Tonight my mood had flown south … I wasn’t grumpy so much as just feeling useless. So, I went in search of a song for tonight, and as I was listening to this one, I felt this really odd sensation … my mouth … it was turning upward at the corners … what WAS that??? I do believe … yes, I was actually smiling!!! And I figure if this song can make me smile, it can make you smile, too! At least I hope so.
This song by Billy Joel first appeared on his 1978 album 52nd Street, and a single version was released in the fall of 1978.
My Life was used as the theme song for the ABC television series Bosom Buddies starring Tom Hanks (1980–82), albeit in a re-recorded version with a different vocalist. However, due to licensing issues it does not appear on the VHS and DVD releases of the series, nor is it used in the show’s syndicated airings.
I don’t find much trivia about this song, but the one tidbit I found fun is that Chicago members Peter Cetera and Donnie Dacus performed the backing vocals and sang along with Billy Joel during the bridge and in the outro (“Keep it to yourself, it’s my life”).
My Life
Billy Joel
Got a call from an old friend we’d used to be real close
Said he couldn’t go on the American way
Closed the shop, sold the house, bought a ticket to the west coast
Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A.
I don’t need you to worry for me ’cause I’m alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
Go ahead with your own life leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong
Don’t get me wrong
And you can speak your mind
But not on my time
They will tell you you can’t sleep alone in a strange place
Then they’ll tell you can’t sleep with somebody else
Ah but sooner or later you sleep in your own space
Either way it’s O.K. you wake up with yourself
I don’t need you to worry for me ’cause I’m alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
Go ahead with your own life leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong
Don’t get me wrong
And you can speak your mind
But not on my time
I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life
Go ahead with your own life leave me alone
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Billy Joel
My Life lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Filosofa's Word 
My favorite of all the Billy Joel songs! Thank you for this one. I’m glad I was surfing tonight and found it. Now I guess I had better hit the sheets because they will bring my breakfast in at 7 a.m. and it is now 1:30 a.m. Or 0130 in military time which I had to learn while working for Hospice. And that is a funny tale in the preceding comment. My thanks to Michael as well!
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Cute story about this song and the drummer found on Songfacts. Hope it makes you smile. Hugs and cheers
Phil Ramone, who produced Joel’s previous album, The Stranger, also produced 52nd Street and continued working with the singer throughout the rest of the ’70s and ’80s. He typically got along well with Joel’s band, but “My Life” marked a rare moment of conflict with drummer Liberty DeVitto.
“One of the few arguments I ever had with Phil occurred when we were recording ‘My Life,’ but it was funny, not tense,” he shared in Ramone’s 2007 book, Making Records: The Scenes Behind The Music. “He wanted me to play a very straight beat, and I bucked him. ‘I ain’t playin’ that disco bulls–t!’ I said. Phil got up, slammed something on the console, and scolded me like he was my father. ‘You’ve been in this business for what, 12 minutes? And you’re gonna tell me how you’re gonna play? Just get the hell out there and play it the way I told you to play!’
I grumbled about it then, but every time I see the gold record I received for ‘My Life’ on the wall, I mutter, ‘F–king guy was right.'”
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🤣 That is FUNNY!!!! Thanks for sharing it, Michael! Hugs and cheers to you, dear friend!
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My God, I haven’t heard this song in decades. Instantly, I saw myself at the kitchen table in the late 70s eating breakfast before going to school. Amazing again, how strongly music is connected to our memories. Since it was a great time, this song brought back such wonderful feelings. Thanks for sharing it today, Jill!
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There was an article in The Washington Post just a few days ago titled, “Why music causes memories to flood back.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/26/songs-music-memory-connection/ It’s so true … hearing a song that I haven’t heard for a long time immediately brings back long-forgotten memories, sometime happy, sometimes not so much. I’m so glad that this one brought back wonderful memories for you, my friend!!!
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I love how this works and that is one of the reasons why I like to create playlists with all the songs from my childhood until today that cause good feelings by the memories they carry. I will read the article right away. Thanks for sharing!
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I never thought of doing that! I should!
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Yes, do that, it is so cool! And you find even more songs you may have forgotten about.
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Undoubtedly! And new material for my daily music posts!
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Definitely!!
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Jill, hard to go wrong with Billy Joel. Yet another good song of his. Keith
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You’re right … he has a library of good songs! Glad you enjoyed it!
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Did you ever play a Doors tune for me. I cannot remember. You probably can’t either. 😄
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Yep! Four days later, on 7/23/2020, I played “Light My Fire” for you … https://jilldennison.com/2020/07/23/♫-light-my-fire-♫-2/
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Apparently I missed that day. I left no comment, and you know I seldom do not leave comments, especially if a song was played for me. I would have left a “Thank you,” if nothing else. So, belatedly, Thank you.
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I wondered about that when I pulled it up last night … no, it’s not like you to fail to leave a comment, so you must not have seen it. You’re welcome!
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I thought about leaving you a song, but decided against it. I know it’s not your style, and it mainly is about Winnipeg, and a band from Vancouver, and in essence it is Burton Cummings of the Guess Who trying to imitate Jim Morrison of the Doors. But there is a section in the middle of the 10 minute song Friends of Mine (there are a number of songs with this title it seems) that that he does really well. For me, it is absolutely brilliant — except he leaves it hanging without resolution. Morrison would habe been proud, if he ever heard it.i will leave it up to you to search it out if you want.
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I may in a little while, but you’re right … I have a feeling it wouldn’t make me smile!
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Loved the song and the album, which I played a lot back in the day. It was his first #1 album in the US and his first to make the UK top ten, and it won the Album of the Year Grammy. Fairly successful, I’d say! I’ve never heard of that tv show though, I guess we didn’t get it here.
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Heck yes! If that isn’t the definition of ‘success’, then I don’t know what is! I never watched it, but I know several who were fans … I think it only lasted about two years.
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It was probably one of those shows where the theme music was the best part 😉
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That wouldn’t surprise me a bit!
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very nice,
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Thank you … I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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