Billy Joel - Big Man On Mulberry Street Lyrics






Why can't I lay low
Why can't I say what I mean
Why don't I stay home
And get myself into some boring routine

Why can't I calm down
Why is it always a fight
I can't get unwound
Why do I throw myself into the night

I'm on the outside
I don't fit into the groove
Now I ain't a bad guy
So tell me what am I trying to prove

Why can't I cool out
Why don't I button my lip
Why do I lash out
Why is it I always shoot from the hip

I cruise from Houston to canal street
A misfit and a rebel
I see the winos talking to themselves
And I can understand
Why is it everytime I go out
I always seem to get in trouble
I guess I made an impression on somebody
North of hester and south of grand

And so in my small way
I'm a big man on Mulberry street
I don't mean all day
Only at night when I'm light on my feet

What else have I got
That I'd be trying to hide
Maybe a blind spot
I haven't seen from the sensitive side

But you know in my own heart
I'm a big man on Mulberry street
I play the whole part
I leave a big tip with every receipt

I'm so romantic
I'm such a passionate man
Sometimes I panic
What if nobody finds out who I am





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Billy Joel Big Man On Mulberry Street Comments
  1. S.... M....

    embarrassingly bad billy joel track

  2. D.... M....

    This is my theme song for myself

  3. L.... L....

    I can completely see David Lee Roth singing this🤓😂🙂🙃🙂🙃😂

  4. e.... ....

    I'm not much of a Billy Joel fan...yet this is my FAVORITE RECORDING of all time! Go figure.

  5. m.... d....

    A technically sound piece but not inspired as were his hits in his heyday.

  6. P.... H....

    This whole album is good. The greatness of Joel.

  7. m.... ....

    Moonlighting....Always and forever...One of the best episodes ever, and Billy wanted this song to be on Moonlighting...Amazing...Who can forget Stanley Donen's choreography?

    m.... ....

    it was a throwback to Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly

  8. I.... I....

    GO AHEAD ON WITH YOUR BAD-ASS SELF, MR. JOEL!!!

  9. A.... S....

    Why can't I lay low
    Why can't I say what I mean
    Why don't I stay home
    And get myself into some boring routine

    Why can't I calm down
    Why is it always a fight
    I can't get unwound
    Why do I throw myself into the night

    I'm on the outside
    I don't fit into the groove
    Now I ain't a bad guy
    So tell me what am I trying to prove

    Why can't I cool out
    Why don't I button my lip
    Why do I lash out
    Why is it I always shoot from the hip

    I cruise from Houston to canal street
    A misfit and a rebel
    I see the winds talking to themselves
    And I can understand
    Why is it everytime I go out
    I always seem to get in trouble
    I guess I made an impression on somebody
    North of Hester and south of grand

    And so in my small way
    I'm a big man on Mulberry street
    I don't mean all day
    Only at night when I'm light on my feet

    What else have I got
    That I'd be trying to hide
    Maybe a blind spot
    I haven't seen from the sensitive side

    But you know in my own heart
    I'm a big man on Mulberry street
    I play the whole part
    I leave a big tip with every receipt

    I'm so romantic
    I'm such a passionate man
    Sometimes I panic
    What if nobody finds out who I am

    A.... S....

    im in love with those lyrics, that song, mmmmmm <3 Billy Joel and yes the scene on Moonlighting that it plays in

    A.... S....

    Sounds like me in bensonhurst by day,then on my sanitation route all in that neck of the woods! Lol

    A.... S....

    Alexander Smith This song is very ambitious vocally. Who knew he had a range like that?

  10. k.... t....

    Moonlighting Season 3

  11. o.... ....

    This song is about being a street guy. I know all about it.

    o.... ....

    No, its about a loser who's under the delusion that he's a street guy. You might also know all about that seeing as you're bragging about being a street guy in a youtube comment section

  12. B.... S....

    Moonlighting

  13. B.... S....

    I love this jam

  14. c.... ....

    I didn't like this song at first but I've warmed to it quite a bit

  15. A.... O....

    this song will always bring up Moonlighting!! Cybill busting through those doors like a seductress and passionately kissing Bruce Willis.....and it's all a dream!!! Classic!!!

    A.... O....

    same here!! haha such happy memories - i was 11 i think and was very nervous about the whole "dating" / "girl" thing and something in the way Cybil and Bruce danced was so pure it really broke thru and made me less so

    A.... O....

    I loved loved loved it!!!!

    A.... O....

    Ginger Durbin me too!

    A.... O....

    I loved it on Moonlighting! Big Moonlighting fan here!

