Why can't I lay low?
Why can't I say what I mean?
Why don't I stay home?
And get myself into some boring routine

Why can't I calm down?
Why is it always a fight?
I can't get unwound
Why do I throw myself into the night?

I'm on the outside
I don't fit into the groove
Now I ain't a bad guy
So tell me what am I trying to prove

Why can't I cool out?
Why don't I button my lip?
Why do I lash out?
Why is it I always shoot from the hip?

I cruise from Houston to Canal Street
A misfit and a rebel
I see the winos talking to themselves
And I can understand
Why is it every time I go out
I always seem to get in trouble?
I guess I made an impression on somebody
North of Hester and south of Grand

And so in my small way
I'm a big man on Mulberry Street
I don't mean all day
Only at night when I'm light on my feet

What else have I got
That I'd be trying to hide?
Maybe a blind spot
I haven't seen from the sensitive side

But you know in my own heart
I'm a big man on Mulberry Street
I play the whole part
I leave a big tip with every receipt

I'm so romantic
I'm such a passionate man
Sometimes I panic
What if nobody finds out who I am?


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Big Man on Mulberry Street Lyrics as written by Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Big Man On Mulberry Street song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    this song is about ' the killing of Joey Gallo' he was killed on mulberry and Hester St. I just watched a story about him on the bio channel, the show is called mobsters. if you watch this episode you will see what I'm talking about
    air2004on May 14, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is basically about a guy who thinks he's a big shot walking down Mulberry Street with wine in his hand, and showing off......
    pianodudeon November 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Billy Joel's voice was never so beautifully displayed. This song reminds me of course, of Monlightning. But also some American guys living in my building in Madrid dared to knock at my door to say hi, just because "Big man on Mulberry St." sounded pretty high in my appartment. They thought: American friendly. And they were right :-)
    le fer et le feuon April 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song was written for the hit TV show "Moonlighting" starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd and appears in the season 3 episode entitled "Big Man on Mulberry Street". Bruce Willis plays David Addison, a wisecracking, live-life-to-the-fullest party guy who is secretly in love with conservative, uptight former model Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd). This song (and episode) gives us a glimpse into David's sensitive side and hints at his true feelings for Maddie... "What if nobody (i.e. Maddie) finds out who I am?" Great show if you haven't seen it by the way.
    kmaudkon March 21, 2014   Link

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