Billy Joel - Q&A: Story Of "Summer, Highland Falls"? (Nuremberg 1995)

Throughout the years, Billy Joel has become known for his willingness to hold Q&A sessions with fans in settings across the globe. Here Billy performs 'Summer, Highland Falls' off the 1976 album Turnstiles and then recounts the song's origin in Nuremberg, Germany in 1995.
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Billy Joel's official KZbin channel features music videos, live performances, interviews, TV appearances and more. Best known for his first hit song, 'Piano Man', in 1973, Billy has written and recorded thirty-three Top 40 hits in the United States. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. Billy Joel is the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third-best-selling solo artist in the United States.

[@hoopsheavenpa]

His most underrated song. This is a masterpiece.

[@gregoryedwards186]

You nailed it. My favorite. However, everything he does, with rare exception, is masterful. Thank God there are folks like you who get it.

[@tmalone2530]

His singing voice is CRIMINALLY underrated.

[@pointblank8216]

lol singing voice..

[@andrewdunn49ers]

And ironic that he doesn’t like his own voice too.

[@WastedPo]

@@pointblank8216 - why did you write "lol singing voice?" Are you capable of articulating a thought beyond "lol?"

[@pointblank8216]

@@WastedPo I honestly don’t remember why I wrote this

[@WastedPo]

@@pointblank8216 Well that's some refreshing honesty.

[@endamangan8970]

This song is most haunting yet most beautiful world open your ears and just listen to it . It should be re released

[@melodysierra4141]

It's on his album Turnstiles

[@FernandoGonzalez-ve5pm]

You are absolutely correct. Forget about Piano Man, Vienna and all the others greats, this is his best ever song. Genious Mr. Joel

[@ahydendevault4307]

honestly, i can listen to every Billy Joel song

[@andrewwagner9901]

IronAhyden and i do

[@sithlordmikeyp]

when in rome?

[@happycrimson]

@@sithlordmikeyp when in rome is a banger dude

[@sreski504]

All day every day

[@As-zn3cd]

me too

[@ufgtr1992]

Interesting to hear the explanation behind this relatively unknown (and completely underrated) classic from Billy Joel, one of our most treasured singer/songwriters in music history.

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

ufgtr1992 so why didn't the Nobel Prize Committee give him the Nobel Prize For Literature last year instead of Bob Dylan? Albeit it was a sheer travesty to literature and the craft of it, to actually have the stupidity and audacity to give it to any singer songwriter, but considering that they did last year, why not Billy instead of Bob?

[@lekalla]

Fay Goodwin Billy Joel is more composer than a lyricist even though he can write good lyrics too. Atleast that's how i see it. I would rather listen his music without any lyrics than read a book filled with his lyrics. Nobel prize in literature has nothing to do with composing skills. Elton and Billy Joel are like Mozart and Beethoven of our time.

[@1dawnf]

one of my favorite songs

[@sreski504]

They say that these are not the best of times, they’re the only times I’ve ever known

[@lladoner]

@@sreski504 Jordi

[@Big-Daddy-96]

I’m a West Point graduate and spent four years of my life right next door to Highland Falls, NY. Billy came for a one man and a piano concert during my senior year and hearing him play this song live was amazing. The highs and lows of this song always take me back to those 4 years that seemed to be the worst and best times of my life. Thank you Billy.

[@nancyglem]

It's funny how many people never heard of Highland Falls & then I'll tell them that it's right next to West Point. That's so cool that you got to see him when you were a Firstie

[@QuickieSpits]

They say that these are not the best of times...

[@jimbotronic8834]

I was there too. That was an awesome talk/concert combo. He had a kid come up on the stage and play with him.

