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Allentown
Billy Joel Lyrics
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And they're closing all the factories down
Out in Bethlehem, they're killing time
Filling out forms
Standing in line
Well, our fathers fought the Second World War
Spent their weekends on the Jersey Shore
Met our mothers at the USO
Asked them to dance
Danced with them slow
And we're living here in Allentown
But the restlessness was handed down
And it's getting very hard to stay
Well, we're waiting here in Allentown
For the Pennsylvania we never found
For the promises our teachers gave
If we worked hard
If we behaved
So the graduations hang on the wall
But they never really helped us at all
No, they never taught us what was real
Iron and coke
Chromium steel
And we're waiting here in Allentown
But they've taken all the coal from the ground
And the union people crawled away
Every child had a pretty good shot
To get at least as far as their old man got
But something happened on the way to that place
They threw an American flag in our face
Well, I'm living here in Allentown
And it's hard to keep a good man down
But I won't be getting up today
And it's getting very hard to stay
And we're living here in Allentown
The song "Allentown" by Billy Joel is a depiction of the struggles of the working-class people in the town of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The lyrics accurately describe the condition of this town and the people during the early 1980s when the factories and the steel industry were beginning to collapse. The song is written from the perspective of a young man who is part of the generation that had high hopes for their future but is now becoming disillusioned. The lyrics describe how the generations before them had fought in the Second World War and had built prosperity for America, but that their own generation had to deal with the economic decline that subsequently followed.
The beginning of the song describes the closure of factories in Allentown and the people of Bethlehem who are left with nothing to do except to fill out forms and stand in lines. The lyrics go on to describe how their parents had fought the Second World War and had spent their weekends at the Jersey Shore. However, these post-war promises of a better life have not been fulfilled as the aspirations of the current generation have been shattered. They have been taught to work hard and behave, but their hard work has not paid off, and they are left waiting for the Pennsylvania they never found.
The song stands as a testament to the struggles of working-class America, and the people who felt left behind by a system that had promised them so much. It is a poignant commentary on the declining industry in America and the toll it has taken on the lives of ordinary people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, we're living here in Allentown
The singer and the residents are living in Allentown, where changes are occurring.
And they're closing all the factories down
Factories are closing down in the area, leading to unemployment and economic insecurity.
Out in Bethlehem, they're killing time
The people in Bethlehem, another nearby town, are experiencing boredom and a lack of meaningful activity.
Filling out forms
They are doing paperwork and paperwork only, which is likely related to unemployment benefits or job applications.
Standing in line
The artist and other residents are waiting in long lines, possibly for assistance or job opportunities.
Well, our fathers fought the Second World War
The previous generation fought in World War II, and their sacrifices were intended to ensure a better future for their children.
Spent their weekends on the Jersey Shore
The fathers enjoyed recreational activities at the Jersey Shore when they had time off from work or military service.
Met our mothers at the USO
The fathers and mothers met during social events for military personnel and their families.
Asked them to dance
The fathers and mothers enjoyed dancing and socializing with each other at these events.
Danced with them slow
The fathers and mothers danced together at a relaxed pace, perhaps enjoying some romance.
And we're living here in Allentown
The singer reiterates that the people are currently living in Allentown, where changes are occurring.
But the restlessness was handed down
A sense of dissatisfaction and the desire for something more has been passed down from the previous generation to the current one.
And it's getting very hard to stay
The current situation has become increasingly difficult and challenging to endure.
Well, we're waiting here in Allentown
The people are waiting in Allentown for something that they were promised.
For the Pennsylvania we never found
The promise of a better life in Pennsylvania has not been fulfilled for the current generation.
For the promises our teachers gave
Their teachers made promises that a good education and hard work would lead to success and a better life.
If we worked hard
Their teachers promised that if they worked hard, they would succeed and achieve their goals.
If we behaved
Their teachers indicated that good behavior and following societal norms would lead to success and a happy life.
So the graduations hang on the wall
The singer and other residents display their graduation certificates on their walls, as a symbol of their education and a reminder of their unfulfilled expectations.
But they never really helped us at all
Despite the education they received, it did not provide the opportunities they expected and did not help them overcome their current challenges.
No, they never taught us what was real
The education system did not adequately prepare them for the realities of life, such as unemployment and economic instability.
Iron and coke
The artist references the steel and coal industries that used to be prominent in the region.
Chromium steel
The singer references the specific types of steel that were produced in the area.
And we're waiting here in Allentown
The people are still waiting for something to change in Allentown, despite the loss of the coal and steel industries.
But they've taken all the coal from the ground
The coal mines have closed down and there is no longer any coal being extracted from the ground.
And the union people crawled away
The union members who fought for workers' rights and protections have left, and their ideals and goals have not been fully realized.
Every child had a pretty good shot
The singer references the idea of the American Dream, where every child has an opportunity to succeed and achieve greater things than their parents.
To get at least as far as their old man got
The artist indicates that the goal was to achieve at least the same level of success as their parents did.
But something happened on the way to that place
Something changed along the way that prevented the current generation from achieving the same level of success as their parents.
They threw an American flag in our face
The singer implies that patriotic symbols and rhetoric are being used to disguise the loss of jobs and opportunities, and that the current generation is not benefiting from the ideals that America claims to stand for.
Well, I'm living here in Allentown
The singer reiterates that they are living in Allentown and experiencing the changes happening there.
And it's hard to keep a good man down
The situation is challenging and can take a toll on a person's emotional and mental wellbeing.
But I won't be getting up today
The artist indicates that they are too tired or defeated to continue fighting against the current situation.
And it's getting very hard to stay
The current situation is becoming increasingly difficult to endure and the future is uncertain.
And we're living here in Allentown
The singer reiterates the loss and challenges experienced by the people who are living in Allentown.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind