Billy Joel is basically the king of the suburban anthem, but there is one track that still trips people up nearly fifty years later. You know the one. It starts with that delicate, finger-picked piano melody—sorta like a folk guitar but on keys—and then dives into a list of "compliments" that actually sound like a legal indictment.
The song is She’s Always a Woman.
If you listen to the lyrics without context, it sounds like Billy is head-over-heels for a certified psychopath. She "kills with a smile." She "wounds with her eyes." She "steals like a thief." Honestly, it’s not exactly "You Are So Beautiful." But for Joel, this wasn't an insult. It was a defense.
The Real Story Behind Elizabeth Weber
To understand why Billy Joel wrote these biting lyrics, you've gotta know who he was writing about. The woman in question was Elizabeth Weber, his first wife and, more importantly, his manager at the time.
The late 70s music industry was a shark tank. Elizabeth was the one wearing the shark suit.
She was a notoriously tough negotiator. In an era where women were often sidelined or expected to be "soft," Weber was ruthless in boardrooms. She managed to untangle Billy from some truly predatory contracts that would have left him broke. Naturally, the men she was out-negotiating didn't like her much. They called her "unfeminine." They called her a "bitch."
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Billy heard the whispers. He saw the way the industry looked at her.
He didn't write the song to agree with the critics; he wrote it to tell them they were missing the point. When he sings that she "can't be convicted, she's earned her degree," he’s talking about her being smarter than the guys trying to sue her. When he says she "carelessly cuts you and laughs while you’re bleeding," he’s describing her at the bargaining table. To the world, she was a terror. To him? She was just his wife.
It’s Actually a Folk Song in Disguise
Technically, this isn't a "rock" song. Billy has admitted in interviews, specifically during his legendary masterclasses, that he was trying to channel Gordon Lightfoot.
He wanted that mellow, acoustic vibe.
The production by Phil Ramone on the 1977 album The Stranger is intentionally sparse. There’s no heavy drum fill or soaring synth. It’s just that arpeggiated piano—triads played in the right hand—and a flute that gives it a slightly pastoral, almost Elizabethan feel. It’s a stark contrast to the lyrics. You’ve got this sweet, gentle music carrying words like "she can ruin your faith with her casual lies."
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That juxtaposition is what makes it haunt you.
Why the Ending Still Hits Hard
A lot of people miss the "guy" he’s talking to in the song.
In the second verse, he says, "And she'll promise you more than the Garden of Eden / Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding." He’s giving a warning to anyone else who tries to get close to her. But then comes the kicker: "But she brings out the best and the worst you can be / Blame it all on yourself 'cause she's always a woman to me."
It’s a song about radical acceptance. He isn't saying she's perfect. He’s saying he loves her because of the flaws, not in spite of them.
Key Facts About the Track
- Release Year: 1977 (Single released in 1978).
- Album: The Stranger.
- Chart Peak: Hit #17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- The Muse: Elizabeth Weber (divorced in 1982).
- The "Shadows": The line "the most she will do is throw shadows at you" is often interpreted as her presence being so large she eclipses everything else.
The Complicated Legacy
The irony of the song is that the very traits Billy defended—her business acumen and toughness—eventually led to their downfall. When they divorced in 1982, it wasn't exactly a clean break. There are stories of Weber visiting Billy in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, not just to check on him, but with a contract in hand for him to sign over his rights.
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It’s dark. It’s messy.
But that’s exactly what the song told us from the beginning. It wasn't a fairy tale. It was a portrait of a woman who "takes what you give her as long as it's free."
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate the nuance of this track, don't just put it on a "70s Love Songs" playlist and zone out. Try these steps instead:
- Listen to "Just the Way You Are" immediately after. Both were written for Elizabeth Weber. Notice how the first is an idealized plea for her not to change, while "She's Always a Woman" is the reality of what happened when she didn't.
- Pay attention to the 1986 live version. Billy’s voice matured, and the way he sings it after the divorce adds a layer of cynicism that wasn't there in '77.
- Watch the "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" documentary. It features rare interviews with Weber herself, giving the "villain" of the song a chance to speak.
The song remains a staple of his live sets because it's honest. It doesn't pretend that love is easy or that partners are saints. It’s a three-minute masterclass in loving someone who is difficult, confounding, and occasionally cruel—and deciding that none of that matters because of how they make you feel when the lights go down.