“Piano Man” is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. His first single in North America was included on Joel’s 1973 album of the same name and later released as a single on November 2, 1973. The song is sung from Joel’s point of view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there and the people he encountered. “Piano Man” is based on Joel’s real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973. Joel describes various characters, including a bartender named John and a “real estate novelist” named Paul, all based on real-life individuals.
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