Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

Billy Joel

About Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" is a song written and originally recorded by Billy Joel which appeared as the final song on his album Turnstiles in 1976. Several live performances of the song have been released. He performed this song at benefit concerts: The Concert for New York City for victims of the September 11 attacks in 2001, on the television program Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together for Hurricane Sandy victims in 2012 and during his set at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief. Joel has often tweaked the lyrics to the song at his live concerts, particularly at the Live at Shea and Coming Together concerts. On New Year's Eve, 2016, Joel performed at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, a city just north of Miami Dade County. At midnight, he crooned the traditional Auld Lang Syne and then immediately went into "Miami 2017". On the January 9, 2017 episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Billy Joel performed the song with Stay Human, the show's house band. 


Year:
2001
5:24
158 
#2

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Seen the lights go out Broadway
I saw the Empire State laid low
And life went on beyond the Palisades
They all bought Cadillacs
And left there long ago

They held a concert out in Brooklyn
To watch the island bridges blow
They turned our power down
And drove us underground
But we went right on with the show

I've seen the lights go out on Broadway
I saw the ruins at my feet
You know we almost didn't notice it
We'd seen it all the time on Forty second street

They burned the churches down in Harlem
Like in that Spanish civil war
The flames were everywhere
But no one really cared
It always burned up there before

I've seen the lights go out on Broadway
I saw the mighty skyline fall
The boats were waiting at the battery
The union went on strike
They never sailed at all

They sent a carrier out from Norfolk
And picked the Yankees up for free
They said that Queens could stay
And blew the Bronx away
And sank Manhattan out at sea

You know those lights were bright on Broadway
That was so many years ago
Before we all lived here in Florida
Before the Mafia took over Mexico
There are not many who remember
They say a handful still survive
To tell the world about
The way the lights went out
And keep the memory alive

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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 »

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Written by: BILLY JOEL

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Composition
"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" was written and performed by "Billy Joel." This song became one of his defining songs and helped establish him as a reputable singer-songwriter.
Album & Release
The song was originally released on his 1976 album 'Turnstiles'. It was later included on other greatest hits and live albums as well.
Performance
Joel opens his concerts with this song, accompanied by a video montage showing various New York landmarks that progressively "go dark" as the song plays.
Song Meaning
Joel wrote this song as a science fiction story about a future where New York City's iconic landmarks are destroyed – reflecting his concerns and anxiety regarding the future of the city during the mid-70s when financial crisis was rampant.
Name Origin
Despite taking its name from Miami, the song is about New York. '2017' was a date in the far future when Joel wrote the song, implying a certain unreality about these events.
Post-9/11 Significance
The song took on new significance following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Joel performed it during The Concert for New York City, dedicating it to the firefighters.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by several real-life events including the destruction of Pennsylvania Station in 1963, the near-bankruptcy of New York City in 1975, and the electrical blackout in New York City in 1977.
Commercial Success
Despite not being released as a single, "Miami 2017" is one of Joel's best-known songs and is a staple of his live shows.
Song Lyrics
The song narrates a fictional cataclysm in New York City, described by a city-dweller preparing to leave the ravaged city that remains.
Unique Production
Joel decided for this album that he wanted to use his touring band in the studio, making 'Turnstiles' one of the most 'live' sounding albums in his catalog, and this song is no exception.

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