♫ Honesty ♫

Posted on by under music

Ever have a song just pop into your head, uninvited and seemingly for no reason at all other than to annoy?  As I was wrapping up my ‘good people’ post this evening, assessing what I had left to do before I could seek some much-needed sleep, this song popped into my head and refused … absolutely refused to leave so that I could find … a song … for my music … post.  Oh.  Wait.  This is a song.  Seems this song has a desire to be played tonight.

Honesty was solely written by Billy Joel while production was handled by Phil Ramone.  It is the second song from his sixth studio album 52nd Street (1978).  Other than that, I don’t have a lot of background trivia, but I think the lyrics speak for themselves.

Joel performed the song with Elton John at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in July 1994. First, they sang Your Song (1970) by Elton and after that they performed Honesty while playing on the piano.

Released in 1979, this song wasn’t a huge hit in the U.S., reaching only #24, hit #16 in Canada, and didn’t chart at all in the UK.  Perhaps songs about honesty make people uncomfortable?

Honesty
Billy Joel

If you search for tenderness
It isn’t hard to find
You can have the love you need to live
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind
It always seems to be so hard to give

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can always find someone
To say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
But I don’t want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can find a lover
I can find a friend
I can have security until the bitter end
Anyone can comfort me
With promises again
I know, I know

When I’m deep inside of me
Don’t be too concerned
I won’t ask for nothin’ while I’m gone
But when I want sincerity
Tell me where else can I turn
‘Cause you’re the one I depend upon

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Billy Joel
Honesty lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave

22 thoughts on “♫ Honesty ♫”

  1. Pingback: ♫ River of Dreams ♫ | Filosofa's Word

  2. No, never had a song just pop into my head. Nope, never. Wonder what that’s like?

    Billy J. was a huge part of the pop scene when I was a young adult. Seemed like each year brought us another album from him and a few more hits. Although a heartfelt song, not my favorite, but I know it completely.

    Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

      • No comment to your first question… Favorite Billy J song from the sentimental POV is “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant”. But I also found his later song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” quite engaging.

        Like

  3. It managed to reach #38 on the NZ singles charts. It was a favourite song of mine at the time, not because of the tune or performance, neither of which I find particularly brilliant, but solely for the lyrics. It was a time when I came to the realisation that so many people are less than honest in their communications. Had I been aware that my world view was coloured by my autism, the words may not have had such a profound effect on me. But I had to wait more than another 30 years before that diagnosis.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yes, there comes a time in all our lives, I think, that we realize the people we trusted have been less than honest. And that goes for even those of us who aren’t autistic, though it was likely more devastating for you, having your trust shaken. I never knew the lyrics, being mostly deaf, but just liked the tune.

      Like

Comments are closed.