In every heart there is a room…
To heal the wounds from lover’s past/
Until a new one comes along.
Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” is in some ways romantic and in some ways depressing. Joel seems to be expressing the view that love is a place in your heart that gets filled by your current love until things go wrong and you break up. Then it is hollow and only filled again when someone new comes along. Though, that person will leave too, of course. And so it goes.
This is a pessimistic view on love. It contrasts with a view that when two kindred spirits meet, it is special. Never mind the permanence of wedding vows. Joel says, you will break my heart too, and eventually I will have to find someone to fill my empty heart with the hole you left in it, but for now you are welcome to have my broken heart that the last woman ripped out of me. I’d imagine there must be a line waiting.
Joel sings “And So it Goes” as if he is tired. It sounds as if he is exhausted by relationships and has very little energy to offer, and he is being up front in admitting that to a potential mate. Laying it all on the table, if you will. Perhaps honesty is the best policy. To convey that emotion in his voice really makes the song. The piano also captures the feel perfectly, along with a nice melody…mostly in the verses. Interesting use of the background keyboards.
And So it Goes Lyrics
In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along
I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense
And every time I’ve held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose
But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break
And this is why my eyes are closed
It’s just as well for all I’ve seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you’re the only one who knows
So I would choose to be with you
That’s if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you’re the only one who knows
written by billy joel