Billy Joel

Released: September 29, 1977

Songwriter: Billy Joel

Producer: Phil Ramone

[Intro]
Hoo ooh
Ohh ohh
Mmm mmm

[Verse 1]
Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door
She said, "Sonny, move out to the country"
Ah but workin' too hard can give you a heart attack
Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack

[Bridge]
You oughta know by now
(You oughta know by now)
Who needs a house out in Hackensack
Is that all you get for your money?

[Chorus]
And it seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, if that's movin' up then I'm
Movin' out
I'm movin' out, mmm mm
Ooh-ooh, uh-huh, mmm

[Verse 2]
Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mr. Cacciatore's
Down on Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
Yeah, and he's tradin' in his Chevy
For a Cadillac-ac-ac-ac-ac-ac

[Bridge]
You oughta know by now
(You oughta know by now)
And if he can't drive with a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders

[Chorus]
And it seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, if that's movin' up then I'm movin' out
Mmm, I'm movin' out
Oh-ohh, ooh ooh, uh-huh, mmm

[Break]
You should never argue
With a crazy mind-mind-mind-mind

[Bridge]
You oughta know by now
(You oughta know by now)
You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime
Is that all you get for your money?

[Chorus]
And if that's what you have in mind
Yeah, if that's what you're all about
Good luck movin' up, 'cause I'm movin' out
I'm movin' out

[Outro]
I'm movin' out

Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer/songwriter, producer, and composer who ranks as one of the most iconic and influential artists from the mid to late 20th century.

He is the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, wrote a total of 121 songs that achieved 33 Top 40 hits in the US, a 6-time Grammy winner out of 23 nominations, and one of the best-selling recording artists of all-time with 150 million albums sold worldwide.

Joel has since continued to tour and sells out in stadiums globally. He also delved into classical music composition, arranging an album, Fantasies and Delusions released in 2001, opened a motorcycle shop on his native Long Island, and is now regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Among his numerous accolades, he was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, bestowed with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013, and awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress in 2014.

more tracks from the album

The Stranger

From the albums

The Stranger (1977)
Greatest Hits, Volume I & Volume II (1985)
The Essential Billy Joel (2001)
Piano Man: Very Best of (2004)
The Wolf of Wall Street (Music From the Motion Picture) (2013)

Billy Joel popular songs

Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)Billy Joel

Billy Joel

The Stranger