[@gregoryedwards186]

My opinion: These are the most insightful lyrics about the mental emotional difficulties that we all face to some extent. He is so real, brilliant, and down to earth. He also brought classical jazz. country and made a different kind of rock and roll gumbo that is ingenious. The difficulties with bipolar depression are very severe; however, the flip side is brilliance. Creativity is often associated with Bipolar Depression. But, His life was a mess because bipolars are oft times flamboyant, hasty, and go where angels fear to tread. I know. I am as bipolar as it can be. Hence, I completely relate to this man. But it is his brilliant lyrics and music that are preeminent amongst any other. He is the greatest rock star of all time. You don't have to agree. Just keep reading his lyrics. We will never see another Billy Joel for generations. He is preeminent indeed!

[@pibly7784]

The notes to me are literally like musical running waterfalls.

[@pibly7784]

Yes ! Exactly.

[@Pib2319]

That is a reference to a place called The Hell Hole in Fort Montgomery on the Popolopen Creek. Beautiful ledges and vistas cut into the Palisades that flows into the Hudson River adjacent to the Bear Mountain Bridge. A very popular swimming hole, Billy undoubtedly spent time there when he lived in Highland Falls nearby.

[@reidshriver]

Can we all take a moment to realize that sometimes, Billy messes up. There's a reason that young people that think they can't go through with what they want to do...Billy has done this and still makes mistakes...

[@elboop-othebuttholebooper212]

All musicians mess up, but it’s the legends such as Billy who mess up, but don’t sweat it when they do.

[@xandervillegas5822]

Your only human!

[@marthamagee2055]

BILLY JOEL IS 100% REAL!!!

[@Deckers-zf9mm]

hes nice

[@robynberkowitz4504]

I've loved this song for many years, I can't believe a lot of people don't know it

[@maton98]

one of his best.

[@peterm4486]

My favorite Billy Joel song ever...it's missing from so many of his compilations!

[@bigpoop3073]

Peter M all his songs belong on compilations. They are all so amazing.

[@ifeelfine72]

His Live at Shea Stadium album has it. It’s absolutely one of my favorites as well.

[@enricofarinon7276]

Me too

[@enricofarinon7276]

Me too..

[@panduwidagdo7051]

I found this song few days after I broke up peacefully with my girlfriend after 4 years, I really can relate, and this is really a deep song. They say that these are not the best of times But they're the only times I've ever known And I believe there is a time for meditation In cathedrals of our own Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes And I can only stand apart and sympathize For we are always what our situations hand us It's either sadness or euphoria So we'll argue and we'll compromise And realize that nothing's ever changed For all our mutual experience Our separate conclusions are the same Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity A reason coexists with our insanity Though we choose between reality and madness It's either sadness or euphoria How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies Perhaps we'll help fulfill each other's fantasies And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives with our respective similarities It's either sadness or euphoria

[@gakabler]

This song ties as number one of my favorite Billy Joel songs, tied with "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)"

[@shade8089]

Both from the same album too, Turnstiles. 😉

[@elizabethkelly9280]

Those are my 2 favorite too

[@georgesekavec1020]

Yo wtf that’s my 2 favorite too

[@ncooty]

Such a beautiful song-writer and pianist.

[@LawrenceMoranactor]

The absolute joy that this man's music has given me over the past six years I cant put into words. God bless, Billy Joel!!!

[@LuckyIIsmail]

The best Billie Joel's song for me. And in this video, he was on his best.

[@mrmustard4478]

Billie Joey?? What the fuck is wrong with you?

[@robynstewardson]

Plenty of key stroke errors in this, but s bbbeeeaaauuutttiiifful song.

[@LuckyIIsmail]

@@mrmustard4478 typo and corrected.

[@michaelr1438]

This is his best song and without a doubt the best version of it.. This whole Q&A in Nuremberg is amazing. Anyone know where to find an uncut version?

[@nolanr7679]

That song gives me chills every time.

[@barfingobummergo]

This is one of my favorite songs by Billy. I find it has so much depth to it, and the piano part, which is difficult to play, mostly due to timing, is brilliant. What he says in this song is something I think most of us can identify with at points in our lives, and creative people tend to feel these extremes in moods more frequently.

