When I was 13, my boyfriend used to play this song to me,every night, over the phone, when it first came out. Needless to say, I eventually began to love the song. (can't say the same for the boyfriend). That turned out to be the best thing I got from that relationship. A love of Billy Joel!!!
The brilliance of this song is in its structure. Billy explained to James Lipton in Inside the Actor's Studio that normally a guitar rhythm like that would be the melody, and it would be played in the treble. Billy instead used that guitar riff as an accompaniment, and played it instead in the bass. So it gives the effect that you can't really hear it, but then again, you can.
It’s so weird seeing him as such a young kid basically I mean just how he even knew how to put this together Such wisdom at such a young age Kinda makes you look in the mirror and be like WHY CANT YOU DO THAT It’s just words put together But therein lies the genius of a music icon They can figure out what’s right in front of all of us that we can’t even begin to touch or comprehend Man What a talent
Love this arrangement - Billy kicked it up a notch here with additional notes than in a concert I have from 1978, and from the studio version. Excellent live performance - but this is from tv not a concert.
Yeah, captain jack was a pretty well known guy on Long Island who would bring people off shore so they could get high without interference from cops and such. Interestingly, he just recently died. Nice man apparently.
+John Stadelmann I hope you are joking. Captain Jack is a slang term for Heroin. This song is about a guy that is a loser and takes out his woes by shooting dope. "Just a little push and you'll be smiling".
+Tim Waldron nope not kidding. I live here. I know it's a slang for heroin but the guy Billy Joel was talking about was a real person. Look up the real captain Jack, he died fairly recently.
+Tim Waldron www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=801 "This song is based on a real person: A drug dealer who lived near Joel in Oyster Bay, New York. But, as the singer explained in a 1975 interview with ZigZag, the character "Captain Jack" was a composite of different kinds of people. Said Joel: "I was just sitting around one day looking out of the window wondering what I was going to write about, and kinda wrote about what was going on outside. I mean, Long Island is a suburb and it was about a suburban type of character. There's a lot of frustration living in the suburbs - you don't have an identity as you would if you came from the city or the country, there's city music and there's country music, but there's really no suburban music, you kinda copy the city. You have both influences pulling on you."
I thought it was about Jack Daniels, but really it could be about any substance that "takes you to that special island", booze, heroin, whatever, it's all the same attempt at escape, no?
Funny as hell! The Doors got the shaft from Ed Sullivan for saying 'higher', and 5 odd years later you could sing a song on the TV with 'get you high' in every chorus but couldn't say 'masturbate'. That thought made my day, and yes, I'm high.
too bad those of us who love this song and video do not take the message seriously enough. its ok to do the things he describes in the song, but there is more and that is job, family, commitment, responsibility, love, selflessness, the golden rule. i know cause i did both, not just the captain. there is room in everyone for both chapters.
@ckmate1977 In a TV studio on a tv show called "Don Kishner's Rock Concert", a Midnight Special-esque program. This show was taped in Chicago I believe.
Captain Jack was a Heroin dealer across the street of Billy's apartment in Oyster Bay LI back in the early 70s. en.wikipedia/wiki/Captain_Jack_%28song%29
Thx for that. I was wondering. Drummer rushes the tempo at the first chorus and billy plays up the octave to try slowing him down a bit.... neat to see. Right at 1:33...
so young so confident,his life has been so public,I'm guessing that money fame do not bring peace,pushing your god given talent to the next level.Just might?
I thought my comment was pretty damn funny. I can't help it if no one else has a sense of humor, but, quite frankly, I'm surprised at the lack of it in a crowd of Billy Joel fans.
Could Captain Jack mean SMACK as in heroin I think so. Billy may have tried it once or twice at a party. It makes sense to me the lyrics are about heroin (Captain JACK= SMACK = heroin) Its ok BJ is not endorsing nor condoning use of heroin He is merely singing a song about it.
Billy wrote the song after observing the youth of long island getting into heroin. The kids were rich and already had their lives set for them for life. So they had nothing better to do than to become an addict. I believe that's how it went. The complete story is on wikipedia if I remember right.
thx dude you updated me on the origins of BJ's song. James Reyne ""Australian Crawl"" also has a song relalting to heroin Hammerhead= heroin addict, Hammer slang for heroin. Lou Reed doesnt bother being subtle , just plain Heroin.
