You’ve heard it at weddings. It plays in the background of every "mellow gold" radio station in America. On the surface, it sounds like the ultimate, tender-hearted piano ballad. But if you actually listen to the lyrics of Billy Joel Always a Woman, it’s kind of... dark?
"She can lead you to live, she can take you or leave you."
"She steals like a thief."
"She’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleedin’."
Honestly, those aren't exactly Hallmark card sentiments. Yet, for decades, this track has been categorized as one of the greatest love songs ever written. So, what gives? Was Billy Joel being a romantic, or was he venting about a "toxic" relationship before we even had a word for it?
The truth is way more interesting than just a guy playing a piano. It’s a story about the 1970s music business, a powerhouse woman named Elizabeth Weber, and a songwriter trying to defend his wife from a room full of suits who didn’t like her.
The Woman Behind the Song: Elizabeth Weber
To understand Billy Joel Always a Woman, you have to understand the woman it was written for. Elizabeth Weber wasn’t just Billy’s first wife; she was his manager. In 1977, the music industry was a total boys' club. Most "wives" of rock stars were expected to stay in the background, look pretty, and not ask about the money.
Elizabeth wasn't like that. Not even close.
She was sharp. She was a "tough-as-nails" negotiator who went into rooms with record executives and fought for every penny Billy was owed. Because she was a woman who didn't back down, the industry guys hated her. They called her "unfeminine." They called her "difficult."
Basically, they called her every name in the book because she was doing a job they thought only a man should do.
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Billy saw this. He saw his wife getting shredded by critics and business associates for being a competent professional. He wrote the song as a rebuttal. He was saying, "Yeah, she's tough. She’s calculated. She’s nobody’s fool. But when she comes home to me, she’s just Elizabeth."
It was an "us against the world" anthem disguised as a soft-rock hit.
Why the Lyrics Sound So Mean
If you look at the lines that seem "cruel," Billy is actually echoing the insults people hurled at Elizabeth. When he says, "She can ruin your faith with her casual lies," he’s acknowledging her reputation as a shark in the boardroom.
But then comes the hook: "But she’s always a woman to me."
He’s accepting the "worst" of her along with the best. He’s saying that her ambition and her sharp edges don't make her any less of a woman—or any less lovable. In a weird way, it was a proto-feminist song for 1977. He wasn't asking her to change or be "nicer." He was admiring her for being a killer.
A Breakthrough on "The Stranger"
When Billy Joel released The Stranger in 1977, he was at a crossroads. His previous albums had been okay, but he wasn’t a superstar yet. Columbia Records was even considering dropping him.
Then came the producer Phil Ramone.
Ramone brought a certain "shimmer" to Billy’s sound. For Billy Joel Always a Woman, they went with a very minimalist, folk-inspired production. Billy has said he was trying to channel Gordon Lightfoot. He wanted it to sound like a guy with an acoustic guitar, even though he was playing arpeggiated triads on the piano.
It worked.
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The song peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1978. It wasn't his biggest chart-topper (that honor usually goes to "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me" or "Tell Her About It"), but it stayed in the public consciousness longer than almost anything else from that era.
The Composition: Why it Sticks in Your Head
The song is written in 6/8 time. That’s a compound meter that gives it a "waltz" or "lullaby" feel.
Musically, it’s comforting.
Lyrically, it’s a jab to the ribs.
That tension is why we’re still talking about it. It’s not a "perfect" love song because it isn't about a "perfect" person. It’s about a real, complicated, sometimes frustrating partner.
The Aftermath: Life Imitating Art
Life isn't a three-minute pop song.
Billy and Elizabeth eventually divorced in 1982. The end of the relationship was messy. There are famous stories about Elizabeth visiting Billy in the hospital after a horrific motorcycle accident—hands smashed, career in jeopardy—and supposedly bringing along a contract for him to sign.
Billy has occasionally poked fun at this in later years. During his legendary residency at Madison Square Garden, he’d sometimes finish the song and deadpan into the microphone: "And then we got divorced."
The crowd always laughs.
But there’s a bitterness there, too. It’s the hazard of writing "Just the Way You Are" and "Always a Woman" for the same person—once the marriage ends, those songs become ghosts. He actually stopped playing "Just the Way You Are" for a long time because it felt like a lie.
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Is the Song Sexist or Empowering?
This is the big debate that pops up every few years on TikTok or Reddit.
One side says the song is misogynistic because it reduces a woman to a list of "manipulative" traits. "She can ask for the truth, but she’ll never believe you." It paints women as inherently untrustworthy or fickle.
The other side—which includes many female fans—sees it as a rare tribute to a woman who has agency. She isn't a damsel in distress. She’s a "thief," she’s "nobody’s fool," and she’s "ahead of her time." In a world that expects women to be soft and nurturing 24/7, Billy was singing about a woman who was "suddenly cruel" and "frequently kind."
It’s messy. It’s human.
Most love songs are boring because they describe a fantasy. Billy Joel Always a Woman describes a person who is probably a nightmare to argue with but amazing to have in your corner.
Practical Takeaways for the Billy Joel Fan
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of Billy’s career, or if you're trying to learn the song yourself, here’s the "expert" advice:
- Listen to the Fingerpicking: Even though it’s a piano song, try to hear the "folk guitar" influence Billy mentioned. The way he hits the chords is meant to mimic a guitarist's right hand.
- Check out "The Stranger" Anniversary Editions: There are live versions from the late 70s where you can hear the raw emotion in his voice before the song became a "standard."
- Don't skip the "B-Sides": If you like the vibe of this song, go back to his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, and listen to "She’s Got a Way." It’s the "prettier" prequel to the grit of "Always a Woman."
- Watch the P!nk Cover: If you think the song is only for old-school fans, watch P!nk’s live cover. She’s a massive Billy Joel fan and brings a whole new level of "power-woman" energy to those lyrics.
The song persists because it doesn't lie. It admits that love isn't always about being "nice." Sometimes, it’s about acknowledging that the person you love is a bit of a shark—and loving them specifically because of the teeth.
To get the most out of your Billy Joel listening experience, try comparing the original studio recording from The Stranger with the live version from Songs in the Attic. You'll notice how the "edge" in the lyrics often comes out more clearly when he's performing for a live audience, stripping away the 70s studio polish to reveal the defensive, protective heart of the track.