[@EvanNighswander]

Tbh it's the bass line that gets me every time I listen to this song. Piano is second

[@netcongo]

Just hearing the intro no lyrics is so moving ! Makes me tear with happiness and sadness

[@jasonnstegall]

When a place can be both real and a state of mind…written, along with New York State Of Mind, in the same time frame. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (which Billy did in both senses of the phrase)…

[@Thisizmyname]

I could listen to Billy’s wise stories about life for hours upon hours if I really wanted to. He knows how to capture a crowds attention by just the sound of his voice. Incredible entertainer. Truly.

[@NHQuiltah]

When I first heard this song I was living with my family across the Hudson River from Highland Falls NY. My father bought me the Songs In The Attic album for Christmas. This song buried itself into my soul the first time i heard it and still bubbles up to the surface all these years later. I still go back to visit family but I haven't lived there since 1994. I wish he had played this when i saw him at MSG years ago.

[@paulisaac78]

He really seems to enjoy this whole gig!!!

[@janinem5196]

It's always been far and away my favorite song of his.

[@aidan_holtz9447]

Same here lol

[@sequoiasemperviren3163]

I can recall exactly when and where I first heard this song. It was in the fall of 1976 at the north Oakland home a friend's former sister in law (his sister divorced her brother - yet my friend's family remained eternally friendly with his sister). I recognized instantly the basis for the song. I grew up in a home with a mother severely affected by the disability of manic-depressive/bi-polar condition. It is not a mental illness. It is not a mental disease. It is hereditary affliction based upon the genetics of your parentage/ancestors. As Billy Joel explained, many persons accomplished as scientists, artists, composers, authors were afflicted with the manic depressive/bi-polar disability. It is those manic moments where their imagination, their creativity, their logical reasoning flourish that resulted in their incredible achievements and contributions to humanity. Sadly, with the highs come the lows, a very difficult and challenging existence that sadly led to many of suck ilk's self-destruction. Thank you and God bless you Billy Joel for explaining the basis of your marvelous composition.

[@KCfan1587-r2u]

He takes what we feel ...and puts it to music. This song is one of my favorites of his. Its never on a "greatest hits" album....for some strange reason....and it should be. Unless you have the "Turnstiles" album you would never hear it. I don't think it was played on the radio back then either.... Even at his last concerts at Madison Square Garden.....it was never played. Maybe one day he will. I hope so. The world is ready to hear it again.

[@danielhkhk7283]

I never get tired of this song.

[@stephendouglas4343]

I am from Highland Falls. It is beautiful there, but depressing at times.

[@BHRamsay]

Stephen Douglas I always wanted to visit the places Billy sings about

[@dotachin8961]

I am from Highland Falls as well. This is my dads fav Joel song. Sadly we no longer live there but we still have family up on Villa Parkway. Miss it

[@Brian-bd1gc]

BH Ramsay I live near where he is from (Long Island) you should definitely come!

[@lisalee84]

I grew up in Highland Falls, I moved there when I was 26. Man I loved the place, still do, but what a crap hole it's become. Love this tune,.

[@dragasoni]

I grew up in Highland Falls, lived there for 21 years.

[@allanhogg8510]

Wonderful. Loving the saxophone solo Bill :-)

[@NanaSevers]

It’s been 25 years since this concert and it still holds up!

[@gmbdaly]

We use to go upstate to Highland Falls, NY ... very quaint place, my parents had a summer home hear there. I've always loved BJ's lyrics and this one is amazing. I use to work at CBS Inc, CBS Records International 1976 - 1979, attended lots of events where he was there. I was always a huge fan of all BJ's music.

[@gmpas]

Bill, thanks for letting these very organic real time performances out without doctoring them up. It is such a pleasure to hear these in the moment renditions of your work. It's great to hear your recorded stuff over and over again as it was done on the day you recorded it but it's equally as great to hear you perform them on this day the way you felt on this day. great decision not to melodyne them to death. Ty

[@robertoetojo5861]

great song great VOICE...FUNNY GUY.. AND VERY HUMBLE.. AND THE WAY HE PLAYED THE PIANO LIKE SOMEONE PLAYED THE GUITAR

[@robynstewardson]

Of course the song is shorter than the explanation. That is the incredible genius that you have, BJ. You can compact a complicated life situation into a few minutes, with amazing aplomb. It is a joy to listen to you play and to listen to you grasp at what it is that made you write it. Having the quiet around you - your storytelling spills over into words, not just the lyrics. What you seem to be describing is either OCPD or ASD. It seems your unrelenting standards/extreme perfectionism don’t just relate to your amazing songwriting (lyrics and music), but also to your relationships. Accepting people for who they are, and not who we want/expect them to be, and how we want them to behave is a huge challenge (hence the enormous frequency of divorce these days). It is so tricky to recognise that people are who they are, and they are not us. They can’t be us, because we are. And our ideals are not accepting of them just being who they are. The pain of this understanding - of your girlfriend not being who you thought she was, or who you wanted her to be - was clearly a huge blow. THANK YOU for sharing your raw emotions through this powerful ballad.

[@ralphsmith3529]

The lyric of this song has always been very moving to me! The thoughts behind the words are incredibly penetrating and quite amazing for somebody as young as Billy Joel would have been when he wrote them! He has a facility for words and concepts that make him one of the true originals!

[@georgesekavec1020]

I’ve always had that connection between summer highland falls and I go to extremes I’ve never heard anyone recognize it before let alone him that’s great

[@marktullo35]

Growing up back on Long Island, this song and this album were almost always played in the car as we were going back and forth from High School in the mid 70's. It has always been my favorite and IMO one of the best songs both musically and lyrically I've ever heard. My friends and I grew up on songs like this, along with Captain Jack, Miami 2017, NY State of Mind, etc. and Billy has always been one of my all time favorite recording artists. I love all his material, but these early songs will always hit me the most...Thanks Bill for all you have brought into the world. As a musician for over 45 years, I will always greatly appreciate you and your work...

[@robertoetojo5861]

true Artist just his VOICE AND THE MICROPHONE N THE PIANO. AWESOME SOUND MR. JOEL....AMAZING...PERFECT... PITCH

[@riccardoangeli802]

Piano Man può far qualsiasi cosa .... Talento musicale sotto tutti i punti di vista

[@neilstrickland1727]

First heard this song from Songs in the Attic. I love Billy’s music but this is the song at the time that broke out of the pack in greatnesses for me .

[@bptraveler6608]

So many of his songs are self reflective and boy do I relate to his explanation and draw inspiration that these times can be put to good use. It's said that artist do their best work when they are at these highs or lows. Thanks again Billy.

[@nobsuz]

Amazing!now I’m crying.

[@davekurtz769]

First time i heard "summer highland falls" was on the songs in the attic album which came out in 1981. Just as great then as it is now

[@rafaelfelices8646]

Hermoso tema. Billy, eres el más grande!!

[@Luellen.24]

Was it just me? I could swear I heard an unwritten song in his explanation. Maybe it was just a moment in time for me. Anyhow, I'm sure the song would have been beautiful. Love this man's music!

[@Limedrum]

Difficulty level: 1000000000000000000000000000

[@MerlijnDingemanse]

Limedrum its actually managable even for average piano players. The left hand only plays chords and the right hand has a repeating pattern of four tones

[@hdaviator9181]

@@MerlijnDingemanse No. Its extremely difficult to play this song perfectly without mistakes and sing as good as he does at the same time. Even Joel made a few mistakes here.

[@colonelflagg9669]

@@hdaviator9181 And noticing the odd little imperfection and hearing it be either seamlessly recovered from or even incorporated as a happy accident just adds value if that was even possible.

