I recorded a (cover) song just now this morning - I'm not putting this one on the Powercast, but I'll post it here, because why not? It's 'She's Always a Woman' by Billy Joel. I was moved to pick up my guitar and play it; I was feeling it - so I turned the mic on while doing so.

It's a good song so I'll probably make a polished version eventually, but if you want to enjoy this for now, here it is:

http://macdsn.com/host/dump/She%27s%20Always%20a%20Woman.mp3

Music is a release, you know? Music is like forgiveness - it's divine.

As for this song, it's honestly probably my favourite of Billy Joel's compositions, though it didn't used to be. The expressive lyrics paint a picture of a woman, the 'Everywoman,' if you will. She has quirks, she lashes out sometimes - she's unpredictable! But she's wonderful, she's absolutely wonderful. For though she's sometimes suddenly cruel, she's frequently kind.

Joel's lyrics are not condemnatory. They are affectionate. The singer loves this woman, with all his heart - and she's not abusing him; he's not 'whipped' or whatnot. He has his quirks too, quirks of a different sort. But this song isn't about him, it's about the woman he loves, and she brings out the best - and the worst - he can be. But he 'blames' that all on himself, because after all, she's only a woman, just like he's only a man.

I feel the most important line is the last bit: 'The most she will do is throw shadows at you.' That's saying that all the 'negative' things mentioned in the song are merely shadows. Sometimes she hurts him, yes, but she loves him, and he forgives her. With forgiveness and reconciliation, they move forward, and the hurt is just a shadow; it's not real anymore.

"She's Always a Woman"

From the album The Stranger

Composed by Billy Joel

 

She can kill with her 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

Yes, 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

And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free

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, and she'll never give out

And she'll never give 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

And she'll bring 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, and she'll never give out

And she'll never give 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

And 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