Songfacts®: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
This song is about the fishermen in Oyster Bay, Long Island, which is near Joel's home. Written from the perspective of a struggling fisherman, the song is accurate in its description of the various places the vessel would travel. The song brought a lot of attention to the challenges these fishermen faced and the hard work they put into their jobs.
Joel owned a boat at the time called "The Alexa." It was named after his daughter, Alexa Ray. Like her father, Alexa is also a musician. (thanks, Sloan - Port Washington, NY)
Boating is one of Joel's favorite hobbies. He often makes nautical references in his songs, and his personal management company is called Maritime Music.
The Vineyard mentioned in this song is Martha's Vineyard. Billy Joel had a house on the Vineyard, but sold it when he was divorced from Christie Brinkley. People from the island of Martha's Vineyard are known as Islanders: "There ain't no island left for Islanders like me."
Joel's boat captain at the time tells us: "The 'downeaster' referred to is merely a style of lobster type fishing boat used widely throughout the northeastern United States. It was not invented by any one company or person. It describes a boat built in, or in the style of those built in, "downeast Maine." These were hardy, seaworthy boats with long open back decks and small working cabins. While they were used for many different types of fishing and modified even into yachts, they were designed for lobstermen.
As for Billy's use of it in the song, it actually came from me. I worked for him (as his boat captain) at the time and Billy called me one night looking for a three syllable word describing a working fisherman's boat. We tossed around several different manufacturers' names but settled on 'downeaster' because, like the song, it was generic and wouldn't be claimed by anyone, while still being very descriptive of what he was talking about. Although I was never given any literary credit, I have always been proud to know that I was able to help write a song I love. Aside from that word, I also managed to help him phrase a few other lines."
Comments (37):
Chris Tomlin
The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.
Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"
With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson
Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."
Get the Ringtone
Get Song @ Amazon
Get the Sheet Music
Atlantis - indeed refers to the Atlantis Canyon, approximately 100 miles SE of Montauk Pt. Although Billy liked the double meaning since it could be taken to mean "the open ocean"
Gardiners Bay is indeed a stretch of water between the north and south "forks" of Long Island. He used this starting point for the journey so that once again, it would not be specific to any one port. This broadened the scope of possible ports and allowed a greater audience to relate to the fictitious individual.
Charting a course to "the Vineyard" but tonight I am Nantucket Bound - leaving from Gardiners Bay a vessel has to pass Martha's Vineyard to get to Nantucket. So it is logical to chart the Vineyard first. As you pass the Vineyard you would turn into the channel between the 2 islands and head to Nantucket Harbor which is on the North Side of Nantucket. A fisherman using a slow boat, especially in strong North winds might use this route if he intended to head offshore to the eastern canyons like Atlantis, Veatch, or Hydrographers. Nantucket would be like the "last gas" or supplies stop for such a trip.
Why would he fuel up in Montauk, then leave from Gardiners Bay? Well, technically Montauk is on the border of Gardiners Bay, so he could theoretically have left from Montauk. However, even if he left from Three Mile Harbor or Greenport, he might fuel up in Montauk because the price could have been cheaper or if he moored his boat there may not have been a closer fueling port. A ten mile back track for fuel is not unusual for boats which may be planning a 500 mile round trip.
To Michael of East Hampton - I don't remember if the boat in the video was indeed your father's but I do know this song is not about any individual. I spent a lot of time with Billy discussing this song as he was writing it and he always went to great pains to make sure it wasn't about any one person.
To Suzanne from Wales - I assure you this song was not written by someone other than Billy. It was one of the bigger thrills of my life to be included in Billy's songwriting process for this song. I am not a songwriter, but as a close friend and working boat captain Billy bounced many ideas off me and even asked for help on some of the lines to make sure they not only fit but described what he was aiming for. I will always take credit for being "good captain."
I do not take credit for doing more than consulting for Billy when he wrote the song except I do take credit for being the "good captain " who "can't fall asleep". Which refers to our overnight fishing trips to the offshore canyons where I would stay up all night despite Billy's offers to give me a rest, because I was always afraid I might miss something exciting.
The "downeaster" comes merely from a descriptive style of boat built in Downeast Maine and used throughout the NE US by commercial fishermen of all types. Naming it Alexa was indeed a tribute to his baby daughter, but in no way inferred he was pretending to sing about himself. The subject of the song was an imaginary person created to fit the description of many of the hard-working fishermen of the area. Billy avoided specifics purposely to avoid having the character be associated with any one individual which could lead to problems down the road.
Much of the material in the song came from reality. In 1986 Billy began building a new boat (which I helped design). Despite David from Miami's ill comments toward Billy, I will tell you he was a pleasure to work for and, while not the most knowledgeable about boats back then, he was a fast learner and good boss. Realizing he wouldn't have a lot of time to use his boat he offered me the opportunity to create a business with him where I would commercially fish the boat providing income for me and helping him recoup some of the cost of ownership. As I proposed a business plan to his accountants it became clear to both of us that the commercial fishing way of life was threatened and my business plan faced huge hurdles.
