Say Goodbye To Hollywood by Billy Joel

Album: Turnstiles (1976)

Charted: 17

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This song is a look at the temporary nature of most relationships, as people are always coming in and out of our lives. It's told through the eyes of two characters, Bobby (in the first verse) and Johnny (in the second). They do their time in Hollywood, but now find themselves moving on with their lives, a natural progression in the series of hellos and goodbyes in life.
Musically, Joel wrote this in the style of The Ronettes, specifically their song "Be My Baby," a wall-of-sound Phil Spector production. Joel was a big fan of '60s girl groups and loved both Phil Spector's production and Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector's voice. In "Say Goodbye To Hollywood," he pays homage to Ronnie's vibrato, emulating it when he sings the would "boulevard." Joel met Ronnie a few times over the years, but only after he wrote the song.
On The Howard Stern Show, Joel explained that he wrote "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" in a high key that was challenging to sing - he had an easier time hitting those notes when he wrote the song.
When he wrote this, Joel had recently moved from Los Angeles to New York, which helped inspire this song. Like many Long Island natives, the West Coast was not to his liking.
This was released in the US as the B-side to "I've Loved These Days" a month before it was put out as an A-side single. Neither song charted, but in 1981, a live version recorded at the Milwaukee Arena was released on Joel's Songs In The Attic album and hit #17 in the US. Songs In The Attic was the first digitally recorded live album.
Ronnie Spector, who was an influence on this song, released her own version in 1977. She said at the time: "In a way it's my life story 'cause I was married in Hollywood, I lived in Hollywood, my life fell apart in Hollywood and now I am saying goodbye to Hollywood."

Spector's version was produced by Little Steven Van Zandt, who she met while singing backup for Bruce Springsteen in 1976. Springsteen's E Street Band played backup for her.

Comments: 12

11c1p from North DakotaI don't think he'll ever know how much that song meant to me my last 2 years in H.S., my time in the army & coming home for good. Like so many of Billy's songs that are HUGE parts of my life, this & the others are like time machines that take me right back.
Brad from FlA great couple of lines for when it's time to move on... "Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes."
Stormy from Kokomo, InCan I make a suggestion to all of you "singers" out there that have videos on YouTube and try to duplicate songs like this guy. STOPPPPP! PLEASEEEE! If you can't sing any better than this guy, just play the record or the album and leave off the video!
Ken from Louisville, KyBilly Joel said the song is misinterpreted as meaning that he hated Hollywood. He said he wrote it as fond farewell..."So long, Hollywood, I had a great time there, but it's time for me to go back home."
Ken from Louisville, KyThis is another song where Joel lets the concert crowd sing part of they lyrics instead of himself. After he sings "Say Goodybye to Hollywood" he leans towards the audience and waits for them to respond with "Say goodbye my baby".
Karen from La Crosse , WiThe live version can be found on Billy's album "Songs in the Attic". There's also a great version of Captain Jack on this album too.
Sculder from Berkshire, MaI always wondered this since I was a kid and it made more sense, at least in my head, with age. Anyway, do you think the Bobby and John he refers to were the Kennedy brothers?
Please forgive me, I cant find lyrics, I got the cd but I'll do from memory and apologize beforehand for errors.
"Johnny's taking care of things for a while/and his style blank trubidores/they got him sitting with his back to the door/ now he won't be my fast gun anymore"
"Bobbbys driving through the city tonight /throught he lights in a hot new rent a car/joins the lovers in his heaven machine . . ."
I see those verse as Hollywood images of John and Bobby,moreso or easier with 'Johnny'. And, well, like it or not and like them or not John and Bobby Kennedy are Hollywood images at least that's all they are to most people. I kinda always saw a bit of Joel aknowledging a goodbye(or time for one) of an Hollywood image in his own Hollywood image.
Agh, I'm sure I have made a fool out of myself. Go ahead I deserve all comments its the price to live in my head.
Jr from Philadelphia, PaI remember Ronnie Spector talking about this song on a late night show(possibly rick dees into the night), and saying that it was written for her by Billy Joel and had to do with her"escaping"
from Phil Spector because he was keeping her "captive" in their L.A. mansion.
Sunset from London, United StatesRonnie Spector was Phil Spector's Wife. Spector also produced Ronettes records.
Pete from Nowra, AustraliaPhil or Ronnie ????? come on ..make up your minds
Ken from Louisville, KyActually this is a tribute to Phil Sepctor and his famous "Wall Of Sound".
Gordon from Snyder, NyBette Midler covered this and did a great job with it.

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