These Rhinestone Days
Billy Joel Lyrics


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Now we live our lives so nonchalant
We spend our time so bon vivant
Our stylish nights so well arranged
Those tasteful words that we exchanged
We know it's all a passing phase

We light our lamps for atmosphere
And hang our hopes on chandeliers
I don't know why we even care
We try and try and get nowhere
We'll change our minds, we changed our ways
These rhinestone days

So go our lives so nonchalant
We spend our time so bon vivant
I don't know why we even care
We'll try and try and get nowhere




We'll change our minds, we changed our ways
These rhinestone days

Overall Meaning

In Billy Joel's "These Rhinestone Days," the lyrics describe living a carefree, luxurious lifestyle that is ultimately empty and meaningless ("We'll try and try and get nowhere"). The opening lines emphasize this mindset - "Now we live our lives so nonchalant / We spend our time so bon vivant" - suggesting that the singer and those around him are not concerned with deeper issues or the future. Instead, they focus on creating the perfect atmosphere ("We light our lamps for atmosphere / And hang our hopes on chandeliers") and saying the right things ("Those tasteful words that we exchanged").


Despite this façade of perfection, the singer recognizes the fleeting nature of their lifestyle ("We know it's all a passing phase") and questions why they bother putting effort into it at all ("I don't know why we even care"). The repeated refrain of "We'll change our minds, we changed our ways / These rhinestone days" reinforces the idea that their pursuit of luxury and indulgence is ultimately shallow and meaningless.


Overall, "These Rhinestone Days" is a commentary on the superficiality of a life consumed by materialism and the importance of finding deeper meaning and purpose.


Line by Line Meaning

Now we live our lives so nonchalant
We are living our lives with a sense of carefree indifference


We spend our time so bon vivant
We are indulging in the pleasures of life


Our stylish nights so well arranged
We have meticulously planned our social events


Those tasteful words that we exchanged
We have had sophisticated conversations


We know it's all a passing phase
We are aware that our current lifestyle is temporary


We light our lamps for atmosphere
We are concerned with creating a particular ambiance in our surroundings


And hang our hopes on chandeliers
We are placing our aspirations on superficial objects


I don't know why we even care
We are questioning the value of our pursuits


We try and try and get nowhere
We are exerting effort without seeing tangible results


We'll change our minds, we changed our ways
We are fickle and continuously shifting our attitudes and behaviors


These rhinestone days
We are in a period of superficiality and excess




Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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