[@GUATINGUATON]

Magic sounds.

[@chmick50]

A songwriting masterclass

[@teenconservative3433]

This is the best I’ve heard him do the song, defiantly my favorite of his

[@humanbeing1675]

Listening to this wonderful musician for all my life.

[@ellenr3292]

the human experiance: life Billy, we love you. Billy and Macca... what else do we need?

[@saborlord123]

I'll throw Paul Simon and Brian Wilson in there as well.

[@LostCaper]

Man he brings back great memories with his lyrics and tune. I can relate to what he sing about. awesome.

[@donniemoder1466]

Great performance.

[@vishalmohan3080]

billy joel can be a great career counsellor too.got to love him man

[@riccardoangeli802]

Talento!!!!

[@recordman555]

Billy Joel IS the modern American Song Book.

[@GuilhermeSilva-rp2it]

" -The song is a short one." Well, and so are Yesterday, Blackbird, All in love is fair and Goodnight my angel. Great, brilliant, remarkable and unforgettable songs do not need to be necessarily long, or over produced. Thanks for your music, Billy.

[@aidancollins4513]

Fantastic singer songwriter who takes time out to talk to people during a show seen him doing this before live so nice to see

[@robertoetojo5861]

live so good singing and playing just like playing the CD.. GIFT AND AMAZING TALENTS.. THANKS BJ.. SAW HIM LIVE AS GOOD AS

[@tzegras]

So solid. Mine of my favorite tunes and you nailed it!!

[@GoSolar]

wonderful video

[@mattiadellamico888]

The best one, music and lyric

[@aliknill]

i always think he looks so sad when singing this 😚 xx

[@semipenguin]

I’m late to the game. I know most of his popular songs, this is one that I didn’t come to know or appreciate until a few years ago.

[@markmurphy1570]

Timeless

[@MeyerVincent]

The house next to mine. Highland falls!!

[@cornsyruptrucker]

Favourite song by him. Really missed that sax solo on this version though.

[@lisacharney8987]

Favorite BJ song❤

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Absolutely my all time favourite Billy Joel song! Sheer perfection! If the Nobel Prize Committee handed out the Nobel Prize For Literature to Bob Dylan who is actually a singer song-writer not a writer in the true sense of the word then why didn't they give it to Billy?! Certainly more deserving than Dylan. Not that the most important prize in literature should be given to any singer songwriters but since it was in 2016, it really should have gone to Billy instead!

[@barryshapiro9703]

Just wow

[@GaiaSophiaEarth]

Thank You Billy. Of course you already know how much I ADORE You. As I do ALL the Constellation Fathers. May we Heed your words and turn the page rather than the stiles.

[@elvisuk]

marvellous vids..ty for sharing

[@cheri7054]

This song is more relevant now then ever

[@GuilhermeSilva-rp2it]

By the way, once Sergio Mendes needed a carpenter to make his studio cabinets, and that guy was Harrison Ford. Before Star Wars.

[@davetreske500]

Legend

[@As-zn3cd]

one of my favourites alongside youre my home , James, Ronerta, Shes got a way with her almost too many to mention

[@johnmcauliffe7487]

As a resident of Highland Falls, I have to say that there is much more to it than a place to watch flies buzz and spiders crawl! hehe

[@gregoryedwards186]

I know you're being funny. However, his explanation of Bipolarism (manic/depression) are not to be taken likely. I know. I am as bad as he is. Worse!

[@michaelwright8574]

Strip us all away, we are all, in the best or worst of times and perhaps especially in the situation that we currently find ourselves, I personally choose a sort of happiness. I

[@carlbaumeister3439]

The piano style is similar to "She's Always a Woman." Both are fantastic pieces.

[@WakaWaka2468]

Arpeggio is the word

[@LSommer]

Ty

[@Punnybone55]

This says it's part 7. If there's a place where all the parts can be watched together, or at least 2-3 at a time rather than 1 at a time, could someone please post the link in response to this? Tia!

