An Innocent Man Lyrics

[Verse 3]
Some people say they will never believe
Another promise they hear in the dark
Because they only remember too well
They heard somebody tell them before
Some people sleep all alone every night
Instead of taking a lover to bed
Some people find that it's easier to hate
Then to wait anymore

[Bridge]
I know you don't wanna hear what I say
I know you're gonna keep turning away
But I've been there

[Verse 4]
And if I can survive I can keep you alive
I'm not above going through it again

I'm not above being cool for a while
If you're cruel to me, I'll understand
Some people run from a possible fight
Some people figure they can never win
And although this is a fight I can lose
The accused is an innocent man

[Chorus]
I am an innocent man
Oh, yes I am
An innocent man
[Bridge]
You know you only hurt yourself out of spite
I guess you'd rather be a martyr tonight
That's your decision

[Verse 5]
But I'm not below anybody I know
If there's a chance of resurrecting a love
I'm not above going back to the start
To find out where the heartache began
Some people hope for a miracle cure
Some people just accept the world as it is
But I'm not willing to lay down and die
Because I am an innocent man

[Chorus]
I am an innocent man
Oh, yes I am
An innocent man

[Outro]
Oh ho ho ho

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About

Genius Annotation

Noted as an homage to Ben E. King and The Drifters, “An Innocent Man” is title track from the 1983 hit album by Billy Joel. It reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the third consecutive top 10 single from the album. It also spent one week at #1 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart.

The song takes the perspective of a man trying to console a potential lover. He never hurt her, but he’s suffering the consequences from her previous lover’s crimes. It’s a beautiful allegory on how sheltering a heart from someone new is like wrongfully accusing them of crimes they never committed.

Q&A

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

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