BIG SHOT
Elton John Billy Joel Lyrics
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In your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
And when you wake up in the morning
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You and to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
They were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
But now you just can't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show
Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You hand to the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night
Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night
The song "Big Shot" by Elton John and Billy Joel is a reflection of the life of a person who is living in the fast lane. The singer is a big shot; someone who has everything, rides around in a limousine, wears expensive clothes, drinks Dom Perignon, and sniffs cocaine from a spoon. The song talks about the aftermath of living that kind of life, the hangover, and the regret. The person wakes up with his head on fire, and his eyes too bloody to see. He can cry in his coffee, but he shouldn't come bitching to the singer. He had to be a big shot, after all.
The chorus of the song repeats over and over, where the singer tells the person that he had to be a big shot, and prove it to the crowd. With his Halston dress, and the people he knew, he kept them so entertained. Now he can't remember anything that he said, but he sure did put on a show. The last verse is a warning that there is no big sin to stick your two cents in if you know when to leave it alone. But the person went over the line, and he couldn't see that it was time to go home. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus.
Overall, "Big Shot" is a commentary on the emptiness of fame and fortune, and how it can lead to a life that is unsustainable in the long run. It's a reminder that being a big shot comes with a price, and that it's not always worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
You went uptown riding in your limousine
You traveled to the fancy part of town in your fancy car.
In your fine Park Avenue clothes
You wore expensive clothes typical of the wealthy Park Avenue crowd.
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
You drank a very expensive and fancy bottle of champagne.
And the spoon up your nose
You snorted cocaine with a spoon.
And when you wake up in the morning
When next you wake up after previous nights behaviour..
With your head on fire
With a terrible headache.
And your eyes too bloody to see
Your eyes feel sore and hurt on opening them.
Go on and cry in your coffee
You can sit and cry while drinking coffee.
But don't come bitchin' to me
Don't come and complain to me about your poor choices.
Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to show everyone how important and influential you are.
You had to open up your mouth
You had to talk and share all your opinions.
All your friends were so knocked out
Your friends were all very impressed with what you had to say.
You had to have the last word, last night
You always wanted to end the conversation with your last point.
You know what everything's about
You think you know everything.
You and to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be the center of attention.
They were all impressed with your Halston dress
Your beautiful Halston dress impressed everyone.
And the people you knew at Elaine's
You knew important people in a popular restaurant called Elaine's.
And the story of your latest success
The recent story of your success was interesting to everyone.
Kept 'em so entertained
Everyone was entertained and fascinated.
But now you just can't remember
You have forgotten most of what you said and did the night before.
All the things you said
Everything you said.
And you're not sure you want to know
You don't know if you want to remember everything you did or said.
I'll give you one hint, honey
Here is one clue for you.
You sure did put on a show
You did make quite an impression on everyone.
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to show your worth to everyone around you.
You hand to the last word, last night
You demanded to speak last, no matter what was discussed.
You're so much fun to be around
Everyone loves hanging out with you.
You had to have the front page, bold type
You always want to be in the headlines, and in a bold format too.
Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
It's okay to give your opinion.
If you know when to leave it alone
It's important to know when to stop.
But you went over the line
You stepped out of the safe-zone and went too far.
You couldn't see it was time to go home
You didn't realize it was time to leave the party.
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You just couldn't stop trying to impress everyone around you.
You had to have the last word, last night
You needed to be the one to say the last thing in the conversation.
So much fun to be around
Everyone likes spending time with you.
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be the center of attention no matter the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind