From Wikipedia:
"And So It Goes" is a song written by Billy Joel in 1983, though it was not released until six years later. It appeared as the tenth and final track of his 1989 studio album Storm Front. The original 1983 demo was released on the 2005 box set My Lives.[1] Joel wrote the song about a doomed relationship with model Elle Macpherson. Their relationship was dramatic, as Macpherson was only a teenager while Joel was reaching his mid-30s. Joel dated Macpherson for a brief time shortly before becoming involved with model Christie Brinkley, who would ultimately become his second wife. The song was inspired by the Scottish ballad Barbara Allen, and is unique for Joel as it is written in iambic tetrameter.[2] In the original demo version of "And So It Goes," Joel sings the melody simply, accompanied by a simple piano backdrop, in a style very reminiscent of a hymn. On the 1989 album version, Joel sings and plays all the instrumentation (piano and synthesizers). The official video is from a live performance in front of a concert audience.
“And So It Goes" 是Billy Joel在1983年寫的一首歌。但6年後才發表在他的《Storm Front》合集裏。這首歌寫的是他和模特Elle Macpherson的那段感情。當時Billy已經三十多歲, 而Elle還不到20。這段關係從一開始就注定了沒有結果。
這首歌受蘇格蘭民謠Barbara Allen的影響,是以iambic tetrameter的格式寫的歌詞。每句歌詞有4個iambic feet(韻腳?)
I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it a few years ago. This is not Billy Joel's most well-known song, but it is my favorite one. The poetic lyrics are just beautiful! The melody is simple, but still very powfully sentimental.
我第一次聽到這首歌就非常喜歡。歌詞優美又深入人心。那種對失去一段感情後的心情的描述是如此深刻。真正愛過的人才能充分體會。他的這首歌不在他最有名的歌曲中。在一次訪談中他提到,這首歌卻是他歌曲中最被低估了的一首。旋律簡單卻暗流洶湧。
Below is American baritone, John Brancy's comments on this song.
"I was first introduced to this song when I was just 13 years old. Back before I knew I wanted to be a professional singer, or a professional anything for that matter. I remember being drawn to the simple melody and the lovely poem. We had sung it for our troubadour choir and competed in many choral competitions with it. It wasn't until my first real breakup and heartbreak in high school that I realized the depth of the words in this song and where Billy Joel was going with it. Anyone who has experienced the break of a long term, love filled relationship will understand and feel the meaning in these words all too familiarly. I found myself singing this song from time to time to remind me of this feeling and to know that when you do give your love to someone, there is always the chance it could end in tears and a broken heart.
I'm not going to lie to any of you, life can be hard at times, and emotions can take over everything you do and are. Things change between people, sometimes one person might recognize it, other times it goes unsaid and years later, the unthinkable happens. I'm writing so explicitly here, because I'm reaching out to that part of you. The part that holds your heart in your hands and feels the very essence of this song: if my silence was my mistake, I will speak, if I spoke too much, I will listen, if my actions weren't right, I will change course, if you needed more of me, you can have every bit.
Love is the most powerful energy on our planet. It has the distinct ability to simultaneously make one full of happiness and sadness. It strikes you with beauty, truth, honor and devotion. When love is lost, confusion sets in, taking its place causing you to retreat and recoil inwards until you cannot go any further. Billy Joel tapped this feeling in And So it Goes and his music and words have calmed the hearts of many who have experienced serious lost love.
Take a listen, remember or feel that moment, and don't forget, this is life. It's worth living every minute of it just to remember the happiest moments and maybe, just maybe, feel loved like that again."
And here is my rendition of the song
Please fill in the missing words in the lyrics based on what you hear in the song. Have fun with it. :)
In every (heart) there is a (room)
A ( sanctuary) safe and strong
To (heal ) the (wounds ) from 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 this is why my (eyes ) are ( closed)
It's just ( as) (well ) for all I've (seen )
And so it goes, and so it goes
And ( you're) the only one who knows
So I would (choose ) to be with you
That's if the (choice ) were mine to make
But you can make ( decisions) too
And you can have this heart to break
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows.