Just the Way You Are Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before, mm
And don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore


[Chorus]
I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far, mm
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I take you just the way you are

[Verse 2]
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair, mm
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care


[Chorus]
I don't want clever conversation
Never want to work that hard, mm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are

[Bridge]
Need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew

Oh, what will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you?
[Chorus]
I said, “I love you,” that's forever
And this, I promise from the heart, mm
I couldn't love you any better
I love you just the way you are


[Break]
Alright

[Chorus]
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are, oh

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About

Genius Annotation

Billy Joel’s first US Top 10, “Just the Way You Are” comes off his brilliant album The Stranger. It was internationally successful, reaching the top 20 in six countries including a #3 peak in the US.

With most singles of the time, its running time was cut down by a minute to fit for radio. It became a major hit even if the band and Billy Joel, himself, supposedly, were not fans of the song, and it took Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow to convince them to leave it on.

The song prominently features the washed tones of the Fender Rhodes keyboard, and overdubbed vocals inspired by 10cc’s 1975 song ‘’I’m Not in Love‘’. Producer Phil Ramone later revealed in an interview later that Joel and him were fans of the song and sought to create that sound and aura for this song.

Billy Joel originally wrote the song for his first wife (and also his business manager at the time) Elizabeth Weber. After they had divorced in 1982 the song would not appear again in concert until the early 2000s.

It’s also well known for its saxophone solo, played by Phil Woods who is a well-known jazz musician and Grammy award winner.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Billy Joel say about "Just the Way You Are"?
Genius Answer

Joel told the Today Show in 2005 that this is his “cringe song” because:

It was written about somebody who said, “I said I love you and that’s forever.” It lasted about 10 years.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Fender Rhodes
Alto Saxophone
Acoustic Guitar
Percussion
Recorded At
A&R Recording, New York, NY
Release Date
September 29, 1977
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