Leave a Tender Moment Alone
Billy Joel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Even though I'm in love
Sometimes I get so afraid
I'll say something so wrong
Just to have something to say

I know the moment isn't right
To tell the girl a comical line
To keep the conversation light
I guess I'm just frightened out of my mind

But if that's how I feel
Then it's the best feeling I've even known
It's undeniably real
Leave a tender moment alone

Yes I know I'm in love
But just when I ought to relax
I put my foot in my mouth
Cause I'm just avoiding the facts

If the girl gets too close
If I need some room to escape
When the moment arose
I'd tell her it's all a mistake

But that's not how I feel
No that's not the woman I've known
She's undeniably real
So leave a tender moment alone

But it's not only me
Breaking down when the tension gets high
Just when I'm in a serious mood
She is suddenly quiet and shy

Leave a tender moment
Leave it alone

I know the moment isn't right
To hold my emotions inside
To change the attitude tonight
I've run out of places to hide

And if that's how I feel
Then it's the best feeling I've even known
It's undeniably real
Leave a tender moment alone

You got to leave a tender moment alone
Leave a tender moment
Leave it alone




You've got to leave a tender moment
Leave a tender moment alone

Overall Meaning

In Billy Joel's song "Leave a Tender Moment Alone," Joel sings about the fear and anxiety that can come with being in love. He describes feeling so afraid that he might say the wrong thing just to have something to say, and not wanting to ruin the moment by cracking a joke or trying to keep the conversation light. Despite his fear, Joel knows that his feelings for this woman are real and he must leave any tender moment alone, never trying to force or ruin a special moment just because he is scared.


Joel also sings about the fear of facing reality in a romantic relationship. Even though he knows that he is in love, he finds himself avoiding the facts and looking for ways to escape. He realizes that he cannot continue to hide his true emotions and must face the reality of his relationship.


The lyrics can be interpreted as being about those moments in relationships where everything seems to be going perfectly, but the fear of ruining the moment can cause unnecessary tension and anxiety. Joel is encouraging his listeners to recognize when a moment is special and not to try to force or ruin it with the wrong words or actions. Instead, he suggests leaving it alone and letting it naturally unfold.


Line by Line Meaning

Even though I'm in love
Despite being in love...


Sometimes I get so afraid
...there are moments when I feel scared.


I'll say something so wrong
I might blurt out something completely inappropriate...


Just to have something to say
...just because I feel like I need to say something.


I know the moment isn't right
I realize that this is not the right moment...


To tell the girl a comical line
...to lighten the mood by telling her a joke.


To keep the conversation light
Trying to keep the conversation going smoothly...


I guess I'm just frightened out of my mind
...but I'm just too scared to do so.


But if that's how I feel
However, if that's how I truly feel...


Then it's the best feeling I've even known
...it's the most intense, passionate feeling that I've ever experienced.


It's undeniably real
It's an emotion that cannot be denied...


Leave a tender moment alone
...so it's best to leave it alone and not say anything that might spoil it.


But just when I ought to relax
Right when I tell myself to calm down...


I put my foot in my mouth
...I end up saying something foolish or embarrassing.


Cause I'm just avoiding the facts
Because deep down, I know that I have strong feelings for this person...


If the girl gets too close
If she tries to get too close to me...


If I need some room to escape
...or if I feel like I need to get away from the situation...


When the moment arose
...if I feel like I'm getting too overwhelmed by my emotions...


I'd tell her it's all a mistake
...I might say something hurtful or untrue just to push her away.


No that's not the woman I've known
But I know that's not who she truly is...


So leave a tender moment alone
...so I must resist the urge to say something careless and damage our relationship.


But it's not only me
However, the fear of saying the wrong thing is not unique to me...


Breaking down when the tension gets high
...because others may also get overwhelmed when emotions run high.


Just when I'm in a serious mood
I may be in a serious mood, but...


She is suddenly quiet and shy
...the girl I'm with might become shy and withdrawn...


I know the moment isn't right
Once again, I'm not sure if this is the right time...


To hold my emotions inside
...to keep my strong emotions from spilling out...


To change the attitude tonight
...or maybe even to try to force myself into a different mood.


I've run out of places to hide
...but I know that I can't hide my feelings forever.


You got to leave a tender moment alone
Therefore, it's important to respect these passionate moments and not try to force them in any direction.


Leave a tender moment
Just let these moments be...


Leave it alone
...no matter how tempting it might be to try to change them.


You've got to leave a tender moment
So that these feelings can be fully appreciated and savored...


Leave a tender moment alone
...without being interfered with by any outside forces or words.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY JOEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Adam1Gee

Someone played this too much at a medical conference in House M.D for Wilson that he threw a wine bottle at a large mirror. Honestly, I really appreciate this song. Then again, I like all of Billy Joel’s songs.

@cnjdev

haha i knew someone would mention that; i wish they showed that scene on the show as a flashback instead of just talk about it

@michaelburke6871

That's why I'm here

@speedygreenie

Lol. The comment on top turns out to be exactly why I'm here. I agree with Dr. Wilson. I don't like this song. But there are only a few of his songs that I like anyway. Mostly just the radio hits.

@el4242

I came here straight from that episode because I was curious. 😂

@danielafarias207

What episode is?

10 More Replies...

@Paula24rnr

Medical convention in New Orleans. This song plays in a bar, a fight starts. One doctor breaks an antique mirror, another one bails him out. The greatest friendship is born.

@Nik-ei9st

A constantly repeating, infuriating romantic love ballad, about how you shouldn’t constantly ruin serious moments with sarcastic one liners because you’re afraid of being emotionally intimate …….sounds like poetic foreshadowing to me. Run Wilson, run! The song is trying to warn you 😂

@MrTee-hw7mp

The bridge of this song (“But it’s not only me...”) is a work of brilliance. Great chord progression and interesting changes blended perfectly back into the verse.

@howtodoitdude1662

He is definitely a master in bridges!

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