A Minor Variation Lyrics

Lyric discussion by hiddenaway4ever 

Cover art for A Minor Variation lyrics by Billy Joel

My interpretation is that Billy Joel is saying that the difference between moods weather very happy or really down, like the speaker in this song, is only a minor variation. He is saying that your always yourself but your mood is what varies; so, if the speaker doesn't seem like himself it not a complete change but just a minor variation.