40+ Best Billy Joel Quotes From The 'Piano Man'

Supriya Jain
Dec 12, 2023 By Supriya Jain
Originally Published on Feb 05, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
Singer Billy Joel performs in concert at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2016 in New York City.
?
Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.2 Min

William Martin Joel, hailing from New York City, is a popular musician, author, singer-songwriter, and composer.

He is commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man" after his first major hit and the same name's signature song. The composer of the "Piano Man" is Billy Joel himself. As an author and singer-songwriter, he has composed songs in different genres and is very popular worldwide.

Billy Joel once said, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints." His quotes are much more fun when you say them to your friends, too!

Billy Joel is popularly known for all the songs that he has composed as a singer-songwriter, writing all of his songs himself. These quotes about Billy Joel will prove his creativity!

Also a known pianist, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo artist since the '70s in the American music industry. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the sixth best-selling recording artist and third bestselling solo artist in the United States.

Billy Joel hasn't released an album of new pop songs for quite some time, not since '93, now he enjoys his time relaxing although sometimes he performs still and hasn't ruled out releasing new music! There are some Billy Joel quotes about love by the pianist, singer-songwriter known as 'Piano Man.'

If you love reading these, then also look at Bruce Springsteen quotes and [Elvis quotes].

Best Quotes By Billy Joel

Billy Joel has a residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where his shows continuously sell out. Despite retiring from writing and releasing pop music following the release of River of Dreams, he continues to tour, work as a singer-songwriter, and a pianist, and frequently performs at Madison Square Garden.

Here are some of the famous Billy Joel song quotes.

Singer Billy Joel performs at Shea Stadium on July 16, 2008 in Flushing, New York.

1. "I am no longer afraid of becoming lost."

- Billy Joel.

2. "You can get what you want or you can just get old."

- Billy Joel.

3. "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going."

- Billy Joel.

4. "If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time."

- Billy Joel.

5. "The journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist."

- Billy Joel.

6. "Everyone is a hypocrite in one sense or another and I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints."

- Billy Joel.

7. "You can't go the distance with too much resistance."

- Billy Joel.

8. "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints."

- Billy Joel.

9. "In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in being a wizard."

- Billy Joel.

10. "They're sharing a drink called loneliness, but at least it's better than drinking alone."

- Billy Joel.

11. "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity."

- Billy Joel.

Famous Sayings By Billy Joel

Across the 20 years of Billy Joel's solo career as a singer, songwriter, and a pianist, Joel produced 33 top 40 hits in the American music industry, all of which he wrote himself, and three of which managed to peak at the top of the American Billboard Hot 100 charts.

He has composed many songs as a singer-songwriter that have become popular over time.

Here are some of the famous Billy Joel quotes.

12. "Do what's good for you or you're not good for anybody."

- Billy Joel.

13. "They say there's a heaven for those who wait, some say it's better I say it ain't."

- Billy Joel.

14. "I can't remember faces, don't remember names, but after a while and a thousand miles it all becomes the same."

- Billy Joel.

15. "You should never argue with a crazy mind, you ought to know my now."

- Billy Joel.

16. "It's really hard to make a living as a musician. It's almost impossible."

- Billy Joel.

17. "Every time I've held a rose, It seems I only felt the thorns."

- Billy Joel.

18. "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

- Billy Joel.

19. "It's okay if you mess up. You should give yourself a break."

- Billy Joel.

20. "Like a boxer in a title fight, you have to walk in that ring alone."

- Billy Joel.

21. "Music says all the things that words alone can never say."

- Billy Joel.

22. "Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes...."

- Billy Joel.

23.  "Why do musicians give so much time to charitable causes? The most humanitarian cause that we can give our time to is the creation and performance of music itself."

- Billy Joel.

24. "I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist."

- Billy Joel.

25. "Musicians want to be the loud voice for so many quiet hearts."

- Billy Joel

26. "I look at some of the songs I wrote years ago and I can't believe I wrote such...[bad songs]."

-  Billy Joel.

27. "Even when I stop performing or stop making records I won't stop being creative. Songwriting is a good outlet."

- Billy Joel.

28. “Artist - musicians, painters, writers, poets, always seem to have had the most accurate perception of what is really going on around them, not the official version or the popular perception of contemporary life."

- Billy Joel.

29. "I believe there is a time for meditation in cathedrals of our own."

- Billy Joel.

30. "Do what you love, and you'll always love what you do."

- Billy Joel.

31. "Musicians now find themselves in the unlikely position of being legitimate. At least the IRS thinks so."

- Billy Joel .

32. "Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue..."

- Billy Joel, ‘Honesty”.

33. "Some people stay away from the door for the chance of it opening up."

- Billy Joel.

34. "I believe that all important matters have to be settled here, not in the clouds somewhere after we kick off."

- Billy Joel.

Billy Joel Lyrics Quotes

Billy Joel, the famous American musician, is known for his music and songs and the deep meaning each of his songs carry. His music has a crisp flavor of New York City, where he grew up. Here are some Billy Joel music quotes that you will love.

35. "Even though I know the river is wide

I walk down every evening and I stand on the shore

I try to cross to the opposite side

So I can finally find out what I've been looking for."

- Billy Joel, 'The River Of Dreams'.

36. "And in the evening, after the fire and the light, one thing is certain: Nothing can hold back the light, time is relentless, and as the past disappears, we're on the verge of all things new."

- Billy Joel, ‘Two Thousand Years’.

37. "We all have a face that we hide away forever and we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone."

- Billy Joel, ‘The Stranger’.

38. "I would not leave you in your times of trouble. We never could have come this far. I took the good times, I'll take the bad times, I'll take you just the way you are."

-  Billy Joel, ‘Just The Way You Are’.

39. "There ain't no island left for islanders like me."

- Billy Joel, ‘The Downeaster Alexa’.

40. "I would not leave you in your times of trouble. We never could have come this far. I took the good times, I'll take the bad times, I'll take you just the way you are."

- Billy Joel, ‘Just The Way You Are’.

41. "The good old days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."

- Billy Joel, ‘Keeping The Faith’.  

42. They say there's a heaven for those who will wait, some say it's better but I say it ain't, I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun.

- Billy Joel, 'Only The Good Dies Young'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for singer-songwriter Billy Joel quotes, then why not take a look at Bob Dylan quotes, or [Queen quotes].

‍Main image credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Article image credit: Anthony Correia / Shutterstock.com

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Supriya Jain

Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

Supriya Jain picture

Supriya JainBachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

As a skilled member of the Kidadl team, Shruti brings extensive experience and expertise in professional content writing. With a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Punjab University and an MBA in Business Administration from IMT Nagpur, Shruti has worked in diverse roles such as sales intern, content writer, executive trainee, and business development consultant. Her exceptional writing skills cover a wide range of areas, including SOP, SEO, B2B/B2C, and academic content.

Read full bio >