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

But soon the world
Had its evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray.

Black Sabbath’s “Changes” is a song about a man with a broken heart. Who knew that Ozzy Osbourne can do tender love songs? He was blinded by lust and tempted by another woman and he cheated on the woman he loved. His best friend. His life will be different now because he knows that he lost her love.

The changes that Ozzy describes are typical in a breakup: he feels sad, lonely. What makes it worse is that he knows he did this to himself. If only he could go back and change the man he is. Not just his actions, but his character.

The instrumentation in Black Sabbath’s “Changes” is fairly simple, and that helps it pack an emotional punch. The piano combined with the mellotron create a vibe similar to something out of a funeral procession in a church. The most surprising aspect of the song is the amazingly crisp, intelligible vocals from Ozzy. For those of us who knew Ozzy the personality before Ozzy from Black Sabbath, it is quite a welcome shock.

Changes Lyrics

I feel unhappy, I feel so sad.
I’ve lost the best friend, that I ever had.
She was my woman, I love her so.
But it’s too late now, I’ve let her go.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes.

We shared the years, we shared each day.
In love together we found a way.
But soon the world, had it’s evil way.
My heart was blinded, love went astray.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes.

It took so long, to realize.
And I can still hear her last goodbyes.
Now all my days, are filled with tears.
Wish I could go back, and change these years.

I’m going through changes.
I’m going through changes

written by Black Sabbath (W.T. Ward / John Osbourne / Tony Iommi / Terence Butler)