And So It Goes by Billy Joel

Album: Storm Front (1989)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Billy Joel started writing this song in the early 1980s about a relationship he was having with supermodel Elle MacPherson. Their backgrounds (and heights) were so different that he knew the relationship would fail, which it did. He predicted the end of the affair with the line, "And you can have this heart to break."
The title comes from television journalist Linda Ellerbee's signature line and best-selling book title (And So It Goes: Adventures in Television, 1986).
When Joel appeared on The Howard Stern Show in 2010, he said "And So It Goes" was his least-appreciated song - the best one that casual fans aren't aware of. In 2017, he listed it among his Top 5 songs on a Late Show with Stephen Colbert appearance.
The song is part of Billy Joel's 11th album, Storm Front, released in 1989. As the title suggests, the tracks on the album build in intensity like a storm moving in. Although this song wasn't written specifically for the album, Joel wanted to include it as the closer to signify the calm after the storm.
This is kind of surprising: Storm Front was Joel's first #1 album in America since Glass Houses hit the top of the chart in 1980. Joel didn't release another album until 1993 with River of Dreams, which also hit #1. That ended up being his last pop album (he put out an album of classical music in 2001).
The music was inspired by the traditional English folk song "Barbara Allen." Joel told SiriusXM in 2016 that he learned the tune from the Fireside Book of Folk Songs when he was a kid and it's quite unique. "It's very difficult to find the time signature in that song, it's all up to the singer," he explained.
What song title in Billy Joel's canon succinctly sums up his life? "Piano Man," sure, but that's played out. In 2025, when Joel finally agreed to participate in a documentary, it got the title Billy Joel: And So It Goes.

Comments: 18

AnonymousDon't know how that beautiful song, which I heard for the first time on This is Us...absolutely one of the most poignant songs ever!!!!
Linda from Michigan I agree it’s beautifully used in Signed, Sealed & Delivered. It’s Shane and Oliver’s song. She declares her love for him when they first dance to it, and he declares his love for her in the chapel after the night on the mountain. Finally it plays under their vows at their wedding. Gets me every time!
Kari from TennesseeI’m seconding what Marv commented. This song is so beautifully incorporated into the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series and movies. Episode 4: The Masterpiece, uses the song in a heartbreaking scene with the main characters dancing. They reprise the song a few years later in the TV movie Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You. The song is one of my absolute favorites and the way it is incorporated into this series is perfection.
Marv from Surprise, Az“And so it goes” is played often in the Hallmark Movie Series, “Signed, Sealed and Delivered “ in scenes with Shane and Oliver often times dancing.
Belle"So it goes" became a popular phrase because of the novelist Kurt Vonnegut. In his book, "The Slaughterhouse Five," he used it like a refrain. Ellerbee picked it up from him. When a Vonnegut biography was written, in the last year of Vonnegut's life, it was called "And so it goes." The bio appeared after Ellerbee's use of the phrase, but it was first popularized by Vonnegut.
Peakay from Whittier, CaPam from Atlanta, Ga
I want to believe that your question regarding the song AND SO IT GOES by Billy Joel has been answered ages ago. But itn case it has not, I would like to provide one answer as I know it. I give an excerpt from a blurb from TuneFund.com regarding the SINGS FROM BOSTON LEGAL SOUNDTRACK CD

Son of The Defender
S03E18 (Broadcast date 03 April 2007)

And So It Goes
BILLY JOEL

Denny's first case comes back to roost when the son of a woman who was murdered in 1957. Denny's think about discussion with his father

Hope this helps. Despite what Billy thinks, I loved this song the first time I heard it and I always include it when I make a Billy Joel playlist
Sandiep from Littleton, CoMy ex was a HUGE fan and I too quickly became a big fan. I never heard this song until after my ex passed and it suddenly started popping up on my phone in the middle of the night. It continues to start playing without my music app being open. It makes complete sense if you knew my ex.
Megan from Charlotte, NcBob Chilcott arranged this song into an SATB choir song. The piece is beautifully paired with the lyrics of Billy Joel.
Susan from Airdrie, AbBeautiful song. What a talented guy. I remember hearing this song when I bought the "cass-single" for the Downeaster Alexa. This song was on side 2, I believe. :)
Amanda_ong from Singapore, SingaporeI came across the song only in 2011. Love it so much. Shared it with colleagues in Beijing. One loves it too. Truly meditative. Brings us into 'the zone'.
Nancy from Merle168@insightbb.com, KyAnd this is why my eyes are closed it's just as well for all I've seen and so it goes and so it goes and your the only one who knows. Beautiful Lyrics. :)
Pam from Atlanta, GaDoes anyone know what movies this song has been featured in? It's driving me crazy that I can't place/remember. Thanks.
Michael from Fullerton, CaHauntingly beautiful.
Emily from Abingdon, VaI second what John said.
John from Edinburg, VaActually, the phrase "so it goes" comes from the Kurt Vonnegut novel Slaughterhouse-Five. It is was a fatilistic phrase that Vonnegut used when he described a death in the book and there were plenty of them in that book.

Linda Ellerbee stole the phrase from Lloyd Dobbins from the NBC Weekend show, who must have in turn stole it from Vonnegut. Dobbins was later replaced on the show by Ellerbee, or on some subsequent show, and complained about Ellerbee's use of the phrase. However he did acknowledge that the phrase still worked, when he no longer did :).
Patrick from Albany, NyIts a very very good song when your down and heart broken. It shows you are not alone out there and you feel better most of the time.
Ken from Louisville, KyBilly Joel sang this song on the televised Kennedy Center honors in the 1990's. He was surprised when actor James Woods, who introduced him, had a piano brought out and urged Joel to sing. Joel chose this song, since it was a simple song that he could do without any other musicians.
Leon from Waterbury, CtOne of his best songs...I love it.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

Run Like HellPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" was released as a single in America because it has a catchy beat, but the lyrics describe a reign of terror instigated by the despot Pink, the main character in the concept album The Wall.

Killer QueenQueen

The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.

Careless WhisperWham!

George Michael was 17 and on a bus to his job at the cinema when he came up with the idea for "Careless Whisper" and the lyrics, "Something in your eyes calls to mind a silver screen."

Blinded By The LightBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.