The Great Suburban Showdown
Billy Joel Lyrics


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Flyin' east on a plane
Drinkin' all that free champagne
I guess I saw this comin' down the line
And I know it should be fun
But I think I should've packed my gun
Got that old suburban showdown in my mind

Sit around with the folks
Tell the same old tired jokes
Bored to death on Sunday afternoon
Mom and Dad, me and you
And the outdoor barbecue
Think I'm gonna hide out in my room

I've been gone for a while
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can't go home anymore
Well the streets all look the same
And I'll have to play the game
We'll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on and the neighbors there

Out in the yard
Where my Daddy worked so hard
He never lets the crab grass grow too high
Oh, the place hasn't changed
And that's why I'm gonna feel so strange
But I'll have to face the music bye and bye

I've been gone for a while
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can't go home anymore
Well the streets all look the same
And I'll have to play the game
We'll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on and the neighbors there

Drive into town
When this big bird touches down
I'm only comin' home to say goodbye
Then I'm gone with the wind
And I won't be seen again
Till that great suburban showdown in the sky
Till that great suburban showdown in the sky






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Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Joel's "The Great Suburban Showdown" center around the theme of returning home to the suburbs after being away for some time. The song’s protagonist is flying back east, possibly from California, where he has been making some changes in his life. He is apprehensive about returning home, to the mundane life he left behind, and also about the suburban "clash," the personal and social conflict he anticipates.


The lyrics depict the quintessential suburban life and its drudgery. The singer is bored and feels suffocated spending time with his family during the barbecue. Even though he has been away for some time, things seem to be exactly the same; the streets have not changed, and he must face the same old problems. He is struck by what seems like a realization that there is no escape from the suburban life he left behind.


The last verse speaks of the final showdown, not with his neighbors or family, but with death. The singer seems to have accepted the suburban life as his fate, and he decides to leave for good after saying his goodbyes. The song offers an insightful and relatable glimpse into the life of a suburbanite, while also touching on themes of disillusionment, acceptance, and mortality.


Line by Line Meaning

Flyin' east on a plane
I am currently flying towards the east via an airplane


Drinkin' all that free champagne
I am consuming the complimentary champagne that the airline provided


I guess I saw this comin' down the line
I anticipated this situation occurring in the future


And I know it should be fun
I understand that this event is supposed to be enjoyable


But I think I should've packed my gun
I wish I had brought a weapon with me


Got that old suburban showdown in my mind
I keep thinking about the conflict I may face in my hometown


Sit around with the folks
Spend time in the company of family and friends


Tell the same old tired jokes
Share repetitive and unoriginal humorous anecdotes


Bored to death on Sunday afternoon
Feeling extremely uninterested and listless during a weekend day


Mom and Dad, me and you
My parents, myself, and whoever I am speaking to


And the outdoor barbecue
The act of cooking food outside on a grill


Think I'm gonna hide out in my room
I plan on avoiding social interaction by spending time alone in my bedroom


I've been gone for a while
I have not been present in this location for an extended period of time


Made some changes in my style
I have modified my appearance or personality in some way


And they say you can't go home anymore
According to popular belief, it is impossible to return to one's place of origin


Well the streets all look the same
The roads and pathways have not undergone any significant transformations


And I'll have to play the game
I will have to conform to societal norms and expectations


We'll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
Everyone will gather in the kitchen and sit in chairs


With the TV on and the neighbors there
The television will be turned on and the neighbors will be present


Out in the yard
Outside in the property surrounding the house


Where my Daddy worked so hard
The area where my father spent a lot of time laboring


He never lets the crab grass grow too high
My father always maintains the grass so that it does not become overgrown


Oh, the place hasn't changed
The location looks the same as it did in the past


And that's why I'm gonna feel so strange
This is why I will experience a sense of unfamiliarity


But I'll have to face the music bye and bye
I will eventually have to confront the situation


