Keeping the Faith

Billy Joel

About Keeping the Faith

"Keeping the Faith" is a song by rock singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released from his 1983 album An Innocent Man. It reached #18 on the main US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song was the only single from the album that failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart, despite the success of An Innocent Man in the United Kingdom. "Keeping the Faith" is the last track on and final single from the album. The song was remixed for release as a 7" vinyl single. An extended remix was also released on US promotional 12" vinyl singles (Columbia AS 1982). Both 7" and 12" releases state "Special Mix" on the label and both have a printed run time of 4:44. The actual run times for the 7" and 12" are 4:52 and 5:27, respectively. The 7" remix is available on the My Lives box set, incorrectly stating the version as "12" Remix." The 12" remix has never been released on CD or in digital format for stores like iTunes - despite customer demand. 


Year:
1997
4:38
1,401 
#1

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If it seems like I've been lost
In let's remember
If you think I'm feeling older
And missing my younger days
Oh, then you should have known
Me much better
Cause my past is something that never
Got in my way
Oh no

Still I would not be here now
If I never had the hunger
And I'm not ashamed to say
The wild boys were my friends
Oh
Cause I never felt the desire
'Til their music set me on fire
And then I was saved, yeah
That's why I'm keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith

We wore matador boots
Only Flagg Brothers had them with the Cuban heel
Iridescent socks with the same color shirt
And a tight pair of chinos
Oh
I put on my shark skin jacket
You know the kind with the velvet collar
And ditty-bop shades
Oh yeah
I took a fresh pack of Luckies
And a mint called Sen-Sen
My old man's Trojans
And his Old Spice after shave
Oh
Combed my hair in a pompadour
Like the rest of the Romeos wore
A permanent wave
Yeah
We were keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith

You can get just so much
From a good thing
You can linger too long
In your dreams
Say goodbye to the
Oldies but goodies
Cause the good ole days weren't
Always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems

Learned stickball as a formal education
Lost a lot of fights
But it taught me how to lose O.K.
Oh
I heard about sex
But not enough
I found you could dance
And still look tough anyway
Oh yes I did
I found out a man ain't just being macho
Ate an awful lot of late night drive-in food
Drank a lot of take-home pay
I thought I was the Duke of Earl
When I made it with a red-haired girl
In the Chevrolet
Oh yeah
We were keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith

You know the good ole days weren't
Always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems

Now I told you my reasons
For the whole revival
Now I'm going outside to have
An ice cold beer in the shade
Oh
I'm going to listen to my 45's
Ain't it wonderful to be alive
When the rock 'n' roll plays
Yeah
When the memory stays
Yeah
I'm keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith
I'm keeping the faith
Yes I am

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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


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"Keeping the Faith" was released in October 1983 as part of the album "An Innocent Man."
Peak Chart Position
The song managed to reach No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1984.
Theme
The song reflects on Joel's nostalgia for the innocent days of 1950s and '60s youth and young love.
Music Video Director
The music video, which was heavily played on MTV, was directed by top film director, James Burrows.
Awards
"Keeping the Faith" earned Joel a 1985 Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Music Style
The song was noted for its doo-wop influenced style, a genre that Joel drew heavily from for his "An Innocent Man" album.
Last Top 40 Hit
"Keeping the Faith" is notable for being Joel's last top 40 hit of his career.
Song Length
The track's full length is five minutes and 29 seconds, making it one of the longer pop singles of the era.
Music Video Content
The music video for "Keeping the Faith" featured Billy Joel as a barkeep and Elle Macpherson as the girl who broke his heart, thus beginning Joel's reputation for high-profile model cameos in his videos.
Background Influence
Joel himself has stated that the album "An Innocent Man," which includes "Keeping the Faith," was a tribute to the music he grew up listening to, including rhythm and blues and gospel music.
Album Success
"An Innocent Man," the album that includes "Keeping the Faith," was an enormous success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and producing six top-40 hits.
Live Performances
The song continues to be a staple tune in Billy Joel's live performances to date.
Lyrics Insight
The lyrics of "Keeping the Faith" give insight into Joel's youth, using pop-culture references from the 1950s and '60s, like "bouffant hairdos" and "Beatle boots".

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    Keeping the Faith

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1985

    Billboard #18


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