The Good Life
Billy Joel & Tony Bennett Lyrics
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Mm, the good life lets you hide all the sadness you feel
You won't really fall in love for you can't take the chance
So please be honest with yourself, don't try to fake romance
It's the good life to be free and explore the unknown
Like the heartaches when you learn you must face them alone
Please remember I still want you, and in case you wonder why
The lyrics to Billy Joel & Tony Bennett's song "The Good Life" begin by portraying a seemingly ideal existence filled with fun and excitement. However, it becomes clear that the good life is just a facade for hiding the sadness that one truly feels. The lyrics suggest that in order to maintain this idealistic image, one must avoid falling in love and taking risks. The message is clear: those who pursue the good life are unable to develop meaningful relationships or take risks that could lead to true happiness.
The second verse offers a more nuanced view of the good life. This time, it's associated with the freedom to explore the unknown, including heartache and loneliness. The singer seems to be urging their lover to be honest with themselves and not to pretend to be in a romantic relationship if that's not what they truly want. The final line, "just wake up, kiss the good life goodbye," implies that the good life is a fantasy that ultimately leads to disappointment and that choosing to pursue it will lead to a life of emptiness. This song serves as a warning to anyone seeking the good life, by showing that it can't be achieved by simply avoiding risks or hiding one's true feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the good life, full of fun seems to be the ideal
Living an indulgent and entertaining life appears to be a perfect existence.
Mm, the good life lets you hide all the sadness you feel
Living luxuriously allows one to conceal their inner misery and pain.
You won't really fall in love for you can't take the chance
You will not experience true affection because you are unwilling to risk the possibility of heartbreak.
So please be honest with yourself, don't try to fake romance
Therefore, be truthful to yourself and avoid insincere relationships.
It's the good life to be free and explore the unknown
The desirable lifestyle involves being unrestricted and seeking unfamiliar territories.
Like the heartaches when you learn you must face them alone
However, even when you encounter hardship, souls must confront them independently.
Please remember I still want you, and in case you wonder why
Do not forget that I still desire you, and in case you are curious.
Well, just wake up, kiss the good life goodbye
Then recognize reality and forsake your glamorous lifestyle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Reardon, Sacha Distel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarkBlackburnWPG
TONY BENNETT / BILLY JOEL – The Good Life
It's been exactly 60 years since Tony Bennett recorded my favorite of his ballads from the 60s --THE GOOD LIFE. Like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett sometimes rescued, from certain oblivion, songs we might otherwise never have heard. Like this one, composed by two Frenchmen who never had another hit; given its sublime English lyric by one “Jack Reardon” who disappeared without a trace. In fact the Wiki entry for the song doesn't mention Jack's name until detailing Tony Bennett's various recordings:
"The Good Life" (originally "La Belle Vie" in French) is a song by Sacha Distel with French lyrics by Jean Broussolle, published in 1962. It was featured in the movie The Seven Deadly Sins.
The song is best known in the English-speaking world via a 1963 recording by Tony Bennett with English lyrics by Jack Reardon. In the US, it was a number 18 hit on the U.S. pop singles chart, and number 7 on the Middle-Road Singles chart.[4]
"The Good Life" became one of Bennett's staple songs, and was featured on four of his top-selling albums, including 1994's MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett and 2006's Duets: An American Classic, the latter featuring Billy Joel. Bennett also named his 1998 autobiography after the song. He continued to perform the song live and did so at his final concerts, at Radio City Music Hall, aged 95.
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Google for it and the first offering this day at YouTube is this one -- from “The Making of Duets” – hosted by the late producer extraordinaire, Phil Ramone, who left us a decade ago.
Among the comments, is a note from a dear friend of mine, Samuel Chell – a professional jazz pianist and retired professor of English at a college in Wisconsin. Under his Amazon reviewer pen name, Sam shared this insight:
Caponsacchi
2 years ago
Sometimes I have the impression that people hear this song but don't listen attentively enough to catch the profound irony of the lyric. It's not about celebrating the "good life": It's about kissing "the good life" goodbye. That life was a time of shallow, selfish living--characterized by Romantic love, which is, by nature, selfish, self-centered, pleasure loving, fulfilling the hedonistic need of the child. It falls in the the category of "Eros," far short of Caritas (friendship) or Agape (spiritual love). It's glorious song--one that is especially effective because it paints a vivid picture of those good ole playboy days that must be kissed goodbye for growth, maturation and a fuller self-realization.
Thanks for sharing Tony Bennett. Celebrated elsewhere this day (1/15/2023) [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "
@geraldinem.8570
Gifted artists, talented voices....THANK YOU for making magic with your music. 2 legends...what a gift 🎙
@brakeduster
Tony was my Dad's idol and even loved to dress in the suits and ties like Tony does. Even just going to the shops, he'd look dapper. We played The Good Life at his funeral to send him out in style and that would have made him happy.
@ayshnafi2079
My dad was the same. Bespoke suits smart.
Always spoke of the ol days the good life
Tommorrow is my dad's funeral and I chose this song for him
Rest in eternal peace Dads
@brakeduster
@Aysh Nafi Rest In Peace. I'm sorry for your loss, friend.
@MarkBlackburnWPG
You conveyed so much -- in so few words. Concise, yet anecdotal My favorite comment here. Thanks for sharing BXS LifeGoesOn
@helena51troy
These two are a great match. They sound so much alike in tone and phrasing.
@1stand2ndtimearound67
What a classy GENTLEMAN 👏 I just LOVE the expression on his face when he sings with another artist. He is so giving, is truly amazing!
@Bob65001
We need more music like this. MUCH MORE! This is style! Music these days has lost it. It's not the same...
@mark1952able
You are sooooo Right!
@ziramarquez1248
O TIMBRE DE VOZ DO TONY BENNETT, É SIMPLSMENTE LINDOOO!!!!