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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Billy Joel
Vocals
Howie Emerson
Electric Guitar
Russell Javors
Rhythm Guitar
Doug Stegmeyer
Bass Guitar
Liberty De Vitto
Drums
Richie Cannata
Saxophone
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Billy Joel
Songwriter
Kenny Ascher
Orchestrator
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Billy Joel
Producer
John Bradley
Recording Engineer
Lou Waxman
Tape Preparation
Don Puluse
Recording Engineer
Bruce Botnick
Mixing Engineer
Ted Jensen
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
I've seen the lights go out on Broadway
I saw the Empire State laid low
And life went on beyond the Palisades
They all bought Cadillacs and left there long ago
They held a concert out in Brooklyn
To watch the Island bridges blow
They turned our power down and drove us underground
But we went right on with the show
I've seen the lights go out on Broadway
I saw the ruins at my feet
You know, we almost didn't notice it
We'd seen it all the time on 42nd Street
They burned the churches up in Harlem
Like in that Spanish Civil War
The flames were everywhere, but no one really cared
It always burned up there before
I've seen the lights go out on Broadway
I watched the mighty skyline fall
The boats were waiting at the Battery
The union went on strike, they never sailed at all
They sent a carrier out from Norfolk
And picked the Yankees up for free
They said that Queens could stay, they blew the Bronx away
And sank Manhattan out at sea
You know those lights were bright on Broadway
That was so many years ago
Before we all lived here in Florida
Before the Mafia took over Mexico
There are not many who remember
They say a handful still survive
To tell the world about the way the lights went out
And keep the memory alive
Written by: Billy Joel