What did Billy Joel mean by "Their ain't no Island let for Islanders like me"? (Springs: senior, road)

[NYEconomist]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Why Do We Hate Billy Joel? | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Cant we trade him for Springsteen? Had he never recorded anything after Brinkley we would've been fine.

It's the same for most artists. They spend the last 40 years trying to recapture the first 10 years of brilliance.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by NYEconomist

It's the same for most artists. They spend the last 40 years trying to recapture the first 10 years of brilliance.

Except of course when youre Springsteen.

[Yzette]

Originally Posted by Twobeach

Ok here's the deal,,some of you are way off,and some on right on the $$$, it is Dedicated and was written for the struggling Fishermen and the Industry. I know my guys have spent time and fished with him. "There aint no island left for Islander's like me"> This is directly linked to the waters being Raped by outsiders{Japan} and goverment interfearence in the industry along with dwindling catches. It was dedicated to LI Bonokers {Fishermen} Alexa is his boat, I don't know if he still owns it, I believe he does as he being born and raised on the Island has a great bittersweet love for it. I am sure if he wrote a song on what Long Island has become>>>>>> would we really want to hear it over and over when we live it everyday? And PS> The Fishing Industry has gone even further downhill since this Song was written. I am amazed the guys are still docked at Captree, they are starving! Hang in there Fellas!

Yes, but--and there's always a "but"--I don't see the part about the waters being raped by outsiders or about government interference. In the lyrics he says "there's no luck in swordfishin' here" and "I know there's fish out there, but where God only knows."

That's because the waters have been not only polluted but overfished.

If you want to help preserve the oceans and give fish populations a chance to recover, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium's [URL="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx?c=dd"]Seafood Watch site[/URL], print out the [URL="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_regional.aspx"]Seafood Watch card[/URL] appropriate for where you live, and order your seafood accordingly.

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

We don't know whether or not the OP was trying to stir the pot.

Given the OP's current member status--ie, not one--I'd say someone got caught in his own dragnet.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Yzette

Yes, but--and there's always a "but"--I don't see the part about the waters being raped by outsiders or about government interference. In the lyrics he says "there's no luck in swordfishin' here" and "I know there's fish out there, but where God only knows."

That's because the waters have been not only polluted but overfished.

Yes, overfishing and pollution caused the government to enforce laws.

I provided a ca. 1990 NYT link a few posts back in which Billy Joel was interviewed prior to a concert he gave to support the baymen.

"The baymen have hit upon hard times as a result of the commercial fishing ban on striped bass and the decline of the scallop industry..."

The bay scallop industry was decimated by the brown tide in the mid to late 1980's.

The song might not spell it flat out but those who were around are familiar with events of the time.

"Now I drive my Downeaster Alexa
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they tell me I can't sell no stripers
And there's no luck in swordfishing here"

More ado about the stripers:
STATE BROADENS BAN ON STRIPED-BASS FISHING - NYTimes.com

Last year, Mr. Colvin said, 540,235 pounds of striped bass were caught in New York waters with a dockside value of $1,202,721. That figure represents a bit less than 7 percent of the total dockside value of New York's commercial fishing production for the year, he added.
Because it is certain that some fishermen will be forced to shift to different species, the administration announced that it will make special Job Development Authority loans available to commercial fishermen who need to buy new equipment. For those fishermen who will be forced out of the industry, some retraining and placement will be offered, the administration said.

'More and more miles each year' -- heading further out in search of other species in order to make money.

"...there's no luck in swordfishing here"

Atlantic Swordfish - Severity of Decline

The above link indicates that Japanese fleets have been harvesting far more fish than US & Canada boats combined. So while the lyrics might not say anything about foreign entities overharvesting, be certain they have a hand in the problem.

Given the OP's current member status--ie, not one--I'd say someone got caught in his own dragnet.

If you did a little research into his brief membership, he wasn't much of a troublemaker in the 10 posts he participated in within other CD forums. He asked a simple question on this post, and gave a thank you. Nothing troll-esque. BigMike, on the other hand, hovered at the troll bridge.
As a writer looking for information for a story or article -- do you prefer a straightforward answer, or someone's misleading info?

[NYEconomist]

I think we need to see some new versions of Downeaster Alexa from some of the contributors here.

[VA Yankee]

If I had to draw a parallel I would compare Downeaster Alexa to Allentown by Springstein. Both convey the losses to the areas livelyhood and the changes in lives that creates.

[laidbackhippie]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

If I had to draw a parallel I would compare Downeaster Alexa to Allentown by Springstein. Both convey the losses to the areas livelyhood and the changes in lives that creates.

uhhh............. Allentown was also by Billy Joel



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYkjz...eature=related


but I know what you mean

[Redd Jedd]

Originally Posted by laidbackhippie

uhhh............. Allentown was also by Billy Joel




YouTube - Billy Joel "Allentown"


but I know what you mean

Billy Joel had a knack for writing about life outside of his own experiences. "Allentown" is among the song topics he didn't experience himself. I remember when the song was released, Joel answered critics regarding them asking what knew about life in Allentown, PA that let him write about it since he was from LI. He replied that he is a story teller and that uses empathy when writing about things he himself hadn't experienced first hand. Viet Nam – “Good Nigh Saigon” and post WWII life in Russia – “Leningrad” are others that come to mind.

[laidbackhippie]

Bernie Taupin (Elton John's lyricist) reads history or current events and then write a songs about them.

Goodnight Saigon is a GREAT song and gave a lot of people an idea about the horror those guys went through. My wife still cries every time she hears it.

So yes, of course Joel is a storyteller. That's his job.

Thanks Bill !

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by laidbackhippie

uhhh............. Allentown was also by Billy Joel




YouTube - Billy Joel "Allentown"


but I know what you mean

Another senior moment!....