Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
Billy Joel
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Seen the lights go out Broadway I saw the Empire State laid low And life went on beyond the Palisades They all bought Cadillacs And left there long ago They held a concert out in Brooklyn To watch the island bridges blow They turned our power down And drove us underground But we went right on with the show I've seen the lights go out on Broadway I saw the ruins at my feet You know we almost didn't notice it We'd seen it all the time on Forty second street They burned the churches down in Harlem Like in that Spanish civil war The flames were everywhere But no one really cared It always burned up there before I've seen the lights go out on Broadway I saw the mighty skyline fall The boats were waiting at the battery The union went on strike They never sailed at all They sent a carrier out from Norfolk And picked the Yankees up for free They said that Queens could stay And blew the Bronx away And sank Manhattan out at sea You know those lights were bright on Broadway That was so many years ago Before we all lived here in Florida Before the Mafia took over Mexico There are not many who remember They say a handful still survive To tell the world about The way the lights went out And keep the memory alive
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Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" was written and performed by "Billy Joel." This song became one of his defining songs and helped establish him as a reputable singer-songwriter.
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Album & ReleaseThe song was originally released on his 1976 album 'Turnstiles'. It was later included on other greatest hits and live albums as well.
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PerformanceJoel opens his concerts with this song, accompanied by a video montage showing various New York landmarks that progressively "go dark" as the song plays.
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Song MeaningJoel wrote this song as a science fiction story about a future where New York City's iconic landmarks are destroyed – reflecting his concerns and anxiety regarding the future of the city during the mid-70s when financial crisis was rampant.
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Name OriginDespite taking its name from Miami, the song is about New York. '2017' was a date in the far future when Joel wrote the song, implying a certain unreality about these events.
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Post-9/11 SignificanceThe song took on new significance following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Joel performed it during The Concert for New York City, dedicating it to the firefighters.
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InspirationThe song was inspired by several real-life events including the destruction of Pennsylvania Station in 1963, the near-bankruptcy of New York City in 1975, and the electrical blackout in New York City in 1977.
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Commercial SuccessDespite not being released as a single, "Miami 2017" is one of Joel's best-known songs and is a staple of his live shows.
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Song LyricsThe song narrates a fictional cataclysm in New York City, described by a city-dweller preparing to leave the ravaged city that remains.
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Unique ProductionJoel decided for this album that he wanted to use his touring band in the studio, making 'Turnstiles' one of the most 'live' sounding albums in his catalog, and this song is no exception.
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Citation
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"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5227741/Billy+Joel/Miami+2017+%28Seen+the+Lights+Go+Out+on+Broadway%29>.
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