know each other too well, both having a "bitch" about each other's poor behaviour the night before.
One accuses the other of being too macho (and not knowing when to go home), the other in return mimics the one's "Halston dress".
One accuses the other of being too macho (and not knowing when to go home), the other in return mimics the one's "Halston dress".
Both accuse each in the chorus of being a "big shot".
Both accuse each in the chorus of being a "big shot".
Joel probably drew on experiences in falling out with various partners (he cheated on his music partner...
Joel probably drew on experiences in falling out with various partners (he cheated on his music partner and eventually divorced at least one wife).
If you enjoy horns, listen to the saxphone harmonies on the chorus. Nobody writes for the sax better than Billy!
Actually, if you read "Billy Joel: The Life & Times Of An Angry Young Man," and if you listen to some of the interviews Billy's given, he says that this song was written after a bad date he had with Bianca Jagger.
Actually, if you read "Billy Joel: The Life & Times Of An Angry Young Man," and if you listen to some of the interviews Billy's given, he says that this song was written after a bad date he had with Bianca Jagger.