Leningrad

Billy Joel

About Leningrad

"Leningrad" is a 1989 song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Billy Joel. The song was originally released on his album Storm Front on the Columbia Records label, and went on to be released as a single. It was also released on his Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 compilation. The song title is derived from the contemporary name of St. Petersburg, Russia (see Leningrad).


Year:
1992
1,160 
#3

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Victor was born 
The spring of '44 
And never saw 
His father anymore 
The child of sacrifice 
Child of war 
Another son who never had 
A father after Leningrad 
Went off to school 
And learned to serve his state 
Follow the rules 
And drank his vodka straight 
The only way to live 
Was drown the hate 
The Russian life was very sad 
And such was life in Leningrad 

I was born in '49 
A cold war kid in the McCarthy times
Stop 'em at the 38th parallel 
Blast those yellow reds to hell 
Cold war kids were hard to kill 
Under their desks in an air raid drill 
Haven't they heard we won the war 
What do they keep on fighting for? 

Victor was sent 
To some red army town 
Served out his time 
Become a circus clown 
The greatest happiness 
He'd ever found 
Was making Russian children glad 
When children lived in Leningrad. 

The children lived in Levittown 
Hid in the shelters underground 
Til the soviets turned their ships around 
Torn the Cuban missiles down 
And in that bright October sun 
We knew our childhood days were done 
I watched my friends go off to war 
What do they keep on fighting for? 
  
So my child and I came to this place 
To meet him , eye to eye and face to face 
He made my daughter laugh 
Then we embraced 
We never knew what friends we had 
Until we came to Leningrad.

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Billy Joel

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA. He also has the third best-selling album in the United States with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2. more »

16 fans

Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Artist Background
"Leningrad" is a song by Billy Joel, an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. He is often referred to as the "Piano Man" after his popular 1973 hit.
Album Details
The song "Leningrad" is from Joel's 1989 album "Storm Front."
Musical Style
This song features a rich, orchestral backing, highlighting Joel's versatility as a songwriter and musician.
Historical Background
"Leningrad" was released during the final years of the Cold War, and the song reflects the political tensions of the era.
Song's Inspiration
"Leningrad" was inspired by Joey's tour of the Soviet Union in 1987. He was one of the first American pop artists to perform there as relations thawed between the US and the USSR.
Genre
The song is considered a form of rock music mixed with elements of pop.
Song's Narrative
"Leningrad" tells the story of a man named Viktor, who was born in 1944 in the USSR, witnessing the changes in his city and country over time.
Mirror to Personal Life
In the song, Billy Joel mirrors Viktor’s life with his own, mentioning his birth year, 1949, and his own life experiences.
Symbolic City
Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), is used symbolically in the song to represent the larger USSR and its evolution.
Legacy
Despite never being a major chart hit, "Leningrad" is one of Joel's most respected songs and is a fan favorite at concerts.
Message of the Song
The song emphasizes the shared humanity of citizens of both the USSR and the US, rather than focusing on political differences.
Song's Reception
The song received positive reviews for its meaningful lyrics and powerful narrative.
Live Performances
During live performances, this song often gets emotional reactions from audience members due to its historical implications and powerful storytelling.
Biographical References
In the song, Billy Joel’s reference to his job as a circus performer playing his accordion is accurate, as he indeed used to work in a piano bar to support himself before his music career took off.
International Performances
"Leningrad" was performed by Billy Joel in a historic concert in Leningrad (St Petersburg), in 1987, while USSR was still in existence. He was one of the first American pop stars to tour in USSR.

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