So because he says the word once in the song it means that's the subject? He's describing the character in the song, showing that he's a whiny loser who just sits around doing nothing all day, and that's why he's so upset that he thinks he needs drugs. Captain Jack, alongside Get Over It by The Eagles, is basically the original "first world problems" meme, just in song form.
Well it's the same with "The Entertainer" on Mike Douglas. He just went away from the microphone, probably because he knew that kids and other people were watching and he didn't want to blow it with that audience. It just sounds empty without the words in their places, unless you've never heard it before.
If you go to Confession in a Catholic Church, the priest is not likely to say that "picking your nose" is a sin of impurity. (It's ok to pick your nose with a Kleenex.) It's not ok to jack off with anything, technically (Kleenex, lotion, whatever). But masturbation is definitely an offense against the dignity of the human body. It's better to spank yourself if that stops you from pulling a Trump and grabbing a woman/another person without consent, but yes, masturbation is a sin.
prt II ^^ - this song is about abuse of alcohol....but that seems to be ok...very strange...! No hating...I do love that song, thats why i was watching it...but its the first time I heard it with that small change...and i am sure it was not his idea!! coz he wrote it like that!! Free Arts ;)
When I was 13, my boyfriend used to play this song to me,every night, over the phone, when it first came out. Needless to say, I eventually began to love the song. (can't say the same for the boyfriend). That turned out to be the best thing I got from that relationship. A love of Billy Joel!!!
This song got me to make my own bed. It was also the reason I became a fan. My mother thanks you, Billy, and I have never stopped listening to you.
This will always be my favorite Billy Joel song and one of my favorite songs of all time.
Even without the heroin references (Captain Jack), this song says a lot about the emptiness of the material world and conforming to social norms.
I agree, and I find very few folks that see it the same. Kudos.
Billy Joel is a genius and a fantastic poet. One of my idols :)
2:07 "And you just sit at home and hmmm hmmm hmmm"
CANCELLED FOR NAUGHTY LYRICS!
This is the way I remember Billy...long before The Stranger or 52nd Street!
About three years before The Stranger
I like Billy's sweater, LOL.
They just found your father in the swimming pool. Don't know why but that line gets me every time.
+TheEcat777 ..ya me too. my dad accidently was electracuted putting in our pool .
Takes me back to gangster movies when they revenge shooting traitors on the pool
Gives me chills everytime
My favorite Billy song. Great rendition, too!
You can see the nerves! Go Billy!!
Great version Billy.
This was taped during his appearance on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in March 1974.
What more can one say other than..I love you Billy!
lol "Your sister's gone out, she's on a date and you just sit at home and ehh" lol
Loneliness, frustration, youth. Great song.
The brilliance of this song is in its structure. Billy explained to James Lipton in Inside the Actor's Studio that normally a guitar rhythm like that would be the melody, and it would be played in the treble. Billy instead used that guitar riff as an accompaniment, and played it instead in the bass. So it gives the effect that you can't really hear it, but then again, you can.
It’s so weird seeing him as such a young kid basically I mean just how he even knew how to put this together Such wisdom at such a young age Kinda makes you look in the mirror and be like WHY CANT YOU DO THAT It’s just words put together But therein lies the genius of a music icon They can figure out what’s right in front of all of us that we can’t even begin to touch or comprehend
Man What a talent
Certain songs just nail it.
Billy Joel is my idol period!
If someone came out with songs like this nowadays it would be momentous. Can’t imagine it though. Back in 1973 it was just how it was done.
what an artist, brings back great times
Captain Joel just got me high tonight...
Terrific Performance!!! I especially love how he omits the maturbation line at 2:10!
Love this arrangement - Billy kicked it up a notch here with additional notes than in a concert I have from 1978, and from the studio version. Excellent live performance - but this is from tv not a concert.
"You just sit at home and have a mass debate" ? :P that could've worked
Those long fingers make his playing incredible and very hard to copy... GREAT!
Ever see Hubie Blakes hands?
He has short fingers
Love you Billy.
Yeah, captain jack was a pretty well known guy on Long Island who would bring people off shore so they could get high without interference from cops and such. Interestingly, he just recently died. Nice man apparently.
+John Stadelmann I hope you are joking. Captain Jack is a slang term for Heroin. This song is about a guy that is a loser and takes out his woes by shooting dope. "Just a little push and you'll be smiling".