    A.... O....

    @Bonnie Jane Drake me too!

  16. m.... l....

    che bella canzone 1987

  17. T.... W....

    For me this was an instant hit and I still love it.
    But I have to say that, to me, the band has a certain Late Show sound to it. Not complaining, I like it. Is it because Paul Sheaffer wishes he was Billy Joel?

    T.... W....

    There are a few factors, but the main one is that it was recorded and mixed digitally, not onto tape like most of Billy's previous albums. Tape gives a warm, soft sound to recordings, but digital is very sharp and crisp. I much prefer tape. This was in the early days of digital, too, when it sounded terrible.

    The Late Show band is streaming digitally into your TV or computer as well, obviously. It's only analogue when it's in the mic cables, before it reaches the converter to be processed.

    Hope that helps.

  18. D.... V....

    Such a brilliant melody

    D.... V....

    daniel listen to any other song and come back and read this

  19. M.... W....

    See - if humanity is to survive an extinction level event... here on earth (asteroid or ecology or wars screwed unfixably ) by Big gov and Big Business War Machine etc - we need to be colonizing other systems per Elon Musk's efforts 40 year plan. I would really really reallly love to see YOUR music be an integral part of the Library of Human Art that is going along with the Mars mission. How much? And can we work on the Von Mises music work too? And can we translate a few songs into Hul'qumi'num. Ball park it for me? How much for the rights to all that? Please lemme know XOXOXOXOXOXO

  20. M.... W....

    salut 100 years

  21. B.... S....

    This is an album with no fillers and extenders. Excellent job.

  22. M.... ....

    The last album produced by Ramone. There's some good music on this album but it's inconsistent and is sonically poor in spots: particularly on songs like "This is The Time" and "Matter of Trust"
    This particular song is a jewel, however.

    M.... ....

    Mark Ahh, that why I didn't like the albums after this one.

  23. C.... K....

    One of his finest songs and arrangements, a musical genius if your a musician you already know this about him and it can't be denied!!!

    C.... K....

    Chr
    is Kellison

    C.... K....

    I once provided music for a company picnic. Lugged the sound system out to the park and everything. Put on some Billy Joel, not too loud, so I wouldn't bother other people. Some a-hole co-worker came up to me and said, "I don't like Billy Joel." My response was basically "Tough shit. You want to listen to your music, you bring your sound system. Besides, you see anyone complaining besides you?" He shut it after that. Hell, it was a mix; there were, like, only a couple of Billy Joel tracks. What was his problem?

    C.... K....

    Agreed Chris, not to take anything from Bill, as even without the horns it's just incredible, but technically the horns and i think the walking bassline arrangement in that bridge were done by Rob Mounsey or Monsey a good arranger who did a lot in the 80s, one of his other great bits was he contributed that great Horn Hook for "You Can Call Me All" by Paul Simon...he played piano on "against all odds" (tho most of the arrangement was already done by Phil and the producer). And just 1 last nugget, he worked a lot with Steely Dan I think late 70s, so feel free to look it up to see what he contributed to them.. possibly horn part for "dirty work" not 100% sure on that one

  24. D.... H....

    I just love him

    D.... H....

    I do too!  He is among the BEST, Ever!!!

  25. C.... L....

    52nd St. NYC...used to be the place you could go hear the best Jazz live in the world,,,for example....Jimmys...on 52nd St. Phil Ramone produced a great Live album...Michel Legrand Live at Jimmys. 1972

  26. C.... L....

    its got that Killer Joe vibe. :)

  27. d.... h....

    和田アキ子そっくり

  28. A.... V....

    Billy Joel mixed with Supertramp....kickass

  29. P.... L....

    Here's a real New York vibe for ya.

  30. t.... ....

    not at all a fan of billy joel.  but i do love this one track.  

    t.... ....

    Billy Joel is AMAZING and brilliant. Great songwriter/singer and musician! This song is sublime and so wonderfully New York!!!

    t.... ....

    How can anyone say they dont love this guy? He always has and always will be my favorite singer of all time

    t.... ....

    Of the scores of brilliant Billy Joel tunes you picked this one to like?

    t.... ....

    @mar dabo Maybe that person is a fan of jazz?

  31. K.... R....

    still my hero Billy you blend eras genres messages ..always a familiar message and easy listening..luv it

  32. c.... ....

    You are an inspiration! You are still involved strongly in your musical talent after all these years! I so wish I could have grew up in your era but I was born in the peak of your "signature" song. At least I can go back and look you up to listen to songs that I grew up to, listened to, and loved! YOU are appreciated! Lots of love!!!