Yeah, she steals like a thief but she’s always a woman to me.

“She’s Always a Woman” by Billy Joel is a great non-traditional love song. Compare this to a song like “Donna” by Ritchie Valens. Valens makes it pretty clear he is into her and leaves no ambiguity about his feelings. Well, after a million or so love songs have been written they need to be said in a different way to make a mark. What is Joel saying about his girlfriend exactly?

In my mind he is saying she is a modern woman. Sure, she can “wound with her eyes” and be a tough businesswoman but not with him. With him, she is different. She is exactly what he wants and needs in a woman (probably something the opposite…maybe somebody loving and gentle?)

“She’s Always a Woman” is special because the melody is great, and Billy Joel is one of the better rock piano players out there.  The accompanying piano part is brilliant. It is a different level of complexity than your average piano player. (Billy Joel, Elton John, Nina Simone, and Tori Amos are the best piano players in Rock n Roll. They are on another level.) His voice is always clear and earnest and distinct.

She’s Always a Woman Lyrics

She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child but she’s always a woman to me
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she’ll never believe you
And she’ll take what you give her as long as it’s free

Yeah she steals like a thief but she’s always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh, she never gives out and she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she’ll promise you more than the garden of Eden
Then she’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleeding
But she brings out the best and the worst you can be

Blame it all on yourself ’cause she’s always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh, 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
But 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

Songwriters: Billy Joel