Drive into town
Travel by car to the nearby township


When this big bird touches down
When the airplane lands at its destination


I'm only comin' home to say goodbye
I am returning for the sole purpose of bidding farewell


Then I'm gone with the wind
I will soon depart, leaving without looking back


And I won't be seen again
I will not be visible or present any longer


Till that great suburban showdown in the sky
The next time I will be seen is when conflict arises in the afterlife


Till that great suburban showdown in the sky
Reiteration of the previous meaning




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY JOEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

木倉谷哲也

Lyrics;

Flying east on a plane
Drinking all that free champagne
Guess I saw this coming down the line
And I know it should be fun
But I think I should have packed my gun
Got that old suburban showdown in my mind

Sit around with the folks
Tell the same old tired jokes
Bored to death on Sunday afternoon
Mom and Dad, me and you
And the outdoor barbecue
Think I’m gonna hide out in my room

I’ve been gone for awhile
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can’t go home any more
Well the streets all look the same
And I’ll have to play the game
We’ll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on, with the neighbors there

Out in the yard where my dad works so hard
He never lets the crabgrass grow too high
Oh, the place hasn’t changed
And that’s why I’m gonna feel so strange
But I have to face the music by and by

I’ve been gone for awhile
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can’t go home any more
Well the streets all look the same
And I’ll have to play the game
We’ll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on, with the neighbors there

We drive into town
When this big bird touches down
I’m only coming home to say goodbye
Then I’m gone with the wind
And I won’t be seen again
‘Til that great suburban showdown in the sky
‘Til that great suburban showdown in the sky



All comments from YouTube:

Barry Smith

The Moog synthesizer was used extensively by Billy on the Streetlife LP. By 1974, electronic music was starting to make a breakthrough in rock n roll. By the end of the decade, Moogs were basically passe, replaced by more modern keyboards.

mr sandman

Yeah, you should listen to "one of these days" by pink floyd. That was realeased in 1971

thezombiecreeper

Mike Reiss gotta love the Moog on “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”.

Mike Reiss

Starting to make a breakthrough? Seriously? Led Zeppelin used one in 70 and 71, The Beatles used one on Abbey Road in 69, the Doors before them and Elton John used one in 72. The breakthrough happened at least two years before this album.

Thaddeus Jameson

This song tells what I'm going through to a tee! Sad about leaving home yet eager for the next step in my life leaving Minnesota for Chicago. Sad but had to be done ! Hurts to say goodbye! Thats life!

Sam Harris

How did the move go?

木倉谷哲也

Lyrics;

Flying east on a plane
Drinking all that free champagne
Guess I saw this coming down the line
And I know it should be fun
But I think I should have packed my gun
Got that old suburban showdown in my mind

Sit around with the folks
Tell the same old tired jokes
Bored to death on Sunday afternoon
Mom and Dad, me and you
And the outdoor barbecue
Think I’m gonna hide out in my room

I’ve been gone for awhile
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can’t go home any more
Well the streets all look the same
And I’ll have to play the game
We’ll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on, with the neighbors there

Out in the yard where my dad works so hard
He never lets the crabgrass grow too high
Oh, the place hasn’t changed
And that’s why I’m gonna feel so strange
But I have to face the music by and by

I’ve been gone for awhile
Made some changes in my style
And they say you can’t go home any more
Well the streets all look the same
And I’ll have to play the game
We’ll all sit around in the kitchen chairs
With the TV on, with the neighbors there

We drive into town
When this big bird touches down
I’m only coming home to say goodbye
Then I’m gone with the wind
And I won’t be seen again
‘Til that great suburban showdown in the sky
‘Til that great suburban showdown in the sky

Mario Lopez

There are too many underrated Billy Joel songs

Sean Scanlon

Probably more a case of under heard than underrated and he has many hidden gems.

Robert Rumnock

Absolutely the dushe who said this is trash probably only heard the greatest hits or is like 25... well said Mario

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