What did Billy Joel mean by "Their ain't no Island let for Islanders like me"? (New York: transplants, unemployed)

[NYEconomist]

Originally Posted by BigMike50

I got the answer from a site called songfacts The Downeaster Alexa by Billy Joel Songfacts

As usual Mike, you read a whole page of information and come up with the wrong conclusion. Reread the page and you'll find multiple posts that correct that one post that you refer to.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by NYEconomist

As usual Mike, you read a whole page of information and come up with the wrong conclusion. Reread the page and you'll find multiple posts that correct that one post that you refer to.

Best and brightest lol.


Crooks

[BigMike50]

Originally Posted by NYEconomist

As usual Mike, you read a whole page of information and come up with the wrong conclusion. Reread the page and you'll find multiple posts that correct that one post that you refer to.

I didn't say...just posted where that answer came from.

I read 27 different answers....unless we ask Billy himself everything else is just speculation.

It's all open to interpretation..unless of course I hear it straight from Billy mouth not yours or clamboi's

Since you asked I personally think he meant that that Island has turned to ***** and there's nothing left but to leave

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by BigMike50

I didn't say...just posted where that answer came from.

I read 27 different answers....unless we ask Billy himself everything else is just speculation.

It's all open to interpretation..unless of course I hear it straight from Billy mouth not yours or clamboi's

Since you asked I personally think he meant that that Island has turned to ***** and there's nothing left but to leave

Ok Big Member.

No actually we didnt ask but thank you for waxing poetic.

Perhaps you can make some new friends on c-d va someday boi?
Im sure theyd appreciate your valuable input.


Crooks

[MikeyKid]

It's ultimately about change and "progress" - whatever that is... Billy wrote some amazing stuff and to me is one of the perennial singer songwriters of his time. Too bad women screwed up his life.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by MikeyKid

It's ultimately about change and "progress" - whatever that is... Billy wrote some amazing stuff and to me is one of the perennial singer songwriters of his time. Too bad women screwed up his life.

Its really about the Baymen guys...dont over think it.

Hes right too.

I feel bad for the Bonackers....theyve been trampled by moneyed City trash.

[long island POSTER]

this song is abt the deadliest catch fishermen from long island
in the 1980s
and how they bcame poor ppl bcuz of "the government"
not allowing them 2 fish 4 smaller sized fish
nearer 2 the shore
havin 2 go further out 2 sea
2 fish 4 swordfish
4 celebs n ppl from "manhattan" who moved 2 the hampties
4 the summer

but it can also b seen as a metaphor
4 all of the "workin class ppl"
who arent able 2 live on long island anymore
bcuz "the government" made it 2 xpensive
via taxes

there is 1 good lyric i think deserves further xamination
"i am out here trawling atlantis"
this is a symbolic lyric
trawling = dragging a net along the bottom of the ocean (4 fish)
atlantis = a lost city from some time in history (dont rly kno...)
that sank in 2 the ocean
imo this lyric symbolizes the native long island desire
2 find ur lost city
2 find the lost long island of ur youth
mayb it is possible 2 replicate by moving 2 north carolina?
probably not

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by MikeyKid

It's ultimately about change and "progress" - whatever that is... Billy wrote some amazing stuff and to me is one of the perennial singer songwriters of his time. Too bad women screwed up his life.

Women! Well, I never!!! LOL. I think his problem is that he falls too hard too fast and married too quickly before he knew what his wives (after Christie B. because at least she lasted awhile) were all about!

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Its really about the Baymen guys...dont over think it.

Hes right too.

I feel bad for the Bonackers....theyve been trampled by moneyed City trash.

Of course that's what it's about and anyone who thinks differently does not know what he meant. I saw his bio on the Biography channel and he spoke about his support for the baymen. Also, anyone who gloats that the song means Billy thinks LI stinks now ... well Billy never left LI and has always maintained a home base here ... and this is a man who could well afford to move away to anywhere, so I would assume he still loves it here regardless of the changes.

[Yzette]

It's a lamentation for the destruction of the oceans and the resulting weakening and eventual disappearance of an integral part of Long Island culture, the communities of baymen.

Back in the early 90s, I saw Billy Joel when he was touring to promote Storm Front. I was living in the D.C. area at the time, and he introduced the song by drawing comparisons between Long Island's waters and the Chesapeake Bay, as Maryland crabbers grapple with the same issues.

By the end of the song, quite a few people had tears in their eyes.

[URL="http://youtu.be/LVlDSzbrH5M"]YouTube - Billy Joel - The Downeaster "Alexa"[/URL]