I Go To Extremes

Album: Storm Front (1989)
Charted: 70 6
Play Video
  • Call me a joker, call me a fool
    Right at this moment I'm totally cool
    Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife
    I feel like I'm in the prime of my life
    Sometimes it feels like I'm going too fast
    I don't know how long this feeling will last
    Maybe it's only tonight

    Darling I don't know why I got to extremes
    Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
    And if I stand or I fall
    It's all or nothing at all
    Darling I don't know why I got to extremes

    Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot
    Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got
    Maybe I'm headed over the hill
    Maybe I've set myself up for the kill
    Tell me how much do you think you can take
    Until the heart in you is starting to break?
    Sometimes it feels like it will

    Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
    Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
    You can be sure when I'm gone
    I won't be out there too long
    Darling I don't know why I got to extremes

    Out of the darkness, into the light
    Leaving the scene of the crime
    Either I'm wrong or I'm perfectly right every time
    Sometimes I lie awake, night after night
    Coming apart at the seams
    Eager to please, ready to fight
    Why do I go to extremes?

    And if I stand or I fall
    It's all or nothing at all

    Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
    Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
    And if I stand of I fall
    It's all or nothing at all
    Darling I don't know why I go to extremes

    No I don't know why I go to extremes
    Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
    You can be sure when I'm gone
    I won't be out there too long
    Darling I don't know why I go to extremes Writer/s: BILLY JOEL
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Spqr from ScWho was the female rhythm guitarist on the official video?
  • Joey from Valparaiso InI totally relate to this song as I am bipolar. It’s the very essence of the condition. I have used it to explain my feelings. My fav Billy Joel song.
  • Groovus Maximus from Boston, MaAlways a favorite of mine & Liberty WAILS on this song -- he hits as hard if not harder than most metal drummers! (I should know, I was a progressive thrash-type skinsman in the late '80s and '90s). Another perfectly placed examination of the human condition by Mr. Joel, and a highlight of both the "Storm Front" album and subsequent tour. I seem to recall Garth Brooks covered this, and for some reason, it was an even bigger hit for him(?!) -- not sure how or why...
  • Ariel from Los Angeles, Philippinesactually this is more of de vito's song(billy's drummer) billy helped him create the song
  • Ken from Louisville, KyJoel has recently been quoted as saying this song was a message to Christie Brinkley to try to understand him when their marriage was in trouble.
  • Mike from Hueytown , AlNo matter what the song is about I'm not sure why radio stations around here don't play this more often.
  • Jose from Lodi, NjCan you ever remember Billy singing better than this?

    Rainbow's Joe Lynn Turner (from my hometown of Hackensack, NJ) sang backup on this.

  • Ken from Louisville, KyJoel has said that the woman who impressed with the "Halston dress and people that she knew at Elaine's" was Bianca Jagger.

  • Dave from Pittsburgh, PaAt his concert "Live at Yankee Stadium" joel jokingly says the words "I don't know why i go for Ice Cream" in place of the origional lyrics...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.