Billy Joel - Famous Last Words Lyrics






Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain
Summertime has come and gone and everybody's home again
Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs
I can still taste the wedding cake and it's sweet after all these years

These are the last words I have to say
That's why this took so long to write
There will be other words some other day
But that's the story of my life

There's comfot in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
They're pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
Nothing left for a dream now, only one final serenade

And these are the last words I have to say
Before another age goes by
With all those other songs I'll have to play
But that's the story of my life

And it's so clear standing here where I am
Ain't that what justice is for?
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn anymore

Stack the chairs on the table tops
Hang the sheets on the chandeliers
It slows down but it never stops
Ain't it sweet after all these years

And these are the last words I have to say
It's always hard to say goodbye
But now it's time to put this book away
Ain't that the story of my life

Eric Wincentsen
Glendale Community College
Glendale, Arizona
"I'm just marking my territory..."





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Billy Joel Famous Last Words Comments
  1. B.... S....

    The last hurrah of the great Billy Joel.

  2. A.... G....

    1993 World Series in game 06 anyone!! [Joe Carter 3-Run Walk-Off Home Run in magical ending for the Toronto Blue Jays]

  3. c.... ....

    The best end of the summer song! His last song on his last album, unless you count "Fantasies and Delusions" but there's no words in that album obviously. I'm actually glad he hasn't put out anymore albums. He's my favorite artist, and I think his discography is perfect the way it is. If he felt pressured to put out another album today it just wouldn't be as good.

  4. S.... S....

    Bye Billy, is an honor be your fan

  5. B.... E....

    Billy Joel your music is a huge part of the soundtrack of my life!

  6. R.... G....

    It’s funny to think that the next album doesn’t have lyrics.

  7. b.... ....

    This will play at my funeral

  8. S.... S....

    Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain
    Summer time has come and gone, and everybody’s home again
    Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs
    I can still taste the wedding cake and it’s sweet after all these years

    These are the last words I have to say
    That’s why this took so long to write
    There will be other words some other day
    But that’s the story of my life

    There’s comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
    They’re pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
    They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
    Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade

    And these are the last words I have to say
    Before another age goes by
    With all those other songs I’ll have to play
    But that’s the story of my life

    And it’s so clear standing here where I am
    Ain’t that what justice is for?
    Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn anymore

    Stack the chairs on the table tops
    Hang the sheets on the chandeliers
    It slows down but it never stops
    Ain’t it sweet after all these years

    And these are the last words I have to say
    It’s always hard to say goodbye
    But now it’s time to put this book away
    Ain’t that the story of my life

  9. C.... H....

    Last song on the last track of his last album Thank you Billy Joel for all the years

  10. R.... B....

    Big  brother that I never had,,,,,,I miss you...

  11. A.... G....

    I love , love this song ..I can visualize it so well. Resorts are lonely when the crowds go Billy Joel is such a talented singer/songwriter , I love to hear him talk about how he writes , really understands the message he's trying to express .

  12. E.... J....

    Bookends this kind of writing....

  13. A.... ....

    Years back, the day before I graduated from university, I snuck into the music hall and played this to myself on the baby grand at 2AM.

  14. J.... K....

    And that's all he had to say, thank you Billy for many years of beautiful music.

    J.... K....

    Jonathan Krutsch well said!

  15. M.... ....

    He should sing this song at his last concert

    M.... ....

    Agreed 100% Billy Joel is The Best!

    M.... ....

    I've said this for a long time now, this needs to be the very last song at his very last concert... If it's not, I'll be slightly disappointed, but he's Billy. Fucking. Joel. He can do what he wants. That's all there is to say, ;)

    M.... ....

    Really??🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

    M.... ....

    I designed a set list I want him to use for his final show and I have it end with piano man, however this is included in the set

  16. N.... M....

    Last song of BJ :(

    N.... M....

    Not true. In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).

  17. C.... A....

    This song always gets me. So amazing.

    C.... A....

    Same With Me I Hear This Song When I Think Of My High School Class in 2011 and My College Class of 2017!

  18. m.... c....

    I never knew the meaning until now

  19. H.... ....

    You sing from the heart, what more can one ask.

  20. T.... ....

    So cool that his last song is one of his best.One of my favorites from him.

  21. M.... W....

    Salve Magister. They changed the book! It used to be "A hunting we will go" and then a few pages past it "Halls of the Goblin King" - but my first piano teacher would kind of hit my hands if I stopped reading the music and just tried to play by ear. So I stopped going to lessons and stopped practicing. Every once in awhile I would try to pick it up again when I was in a place with a piano. Does not feel same on Keyboard we got for my son. Sons have both taken lessons. Josh on Keyboard/Piano and Bagpipes... Douglas on Piano. Douglas even composed! Sooo where should I start gentle Magister.

  22. s.... ....

    September 10th, 2016, Wembley

  23. J.... C....

    tough year for pop artist, 1993 was nirvanas peak.

    J.... C....

    This album reached number 1 on the US charts and has sold 5 million copies....not too shabby for a pop artist in the early 90s.

  24. B.... C....

    love it.....

  25. M.... J....

    Am I the only one who thinks they should use this song on the final episode of Castle (should that day ever come.)

    M.... J....

    And now, sadly, that day has come :(

  26. D.... L....

    Last song on his last album. This song kinda' makes me sad.:(

    D.... L....

    @Bootsy Strap No.

    D.... L....

    @dim So these were the last words in a song... sort've. 2 other songs has been written with vocals I read somewhere but this should be considered his last singing song then...

    D.... L....

    @Bootsy Strap So explain how I'm wrong.

    D.... L....

    @dim Wrong? We can play music from sheets from 500 years ago and it should sound like it was wrote. Vocalizing things is (was?) hard or impossible, with computers we can have the discount billy joel ai app give us 50 different versions of how he might have sang or sung or ooh'd or aah'd but it wouldn't be him.


    You may be wrong for all i know but you may be right.

    D.... L....

    I think he forecasted music piracy...hehehe

  27. m.... ....

    Famous last words are things people have said which turn out to be very wrong. Thus I hope his meaning is "these are the last words I have to write" may, or may not be the case. We will see...

    m.... ....

    The line I like to emphasize in this song is "there will be other words some other day"

    m.... ....

    In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).

  28. V.... S....

    You get WHAT, please?

  29. V.... S....

    &
    xoxoxox

  30. V.... S....

    Love & (hugs)

  31. t.... i....

    so ....after all , these are his famous last words ,the last serenade ....? come on Billy, you said " there will be other words some other day " , we are waiting for 20 years now . we want to hear some other words ...

    t.... i....

    In fact, Billy Joel released two new songs as singles in 2007, "All my life" in February and "Christmas in Fallujah" in December (sung by Cass Dillon; although he recorded a live version in 2008, also published as a single).

    t.... i....

    we want more other words

  32. M.... M....

    sfdfsdfsf