+Tim Waldron nope not kidding. I live here. I know it's a slang for heroin but the guy Billy Joel was talking about was a real person. Look up the real captain Jack, he died fairly recently.
+Tim Waldron www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=801
"This song is based on a real person: A drug dealer who lived near Joel in Oyster Bay, New York. But, as the singer explained in a 1975 interview with ZigZag, the character "Captain Jack" was a composite of different kinds of people. Said Joel: "I was just sitting around one day looking out of the window wondering what I was going to write about, and kinda wrote about what was going on outside. I mean, Long Island is a suburb and it was about a suburban type of character. There's a lot of frustration living in the suburbs - you don't have an identity as you would if you came from the city or the country, there's city music and there's country music, but there's really no suburban music, you kinda copy the city. You have both influences pulling on you."
I thought it was about Jack Daniels, but really it could be about any substance that "takes you to that special island", booze, heroin, whatever, it's all the same attempt at escape, no?
@@ginaunger2399
You tilt Jack Daniels, and you push heroin.
This is superb! Thanks for posting.
so good it hurts
Awesome song. Thank you for sharing it!
Thanks a lot for posting!!
Awesome. Just awesome.
Another interesting variation on the piano intro. Must admit my favorite is his version as recorded on Songs in the Attic.
Just F'in amazing!
I remember the first time I ever Captain Jack was on the essential Billy Joel that I had borrow from bookmobile back in Racine, WI.
好きな歌なので聴けてよかったです！ありがとうございます
5:38 HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I LOVE YOU BILLY!!!
So dig this tune!
@chris9986 i always thought its about jack daniels...lol...might be about pot, too...and yes....iu love that painting of scenes, too
Wow now thats a Killer Song!! 👂👊👏
speaking of don kirshner's rock concert ..when are they going to release the shows on dvd !!!!!!
His timing is unbeatable.
I saw Billy open for Procul Harum around this time . Elvis's ex drummer Ron Tutt was on drums
who is playing drums on this track?
dude on drums cnt touch liberty`s playing 2 save his life
genuis
well spoken!
Funny as hell! The Doors got the shaft from Ed Sullivan for saying 'higher', and 5 odd years later you could sing a song on the TV with 'get you high' in every chorus but couldn't say 'masturbate'. That thought made my day, and yes, I'm high.
too bad those of us who love this song and video do not take the message seriously enough. its ok to do the things he describes in the song, but there is more and that is job, family, commitment, responsibility, love, selflessness, the golden rule. i know cause i did both, not just the captain. there is room in everyone for both chapters.
I actually laughed out loud...guess some people took offense. Don't burn me folks, I love Billy too!
Thanks, buddy.
betcha buy a sweater like that you get a free bowl of soup! see rodney was in tell her about it video and ah... never mind I LOVE YOU BILLY!
@ckmate1977
In a TV studio on a tv show called "Don Kishner's Rock Concert", a Midnight Special-esque program. This show was taped in Chicago I believe.
Captain Jack was a Heroin dealer across the street of Billy's apartment in Oyster Bay LI back in the early 70s.
en.wikipedia/wiki/Captain_Jack_%28song%29
this is live on television, its not from a tour date. this was not his regular touring band either. nice upload!
L.A BEAST
this was from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.. pre-Aquarius Theatre
Joe you beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘
Classic, amazing!! Is this the version on the My Lives compilation?
@bodkin1 His band here consists of Rhys Clark on drums, Don Evans on guitar, and Pat McDonald on bass. His steel guitar player, I have no idea.
Thx for that. I was wondering. Drummer rushes the tempo at the first chorus and billy plays up the octave to try slowing him down a bit.... neat to see. Right at 1:33...
so young so confident,his life has been so public,I'm guessing that money fame do not bring peace,pushing your god given talent to the next level.Just might?
There is no comparison between the "Piano Man" studio version and the "Songs in the Attic" live version.
he recently played a live version on his show on sirius and it was so good I almost wound up in a ditch. i wonder if this is it......
I thought my comment was pretty damn funny. I can't help it if no one else has a sense of humor, but, quite frankly, I'm surprised at the lack of it in a crowd of Billy Joel fans.
@VIG74 true, he looks a little shy.. Very good clip of this song..
Captain Jack will get you HIGH TONIGHT 🙃🙂
Hey Kenny, this is Rion from Billy Joel: Completely Retold.
Captain Jack is really heroin.
