"and so it goes"...billy joel

the song begins with the melody being played in simple chords...the only variance is a suspension here and there. when he starts singing, the accompaniment is still in the chordal style. there is a brief piano interlude in the middle, but for the most part it's solo voice above piano and a keyboard.

I don't know about you, but the structure of the chords with the voice above it is remarkably like a hymn. i think he went for this because of the degree of honesty and power he put in the lyrics. no one is going to argue with a hymn, and because it has this same sacred feeling...i feel as though he words and thoughts are sacred also. not sacred about god, but sacred and beautiful and very special. there are lots of 4-3 suspensions that add an extra sort of longing, and pull in the listener, just a little bit more.

here are some lyrics, because i think he's a genius:

in every heart there is a room/a sanctuary safe and strong
to heal the wounds of lovers past/until a new one comes along

i spoke to you in cautious tones/you answered me with no pretense
and still i feel i said too much/my silence is my self defense

and every time i've held a rose/it seems i only felt the thorns
and so it goes, and so it goes/and so will you soon i suppose

but if my silence made you leave/then that would be my worst mistake
so i will share this room with you/and you can have this heart to break

and so it goes, and so it goes
and you're the only one who knows