And So It Goes

by

Billy Joel

Album: Storm Front

Released: 1989

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Joel started writing this in the early 1980's about a relationship he then had with supermodel Elle MacPherson. Their backgrounds were so different that he knew the relationship would fail, which it did. He predicted the end of the relationship with the line "And you can have this heart to break."

The title comes from television journalist Linda Ellerbee's signature line and best-selling book title. (thanks, Ken - Louisville, KY, for above 2)

When Joel appeared on The Howard Stern Show in 2010, he said that this was his least-appreciated song - the best one that casual fans aren't aware of.

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Comments (8):

And this is why my eyes are closed it's just as well for all I've seen and so it goes and so it goes and your the only one who knows. Beautiful Lyrics. :)

- Nancy, Merle168@Insightbb.com, KY

Does anyone know what movies thia song has been featured in? It's driving me crazy that I can't place/remember. Thanks.

Pam, Altanta

- pam, atlanta, GA

Hauntingly beautiful.

Tommy Emmanuel, IMHO the finest guitarist in the world, does a nice cover here on YouTube:

< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ7H5dEdaDs >

- Michael, Fullerton, CA

I second what John said.

- Emily, Abingdon, VA

Actually, the phrase "so it goes" comes from the Kurt Vonnegut novel Slaughterhouse-Five. It is was a fatilistic phrase that Vonnegut used when he described a death in the book and there were plenty of them in that book.

Linda Ellerbee stole the phrase from Lloyd Dobbins from the NBC Weekend show, who must have in turn stole it from Vonnegut. Dobbins was later replaced on the show by Ellerbee, or on some subsequent show, and complained about Ellerbee's use of the phrase. However he did acknowledge that the phrase still worked, when he no longer did :).

- John, Edinburg, VA

Its a very very good song when your down and heart broken. It shows you are not alone out there and you feel better most of the time.

- Patrick, Albany, NY

Billy Joel sang this song on the televised Kennedy Center honors in the 1990's. He was surprised when actor James Woods, who introduced him, had a piano brought out and urged Joel to sing. Joel chose this song, since it was a simple song that he could do without any other musicians.

- Ken, Louisville, KY

One of his best songs...I love it.

- Leon, Waterbury, CT

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