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”Always A Woman To Me”-Billy Joel

I was driving in my car after work when this song popped on the radio. At first I was thinking, “dang this is old school” but I decided to stay tuned fearing that switching the station would result in having to suffer through Ke$ha one more time. The song is called “She’s Always A Woman To Me” by Billy Joel. First, I must mention that I have not done research regarding what good ole Billy was meaning through the lyrics of this song, but to me this song describes a strong ass woman. I actually give him “props”… (is it really props for identifying the obvious? Hm.. probably not. hehe) well, I like that he wrote a song specifically about an independent woman . Unfortunately, not all men like women who are confident in what they do. Not every person understands or can dig her style. Thankfully there were some great women (and men) out there that taught their sons to value this in the opposite sex. Some day, I can dream, all men will see the value and beauty in this quality. Maybe then the musicians of today will replace songs that sexualize women with songs that empower them.

When I got to my destination I had to immediately look up the lyrics. I love finding amazing lyrics. Musicians have a certain way of making “real life”, as I call it, poetic. This song was a poem about a woman and I, of course, loved it. My favorite part of this song is the chorus where he sings:

“Oh–she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh–and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

She is frequently kind
And she’s suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She’s nobody’s fool
And she can’t be convicted
She’s earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But she’s always a woman to me”

When I heard the first part of the chorus I immediately thought of all the strong women in my life. People always joke about the differences between men and women; men state the women are so emotional and women think men are so careless. Although there are hints of truth to that, due to the nurture of the family and society as well as some nature, I think the statement “she never gives in, she just changes her mind” acknowledges that women really DO know what they want. It was actually comforting to hear. I tear my brain apart thinking of ideas and dreaming of my future. From the outside it could seem that this is indecisiveness, but I am simply changing my mind. It is devised.

I wondered what “she’s always a woman to me” really meant. The only thing I could think of, and I will just assume it is this so I continue to like this song (heehee), is that instead of calling her “girl” as many people do, he is identifying her as “woman”. This relates to my favorite theory, the Muted Group Theory that states that language can empower or demote a group. It digs under my skin when people in career settings, in the news, and in sports call the women who they work with, talk about, and play against (or around) girls. They have gone through the maturation process and are w-o-m-e-n, not girls. I had a conversation about these two words with Ann. I mentioned to her how I greet all my friends by saying “Hey, girl!” and how every time I said it something felt not right. She knew exactly what I was talking about as she is so highly involved with female athletes and professionals. We discussed how the use of “woman” (ex. “Hey, woman!”) sounded a little off as well or may be taken in a negative way. In the end, after discussion, we came to the conclusion that it is a much better to identify people by who they are rather than to demote them. It might seem miniscule or picky but it is the little things that plant the seed. Is it life or death? No. But it is about respect. Ann and I have been calling the women in our lives “women” ever since and I must say, it does have quite a ring to it.

The second paragraph (outlined above) makes me smile. Whoever he is talking about really keeps him on his toes! I wish I could talk to him and find out who the mystery woman is! I guess it really doesn’t matter, this profile fits so many women around the world. His second paragraph reminds me of this joke I heard at work… it actually contradicts this joke, which was, “the man wears the pants and the woman controls the zipper”. I almost barfed. I understand that in the olden days women had to make their ideas seem like it was drawn up from the man, actually, I’m not even sure if that is true or if that is just how the movies portray husband and wife relationships. The specific example that comes to mind is in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where the main character’s mother claims that that man is the head of the household but the woman is the neck and can turn the head which ever way she wants. Clever, but I am in control of my zipper and my own head. Willy, or whoever, is in control of both of his. You just have to put the two brains in those heads together to make things work.

Maybe Billy Joel was on the same wave length as Ann and I with the whole language thing, he was just a few years ahead of us, and maybe he understood and was able to exemplify in words the power of an independent woman, ORRrrrr maybe I am way off on my dissection of this song. I guess that’s the beauty of perspective; I’ll take it as I please.

P.S. I’ve attached a link to this song to this post above. Just a little warning, it is pretty old school, but by the end you will totally dig it. Please check it out and let me know what you’re perspective of this song is!

Feel the passion.

Use the passion.

~Stephanie

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