Billy always had an idealistic view of the fishermen's life and while he didn't pretend to be that person, he could relate to that person.I can't take credit for opening his eyes to the plight of the independent fishermen, but I had a front row seat to watching it happen. He was sad to realize that these people who had made Long Island what it was, were being cast aside.
Billy, for all his faults, is a good person. H devoted a lot of money, time, and effort to the cause of Long Island's Baymen and commercial fishermen.he helped my career as I went on to become a lifelong private fishing boat captain. We still talk occasionally, but only about boats and fishing. People like David from Miami who put him down and jump on every mistake, clearly never knew the real Billy Joel. I will always consider him a friend and I wish there were more celebrities like him.
Fueled up in montauk last night
Left Gardiners Bay this morning
Currently in block island sound
headed north east towards the vineyard
Shooting out east when he nears, towards nantucket
Heads south trolling Atlantis Canyon
Turn starboard towards LI when finished
Offload and refuel at montauk
Head home to Gardiners Bay.
Rinse and repeat.
Also, he's referring to long islanders. Like the hockey team.
Also his inspiration to write a song may be just that. The context is something different.
Billy and Christie had a home at the end of the causeway between Lloyd s Neck and Lloyd Harbor. Part of the reason they moved were boats pulling up behind their home screaming for them. They then moved to an equestrian area of the Hampton.
Areas of Long Island were settled in the 1600, for example Cold Spring Harbor a whaling village where Bedlam Street homes are now stores. Also Joel named his first album Cold Spring Harbor because it was his inspiration. My idiot friend passed a resolution naming Cold Spring Harbor Park Billy Joel Park.
Anyone who thinks this song is written about any place but LI needs to look at a map. Why would fisherman from Massachusetts motor all the way down to Montana Point to take on diesel.
There are people who are considered Islanders because their families lived off the resources for generations. There are others who are considered Islanders because of where they were born. Finally there are people like me who are Islanders because of our lifestyles. At one point we caught format fluke and flounder of of piers. We clammed with our toes and all of us had knives to shuck clams. We had four wheel drive trucks and boats. We were the volunteer fireman who got dragged out of our beds at 3AM. We marched in parades and went to local fairs. Being an Islander is a lifestyle. Billy Joel is not an Islander like me. He is part of the city people who drove the price of land so high that me and my fellow Islanders can't afford to live there.
I have intimate knowledge of Billys personality and he is an A -hole but a talented one. He was a lower middle class kid who turned jealousy into inspiration and that you can't take away from him. Anyone want to debate my facts on this or my first post I'm open for comments at bladesurvivor@yahoo.com
Put an 2 hour ride from Orient conserving fuel and maybe 5 from Montauk.
The baymen have been forced to either find a new business or become long linersike the fisherman in the perfect storm. Yes poetic lisence was taken in calling her Alexa. The song has meaning to many people as the city people and their money made it impossible for Islanders like me to live there.
The boat pictured in the video belonged to my father, it was actually named the Mingo but the name was removed and changed for the video. The boat was tied up in three mile harbor in east hampton. The bell in gardiners bay is referring to the bell bouy that is located just east of the three mile harbor breakwater. The boat was a 40ft downeast style dragger that he often fished off montauk with. Most of his fishing was done in gardiners bay as the boat was not big enough to fish the ocean on a rough day. The parts of the video when they are launching the boat into the breaking waves of the ocean was them haul seining. Which the state outlawed as a style of fishing because they said that they were catching too many fish and thus depleting the population. Only the ways that they determine the quotas every year is a joke. They fish on their own boats and have no clue how to fish out here so they dont catch and they automatically think "there are no fish here". I can personally say that I still fish these waters to this day and there are more fishg than ever. Growing up my mother and father had an extremly hard time making ends meet because of the regulations on fishing. I was the kid waiting back at home needing food. This song was written when I was 4. For those of you that believe the song was about billy joel himself you are wrong. And everything in the song is correct. He fueled up in montauk after a days fishing and packing out fish and then steamed back to three mile harbor to his berth and to tie up and leave the next morning to go fishing. Any more questions about it I would be happy to answer. Thank you. Mike Kromer, East Hampton, NY my father was the captain in the video
The Great American Songbook list ? ??
Why,why,...WHY ??????
I remember reading that Billy Joel said that this song came to him in a dream and once he awoke he tried to do justice to what he had heard but the song never could. (I'm not certain this is a true story but I hope it is.)
