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Code Of Silence Lyrics

Everybody's got a million questions
Everybody wants to know the score
What you went through
It's something you
Should be over now

Everybody wants to hear the secrets
That you never told a soul before
And it's not that strange
Because it wouldn't change
What happened anyhow

But you swore to yourself a long time ago
There were some things that people never needed to know
Guess there's one that you keep
That you bury so deep
No one can tear it out

And you can't talk about it
Because you're following a code of silence
You're never gonna to lose the anger
You just deal with it a different way

And you can't talk about it
And isn't that a kind of madness
To be living by a code of silence
When you've really got a lot to say

You don't want to lose a friendship
There's nothing that you have to hide
And a little dirt
Couldn't hurt no one anyway

And you still have a rage inside you
That you carry with a certain pride
In the only part of the broken heart
That you could ever save

But you've been through it once
You know how it ends
You don't see the point
Of going through it again
And this ain't the place
And this ain't the time
And neither's any other day

So you can't talk about it
Because you're following a code of silence
You're never gonna to lose the anger
You just deal with it a different way

So you can't talk about it
And isn't that a kind of madness
To be living by a code of silence
When you've really got a lot to say

I know you well enough to tell you've got your reasons
That's not the kind of code you're inclined to break
Some things unknown are best left alone forever
And if a vow is what it takes
Haven't you paid for your mistakes

After the moment passes
And the impulse disappears
You can still hold back
Because you don't crack very easily

It's a time honored resolution
Because the danger is always near
It's with you now
But that ain't how it was supposed to be

And it's hard to believe after all these years
That it still gives you pain and it still brings tears
And you feel like a fool
Because in spite of your rule
You've got a memory

But you can't talk about it
Because you're following a code of silence
You're never gonna to lose the anger
You just deal with it a different way

But you can't talk about it
And isn't that a kind of madness
To be living by a code of silence
When you've really got a lot to say
Featured Meaning
Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

Code Of Silence was basically a Cyndi Lauper penned-song that Billy Joel performed. He was on a writers block and needed to complete a few more tracks so he could cut The Bridge and had Cyndi Lauper assist him on completing the song. She also sang some vocals on the song, but it was essentially a Cyndi Lauper song in DNA with some Billy Joel lyrics. The story of the song in terms of lyrics are about someone who is bottling in their secrets or aspects of their life, when it may be better to live truthfully. The song has...

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Submitted by
fletch699 On Apr 16, 2002
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Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

This is a simple, clear and direct song about something anyone can feel: a bad or harsh episode in laugh that you try to forget, to blot out, and pretend you have. But it's there and stays there for years. And it may well be smaller than you think in retrospect and over the passage of time. And simply talking about it to someone, voicing it out loud, helps resolve the problem and may demote it from 'horrific moment of my life' to 'a bad thing that happens to others too and it's gone now'.

Wonderful lyrics, truly brilliant. This is far from a superstar/fame song.

Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

Code Of Silence was basically a Cyndi Lauper penned-song that Billy Joel performed. He was on a writers block and needed to complete a few more tracks so he could cut The Bridge and had Cyndi Lauper assist him on completing the song. She also sang some vocals on the song, but it was essentially a Cyndi Lauper song in DNA with some Billy Joel lyrics. The story of the song in terms of lyrics are about someone who is bottling in their secrets or aspects of their life, when it may be better to live truthfully. The song has often been described as "labored" but I personally have always enjoyed it, even if it is more than likely a filler track on an 80s Joel album.

Song Fact
Positive
Subjective
Enjoyment
Collaboration
Songwriting
Secrets
Authenticity
Filler Track
Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

I see this as possibly coming from the perspective of a people pleaser who was in a relationship with someone who has uncaring/narcissistic/abusive tendencies and is afraid to go through it again:

But you've been through it once You know how it ends You don't see the point Of going through it again

This is how many people in this situation feel when they've been mentally beaten down over and over in a relationship. They just decide to shut down and not talk, because they feel the "punishment" isn't worth them speaking up, and that's something that can follow them even after a relationship has ended (hence the code of silence . . . something they feel ashamed about and feel they need to hide):

To be living by a code of silence When you've really got a lot to say

And then when Billy sings:

What you went through It's something you Should be over now

It sounds like something the toxic partner would say to the person. Or the people pleaser is beating themselves up thinking they should be over it by now.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

"Because it's part of your rules" is wrong and should be "Because in spite of your rules".

Cover art for Code Of Silence lyrics by Billy Joel

When you become a SUPERSTAR, and everybody recognizes you; When they dig in your dirt to find out who knows what, there is still a small private garden they can't step on. This very tiny intimate part no one can put their hands on, needs a code of silence.

He speaks of anger, of danger, of madness, of mistakes you had to pay for. No man can live like this.

To be a public person must be tough to live with, that's the reason why Stars live in fortresses surrounded by electrified walls, or worse -> they lose ilussion, say their famous last words and leave away.

I think this song is about child abuse and/or sexual abuse, that someone would feel better if they could talk about it but they can't because it's too painful, embarrassing, etc.

Not Valid