You went uptown riding in your limousine
In your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose
And when you wake up in the morning
With your head on fire
And your eyes too bloody to see
Go on and cry in your coffee
But don't come bitchin' to me

Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
You know what everything's about
You and to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night

They were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people you knew at Elaine's
And the story of your latest success
Kept 'em so entertained
But now you just can't remember
All the things you said
And you're not sure you want to know
I'll give you one hint, honey
You sure did put on a show

Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You hand to the last word, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the front page, bold type
You had to be a big shot last night

Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in
If you know when to leave it alone
But you went over the line
You couldn't see it was time to go home
No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you
You had to open up your mouth
You had to be a big shot, didn't you
All your friends were so knocked out
You had to have the last word, last night
So much fun to be around
You had to have a white hot spotlight
You had to be a big shot last night



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 04:03

"Big Shot" as written by Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Big Shot song meanings
Add your thoughts

27 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:The way I heard it, Billy Joel witnessed a fight between Mick Jagger and Bianca at a restaurant, and he wrote it from Mick's point of view. It must have been a doozy, because this is one of the most gleefully scathing songs ever--the POV character is really enjoying telling this woman how much of an ass she was.
    Flag ShinyAeonon August 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Just a rollicking joyride of a song; highlighted by Joel’s infamous ‘DIIIIINNNCHA!’ Not an overly deep song; focused mostly on judgmentally recalling his significant other’s drunken escapades of the previous night. Honestly, it is one of those tunes that’s so much fun it doesn’t need any greater significance.
    Flag BillyEltonNeilon October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love how he starts doing a dracula voice right after "You couldn't see it was time to go home."

    BLAH YOU HAD TO BE A BIG-A SHOT
    Flag Fatback Jackon December 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of the few songs ever dedicated to me. LOL. I had no idea my lover was SO insecure!
    Flag sandraa4211on January 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Memory:God, I love this song. I just heard it for the first time today and it just reminds me of every cocky jerkoff I've ever met in my life.
    Flag DesertRose98on August 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Thi ssong came out way before Christe Brinkley
    Flag raine2niteon August 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wonder if there's any references to Studio 54 here?
    Flag Flyersfanon May 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Straight from the horse's mouth, this is not about Bianca Jagger. Billy Joel said "I read that the song Big Shot is said to be about a date I had with Bianca Jagger. I never had a date with Bianca Jagger." This is as of November 10, 2006.

    Anyways, I saw Billy in concert a few days ago and it was in the top 2 I've ever seen. He played this song and gave it even more oomph. It was great.
    Flag DavimusKon November 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I did hear him say in a few interviews it was about a hangover, Not necessarily his, but waking up the morning after drinking and looking in the mirror and saying you had to be a big shot.
    Flag rewc27on July 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I did hear him say in a few interviews it was about a hangover, Not necessarily his, but waking up the morning after drinking and looking in the mirror and saying you had to be a big shot.
    Flag rewc27on July 14, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain