Introduction
Released in 1978, Billy Joel’s “Honesty” isn’t just a piano ballad; it’s a poignant lament for a seemingly lost virtue. Born from the bustle and grit of New York City’s 52nd Street, the song grapples with the disillusionment of a world where truth feels scarce and vulnerability, a risky gamble.
Joel paints a stark picture of yearning for sincerity amidst rampant deception. The lyric, “honesty is such a lonely word,” echoes through the song, emphasizing the isolation he feels in a world where masks seem the preferred attire. Tenderness and love are easily found, he sings, but truthfulness? That’s “as well be blind.”
More than just a personal lament, “Honesty” critiques a society where comfort trumps genuine connection. Promises and platitudes abound, but when it comes to laying bare one’s soul, silence reigns. “I don’t want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies,” Joel declares, yearning for authenticity over empty compliments.
Yet, amidst the disillusionment, a flicker of hope remains. In the chorus, he pleads, “mostly what I need from you…is honesty.” It’s a simple plea, yet one that carries the weight of a desperate desire for genuine human connection. In a world where truth feels like a forgotten language, “Honesty” stands as a poignant reminder of its profound value, even in the face of its scarcity.
So, prepare to shed the masks and delve into the raw vulnerability of “Honesty.” Let Billy Joel’s evocative melody and powerful lyrics guide you through the tangled streets of deception and towards the elusive, yet ever-desirable, haven of truth.
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Lyrics
If you search for tendernessIt isn’t hard to findYou can have the love you need to liveBut if you look for truthfulnessYou might just as well be blindIt always seems to be so hard to giveHonesty is such a lonely wordEveryone is so untrueHonesty is hardly ever heardAnd mostly what I need from youI can always find someoneTo say they sympathizeIf I wear my heart out on my sleeveBut I don’t want some pretty faceTo tell me pretty liesAll I want is someone to believeHonesty is such a lonely wordEveryone is so untrueHonesty is hardly ever heardAnd mostly what I need from youI can find a loverI can find a friendI can have security until the bitter endAnyone can comfort meWith promises againI know, I knowWhen I’m deep inside of meDon’t be too concernedI won’t ask for nothin’ while I’m goneBut when I want sincerityTell me where else can I turn‘Cause you’re the one I depend uponHonesty is such a lonely wordEveryone is so untrueHonesty is hardly ever heardAnd mostly what I need from you