The Downeaster Alexa is easily one of the favorite songs of my life and I've listened to it hundreds of times since 1989... The rhythm is absolutely entrancing; the heavy beat like waves crashing; the timelessness of the syncopating electric guitar; the accordian drone emanating from what feels like a forgotten depth. This is a truly awesome song.
I remember reading that Billy Joel said that this song came to him in a dream and once he awoke he tried to do justice to what he had heard but the song never could. (I'm not certain this is a true story but I hope it is.)
The Downeaster Alexa is easily one of the favorite songs of my life and I've listened to it hundreds of times since 1989... The rhythm is absolutely entrancing; the heavy beat like waves crashing; the timelessness of the syncopating electric guitar; the accordian drone emanating from what feels like a forgotten depth. This is a truly awesome song.
- John, Monvtille, NJ
This is exactly it!!!!
I listened to it while riding on a boat out into the Atlantic swells the other day and it brought me to tears. What an amazing song. I wish Billy Joel had more songs like this. Most of his music I find ok but nowhere near this one.
While the song was 'dedicated' to Dave at one of his concerts, the song was not specifically about him.
Bill, life-long Long "Islander"
Outer Lands: the region off of the southern coast of New England in the United States. This region of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, comprises the peninsula of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island and Long Island, as well as the surrounding islets.
"Well I'm on the Downeaster Alexa
And I'm cruising through Block Island Sound" - He's on his fishing boat named Alexa, after his daughter (he does own a fishing boat named Alexa, based on Long Island), and leaving from Long Island, NY.
"I have charted a course to the Vineyard
But tonight I am Nantucket bound" - He was planning to fish the area from Block Island Sound to Martha's Vineyard, but is now planning to go all the way to Nantucket because he isn't getting any fish in his usual spots.
"We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday
And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner's Bay" - He took on fuel in Montauk (ie Montauk Point - the easternmost part of Long Island (LI) on the south fork of the island yesterday, but today he left from Gardiner's Bay. The bell is a navigational buoy in the bay.
"Like all the locals here I've had to sell my home" - like the majority of the fishermen in the area, the new regulations were so strict that he was no longer able to earn a living and had to sell his house.
"There are giants out there in the canyons" - reffering to there being fish in the underwater 'canyons' FAR offshore (international waters).
"I know there's fish out there but where God only knows. They say these waters aren't what they used to be. But I've got people back on land who count on me" - the regulations were needed due to the area having been over-fished, but now the combination has made his way of living nearly impossible.
"Tell my wife I am trolling Atlantis" - He is so far out into the ocean, it doesn't have a name so he refers to it as the mythical Atlantis.
"Now I drive my Downeaster Alexa
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they tell me I can't sell no stripers
And there's no luck in swordfishing here" - obvious.. he has to travel further & further to find the fish. The Striped Bass (Stripers) he catches are not of regulation size, so he can't sell them. Swordfish are not native to the area.
"I was a bayman like my father was before
Can't make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain't much future for a man who works the sea" - Fishermen for generations, it's all his family knows. Having expected to fish all his life, he is probably uneducated & therefore unqualified to do anything else.
Well I was reading some posts,and I want to add that this song has taken on new meanings now with the sky rocketing home cost.
Joel mentions many of the bays and waterways on Long Island. Block Island Sound, "took on diesel back in Montaulk" "bell in Gardiner's Bay." **I do not know much of the Gardiner's but they are very big through out Long Island.
"There's no island left for Islander's like me..."
Having spoken with many fisherman (I am from Bay Shore), there is not much in fish in our bay (Great South Bay).
This is an awesome song that recycles with every generation.
- Andy, Long Island, NY
Block Island Sound is the strip of water from R.I. to the top of long island.
The Vineyard is the island south of Falmouth off of Cape Cod, at the part closest to the mainland.
Nantucket is the other island, further off-shore.
Montauk, yes, is at the very tip of Long Island, as far east as you can go.
Gardiner's Bay is at the other tip of the fork of Long Island.
Things that don't make sense:
If he is charting a course to the Vineyard, but is Nantucket bound, why doesn't he stop at the Vineyard first. He has to sail past it to get to Nantucket.
If he is planning to go to the Vineyard all along, why does he have to leave from Gardiner's Bay after being in Montauk? It is a back-track of several miles. I know for a fact that Montauk has plenty of berths, and if he is strapped for cash already, it doesn't add up.
I guess that the way he set things up sounds better, but for "Islanders like me" (technically my home of Cape Cod is an island), who know a bit of seafaring geography, it is a bit disappointing.
Joel grew up here. As for "Islanders" he means people from LONG ISLAND not Marthas Vineyard, MA.
He means that although Long Island is a real Island,it doesn't often have that "Island" feel to it as per say Hawaii does.
Also, those from "the Island" as Long Island is called by we locals could also be considered "Islanders".
I imagine that the Bell and Gardner's Bay are similarly located.