Streetlife Serenader

I always thought that the music in this song is stunning, but that it needed better lyrics.

This song is about a "poor" person that must live on the street but plays music to earn tips to survive on.

Never sang on stages
Melody comes easy
Have no obligations Hold no grand illusions Need no stimulation Need no vast arrangement To do their harmonizing

Trobadours in the ancient times in Europe, Circus people, Blind chanteurs travelling around the villages singing free and easy to earn daily bread, held no grand illusions... but had no obligations. Music... Melody came easy.

To me this is a song about MUSIC. Music is a somebody playing a melody and somebody listening. That's it. Then comes money and business to complicate things. But Music really is cheap and simple and lives almost anywhere, in the singing lullaby of a mother, in a Mall, where a Shoppin' center hero, Child of Eisenhower is performing live for you, and for daily bread. No sorrow here.

this song in my mind is about the "little man." the guy/girl who works hard and has a lot of talent as a singer/songwriter but never becomes a 'Big' artist. they dont have a lot of hope b/c they've been turned down so many times but still play because they love playing. one of billy joel's best songs by far.