I've Loved These Days

Posted from Freeport, Grand Bahama Island-

 

Just a quick reminder that, believe it or not, we will all look back on these rough couple of years with fondness.  Good things are happening all around us.  Babies are being born, awards are being won, art is being created, but it may take us a while to appreciate these "good old days."

 

My brother Rob is a bigshot at Corporate Express (Staples).  His recent CD mix got me going on Billy Joel's "I've Loved These Days," so I had a closer look at the lyrics.  It's a simple song, certainly not poetry or even Billy's best work. 

 

But ILTD is strong and the kind of quality writing that has BJ can knock off in his sleep.  Here's my take on the lyric:

 

 

"I've Loved These Days" by Billy Joel

"Now we take our time … so nonchalant,
And spend our nights so bon vivant.
We dress our days in silken robes,
The money comes, the money goes …
We know it's all a passing phase."

 

Lots of lyrical tricks using opposites and diametrics.  Days and nights,

money comes and goes . . .

 

A gifted lyricist is not above using tricks, but Joel always finds other connections. 

"We spend our nights (money comes and goes)"

 

Love how "passing phase" is a musical suspension of sorts. 

"We light our lamps for atmosphere,
And hang our hopes on chandeliers.
We're going wrong, we're gaining weight,
We're sleeping long and far too late.
And so it's time to change our ways …
But I've loved these days."

 

Lamps and chandeliers continue the diametric theme, but he gets "light" in there, too!

 

A dirge-like tempo and minor key set the stage for disaster, but the title rings in optimism.

"Now as we indulge in things refined,
We hide our hearts from harder times.
A string of pearls, a foreign car
Oh, we can only go so far on caviar and cabernet."

 

A French theme emerges.  "Bon vivant" from the first stanza and now "caviar and cabernet."

Love the alliteration and matching meter.  Trust me, the line wouldn't have worked using the words " pinot noir"  and "hootch."

 

A "foreign" car . . .

 

"We drown our doubts in dry champagne,
And soothe our souls with fine cocaine.
I don't know why I even care
We'll get so high and get nowhere.
We'll have to change our jaded ways
But I've loved these days."

 

The "caberet" line flows into the "drown our doubts" lyric, then "champagne," another

French reference.  I believe cocaine comes from Columbia, but oh, well.

 

 

"So before we end and then begin
We'll drink a toast to how it's been
A few more hours to be complete,
A few more nights on satin sheets,
A few more times that I can say …
I've loved these days."

 

More opposites in the ending and beginning.  A toast of cabernet or champagne . . .

We never learn why the good life has to end --bankruptcy?  prison sentence?  trouble in paradise?  

In any event, this has to be the most upbeat, negative song ever written and a song for our times.

 

A lot of good things have happened for us in the last 18 months:  a new sense of fiscal responsibility, less focus on material possessions, an appreciation for the little things in life. 

 

"I've Loved These Days" is a song for our times if we want it to be. 

 

What other song is a good reflection of these times?

Comments

[Don Geary]

This is brilliant lyric writing. If the music is anywhere near the quality of Billy Joel's usual melodic genius, then this must be a gorgeous song.