By Debbie Schlussel
No longer content with being the talented, has-been Piano Man, Billy Joel has found a new “look at me” attention-getting tack. He’s trying to copy Bruce Springsteen with his own anti-American “Born in the U.S.A..”
Joel wrote an anti-war song, “Christmas in Fallujah,” and enlisted a young Long Island singer to sing it at his concerts. And he’s enlisted what appear to be American soldiers to appear on stage during this mocking song. (One wonders how these soldiers got permission for this blatant conduct unbecoming.) Joel enlisted a smart angle to get away with this song: he’s using it to raise money for the troops. But the message of the song isn’t on the troops’ side, calling them “Crusaders” (echoing Bin Laden’s claim), etc.

Don’t Sing Us This Song, Piano Man:
Has-Been Billy Joel Now Anti-War Ranting Man
While I agree that many Iraqis don’t appreciate us, and we should never have pursued a goal of democracy there (which barbarians cannot handle and which isn’t good for America’s interests in the region), the song is clearly anti-American and pure Bin Laden song. And it’s highly inappropriate while our troops are still there. While I despise the Springsteen song (mistakenly used by the Reagan presidential campaign), at least we were out of Vietnam when he performed and released it. Not the case here.
Incredibly, Billy Joel’s twenty-something wife #3, Katie Lee, is far more admirable in her judgment than her meal-ticket spouse.
Here’s video of Billy Joel introducing “Christmas in Fallujah” at a recent concert, followed by video which contains the song with lyrics and American soldiers who simply shouldn’t be onstage for this anti-war rant. Joel’s introduction is tame, but the song isn’t. Sadly, the crowd–which cheers our troops–doesn’t appreciate that the song is against our troops:


I think I speak for many American troops serving over there (and many Americans here) with my answer to Billy Joel . . . from a songwriter with whom he’s very familiar:

I don’t need you to worry for me cause I’m alright;
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home;
I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life;
Go ahead with your own life, and leave me alone . . . .
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
Of cirumstance . . . .
And you can speak your mind
But not on my time
I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, and leave me alone
Keep it to yourself, it’s my life.
Keep it to yourself, it’s my life.
Keep it to yourself, it’s my life.
Keep it to yourself, it’s my life.