I hope that drugs like heroin and cocaine aren't used by young people anymore.
This song would go good with Steely Dan's 'Brooklyn'.
Wow. Tough crowd!
And you just sit at home and tug and wack wack wack wack wack wack you oughta knoww by nowww!
this comment activated my fight or flight response
2:06 what happened there? He couldn't say "masturbate", why? Was he singing in front of catholic Virginia?
PROBABLY had something to do with censorship, especially if it was televised
+Joe A. Terrible
He says Mass Debate.
Shoulda just said masticate!
Could Captain Jack mean SMACK as in heroin I think so. Billy may have tried it once or twice at a party. It makes sense to me the lyrics are about heroin (Captain JACK= SMACK = heroin) Its ok BJ is not endorsing nor condoning use of heroin He is merely singing a song about it.
Billy wrote the song after observing the youth of long island getting into heroin. The kids were rich and already had their lives set for them for life. So they had nothing better to do than to become an addict.
I believe that's how it went. The complete story is on wikipedia if I remember right.
Lives set for life. Wow that was redundant...
Stupid thing with the IPhone app, no editing feature like on a real computer.
thx dude you updated me on the origins of BJ's song. James Reyne ""Australian Crawl"" also has a song relalting to heroin Hammerhead= heroin addict, Hammer slang for heroin. Lou Reed doesnt bother being subtle , just plain Heroin.
Apparently Captain Jack was a drug dealer.
Alan Kooper got to hand it to lou, no subliminal messages in his lyrics. Lol
Classic young American male angst song.
Still alive 2022
So because he says the word once in the song it means that's the subject? He's describing the character in the song, showing that he's a whiny loser who just sits around doing nothing all day, and that's why he's so upset that he thinks he needs drugs. Captain Jack, alongside Get Over It by The Eagles, is basically the original "first world problems" meme, just in song form.
You know if he keeps his nose clean he may get to play Madison Square Garden some day.
The LA Beast likes Billy fucking Joel....my mind is blown.
Well it's the same with "The Entertainer" on Mike Douglas. He just went away from the microphone, probably because he knew that kids and other people were watching and he didn't want to blow it with that audience. It just sounds empty without the words in their places, unless you've never heard it before.
He is not takling about himself, he is takling about broken down man getting high with the drug dealer Captain Jack etc. etc. listen to the song
Captain Jack Billy Joel about song
I believe Rick James said, "helluva".
Bull, it's about a young Heroin addict!
@BullhornGuy I was simply wondering why he just wouldn't put a less-dirty word instrad of it while he was on air.
Dude can't say 'masturbate' but can say 'pick your nose'. Where is the limit on bodily expression?
If you go to Confession in a Catholic Church, the priest is not likely to say that "picking your nose" is a sin of impurity. (It's ok to pick your nose with a Kleenex.)
It's not ok to jack off with anything, technically (Kleenex, lotion, whatever).
But masturbation is definitely an offense against the dignity of the human body.
It's better to spank yourself if that stops you from pulling a Trump and grabbing a woman/another person without consent, but yes, masturbation is a sin.
Any idea where this is? Looks like a very small venue..
It is not. Joel said it's not exactly about anyone or anything. It's just about some College guy who - whatever he does - does it this way...
This song is about heroin just a little push and you'll be smiling.
prt II ^^ - this song is about abuse of alcohol....but that seems to be ok...very strange...!
No hating...I do love that song, thats why i was watching it...but its the first time I heard it with that small change...and i am sure it was not his idea!! coz he wrote it like that!!
Free Arts ;)
Is it fair to say he was ahead of his times?
cocaine is a powerful drug!
"masticate"?
lol sometimes people dont see whats right in front of their face
Continued...
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uncrate update upstate vacate vallate
vibrate vulgate wait weight zonate
Meditate...
ya funny he just didn't say anything
Continued...
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plait plate playmate plicate postdate
prate predate prelate primate probate
prolate pronate prorate prostate prostrate
pulsate quoit racemate rate rebate
relate restate roommate rotate saccate
schoolmate sedate sensate serrate shipmate
skate slate soleplate spate squamate
stagnate stalemate state stellate straight
strait striate substrate sucrate sulcate
sulfate sulphate tailgate tannate teammate
Yes, but it would have better if he had put some sort of other word instead of a blank silence.
jack daniels
MARVIN THE BOON Heroine
Self procreate!
Mmmm...Concentrate?