Album: The Stranger (1977)

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• Well, we all have a face
  That we hide away forever
  And we take them out
  And show ourselves when everyone has gone
  Some are satin, some are steel
  Some are silk and some are leather
  They're the faces of a stranger
  But we'd love to try them on
  
  Well, we all fall in love
  But we disregard the danger
  Though we share so many secrets
  There are some we never tell
  Why were you so surprised
  That you never saw the stranger?
  Did you ever let your lover
  See the stranger in yourself?
  
  Don't be afraid to try again
  Everyone goes south every now and then, ooh
  You've done it
  Why can't someone else?
  You should know by now
  You've been there yourself
  
  Once I used to believe
  I was such a great romancer
  Then I came home to a woman
  That I could not recognize
  When I pressed her for a reason
  She refused to even answer
  It was then I felt the stranger
  Kick me right between the eyes
  
  Well, we all fall in love
  But we disregard the danger
  Though we share so many secrets
  There are some we never tell
  Why were you so surprised
  That you never saw the stranger?
  Did you ever let your lover
  See the stranger in yourself?
  
  Don't be afraid to try again
  Everyone goes south every now and then, ooh
  You've done it
  Why can't someone else
  You should know by now
  You've been there yourself
  
  You may never understand
  How the stranger is inspired
  But he isn't always evil
  And he is not always wrong
  Though you drown in good intentions
  You will never quench the fire
  You'll give in to your desire
  When the stranger comes along Writer/s: Billy Joel
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Jeff from BostonWhen I was a little kid in the late 70s I used to have the radio on in bed at night since I was afraid of the dark. Unfortunately this song was played a lot and for some reason I found the whistling part creepy and terrifying and I would huddle under my blanket until it was over. Now as an adult I love the song and am happy to report it no longer scares me!
• George from EarthBilly Joel's art is defined by HIS life story which has been complicated and somewhat troubled, as have many great song writers and performers. Not everyone's life is complicated requireing many masks. Maybe authenticity should be the goal!
  
• Bernie from Bronx, NyMost of Joel’s work is autobiographical. The Piano Man album is one of the greatest albums of all time, every song could be a hit
• Ken from Louisville, KyAfter the failure of Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles, Columbia Records wanted his next album produced by an expert. They contacted George Martin who said he'd do it, but only if it was recorded in London with Elton John's backing band. Joel rebelled against that, saying he wanted to record in New York with his own band. Columbia gave in and suggested Phil Ramone instead. Ramone and Joel had several meetings and hit it off. Later, after hearing the album, Martin said he wished he had produced it! Joel and Martin did become friends and Martin interviewed Joel for a television series about music.
• Jstroker from Calgary, AbElements of this song were introduced to a whole new audience when the whistling intro was sampled by rapper Xzibit for his track "The Foundation" (At the Speed of Life, 1996)
• J.b. from San Jose, CaBilly's interview with "20/20" (ABC) in 1980: "I wrote the main portion of the song, but at the end I thought the stranger,the stranger, hmmm....something's missing, something's missing. I imagined this guy walking down a lonely street with a trench coat over her shoulder, with fog, whistling... and..."
  
  
• Deo from Annandale, VaGreat song. Not my favorite piano piece from Billy, but it is relitivly unknown to the modern world. I do like the message and lyrics. The whistling is cool, I know I could never hit those notes whistling.
• Chris from Seattle, WaMagnificent, under-appreciated song about the masks we all wear, and how we often don't know what is underneath.
• Leyna from SpLol, I was reading in his biography that one day, he was peforming live, whistling the intro. When the spotlight shone accross the other band members, they each turned to face him. Turned out, they were all wearing black eye patches and had blackened their teeth. Billy was caught off guard, and he blew the sensitive whistling in front of the whole crowd. Humiliated, he proceeded to play the piano. When his fingers hit the keys, he realized the guys had lined every single one with adhesive tape!! :P:P
• Pete from Providence, RiThe piano intro to this song is used in an independent film called The Carlson Complex.
• Melissa Mandall from Long Branch, NjSounds like a sadomasochist to me. lets put on a steel leather mask and show our lover. lol
• Ken from Louisville, KyBilly Joel told producer Phil Ramone that he thought the song needed an jazz-oriented "into" and "ending" to offset the rocking guitar lead-in and play-out. When Ramone asked Joel if he had any ideas, Joel whistled it to him. He then asked Ramone what instrument should play it and Ramone said he liked it as a whistle, so that's how Joel recorded it.

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