[@rjenkins23853]

Sadly I know the meaning of this song all too well. Hope you don’t

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Stay strong!!

[@markmurphy4978]

What a weird place Los Angeles is...Billy Joel

[@reddish32]

I love PP&M's version on "Reunion."

[@marthamagee2055]

No one better💜🌈🎹🎶🙏

[@markmurphy4978]

The best ever

[@stephenfiore9960]

........... Mostly depressed lows, with a few highs........... Oh ya life goes on.....long after the thrill of living is gone.........

[@juanvincenti]

qué es esta brujería, la puta madre? LOVE YOU BILL

[@Tom-Fusillo]

what does he play right before he starts Summer, Highland Falls?

[@jamesrawlins735]

Tom Fusillo It sounds like an arrangement of Loch Lomond - Billy loves to mess around with well known songs - but it could be one of his lesser known songs.

[@Acerara176]

+Tom Fusillo probably just to warm up a little

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Definitely "loch...". My dad used to like to sing that to me as a child. "You take the high road and I'll take the low road..." Using it as warm up here I think. "...On the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond"🎵🎵🎶

[@neddystark3351]

As much as I hate Billy Joel from 1983 onwards, this song is why he'll always be a f*cking genius to me.

[@nimeshsompura]

They say that these are not the best of times, But they're the only times I've ever known, And I believe there is a time for meditation in cathedrals of our own. Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes, And I can only stand apart and sympathize. For we are always what our situations hand us... It's either sadness or euphoria. So we'll argue and we'll compromise, And realize that nothing's ever changed, For all our mutual experience, our separate conclusions are the same. Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity, Our reason co-exists with our insanity. And though we choose between reality and madness... It's either sadness or euphoria. How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies Perhaps we don't fulfill each other's fantasies. And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives, With our respective similarities... It's either sadness or euphoria. Oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-ho-oh Oh-oh-oh-ho-oh-ho-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

[@alessandrorigobello7551]

absolute

[@fs55261]

0:35 does anyone know what he plays here? Or is it just improvised?

[@stuartthom6663]

It's The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond, a traditional Scottish song.

[@fs55261]

@@stuartthom6663 Thank you so much, legend!

[@robertk2007]

He explained this on Howard Stern too

[@felicerucci5447]

anyone know the song name at 00:35 ?

[@stuartthom6663]

It's The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond, a traditional Scottish song.

[@gregoryedwards186]

Summer Highland Falls from his album Songs In The Attic.

[@gregoryedwards186]

Sorry, I haven't slept in two days. He was just tuning up. One of the things he regrets is that he could have become a greater pianist. He also understands classical very well. After all, classical is the epitome of music. Ask Mozart.

[@selfdefensechiemgau]

🇩🇪🇺🇸👈👉✌️🤝👍💪👈

[@JonnyCooper]

Wonderful song, but it's from Turnstiles

[@1969EType]

When I hear this song, I see the face of God…

[@Ken-Dad23]

Why does he sound British? Does anyone else hear this?

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

He was in Nuremberg with his father and brother. In fact, his brother is actually on stage with him in this Q/A to help with translation. (This Q/A has several parts) He was also finishing up a tour in Germany, so I think he had been speaking German for a time, and yes, it does seem to have gotten into his throat a bit. Lol. That can happen. I lived in Virginia for two years, and came home with several strange phrases I had picked up there. It happens.

[@kevinstacey183]

Wow! What an open explanation, it seems the Germans don't get it. Perhaps they don't do emotion.

[@humanbeing1675]

@Kevin: why do you think this? (beside the usual clichés about germans). The silence of the audience is a reaction..don't you think? I recommend interviews with Billy where he is talking about his german father and his emotional connection to Europe.

[@samuelluria4744]

Bottom line - it was the GIRL! Duh!!