It Started with a Conversation
Like all noteworthy songs in music history, this song was the result of something. And in this case, that “something” was a conversation. The idea for Billy Joel’s song spawned from a conversation that he had with one of his friends. That friend was Sean Lennon (son of The Beatles’ John Lennon). Sean had just turned 21 and was complaining about how insane it felt for him to be living in that era. He was kind of undermining any other generation before his.
John Lennon and Sean Lennon Source: Pinterest
A lightbulb went on over Joel’s head, and he instantly had an idea for a song. This conversation with his buddy encouraged Joel to write a song. And not just any song, one that would prove that all generations are filled with extremes.