My Favorite Billy Joel Songs: The River of Dreams (#2)

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It’s almost time for the end of the Billy Joel countdown! That’s too bad, because this has been a lot of fun. Thanks to @DianneN for suggesting it. You’re probably wondering where a lot of the “big hits” are on my list, given that there are only two slots left (and this one is taken). Aw, come on, y’all know me well enough to know there’s no “big hit” list. (I did that once. ONCE. ) Here’s the penultimate favorite on my list of Billy Joel songs. #2: The River of Dreams Another “flashback” in music style to the 50s, this one came out nearly ten years after An Innocent Man. And oh, is it a good one. Instead of the more lighthearted themes of most of the “nostalgia” album of ‘84, this song is a little deeper, with Joel exploring his take on things as a middle-aged man. “I know I’m searching for something,” he repeats in the song, but he has no clue what it is. It could be religious (“I’ve never been a spiritual man”), or something deeper. Or maybe he’s just trying to understand his dreams. Whichever way you choose to interpret the lyrics, I find this one of Joel’s best vocal performances, which is why it ranks so high. The River of Dreams Written by Billy Joel From River of Dreams, 1993 I hope it doesn’t take the rest of my life: