Billy Joel doesn't sing on his anti-war song

cnn.com ^ | Dec 7, 2007 | AP

[RDTF]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Billy Joel has released a new pop single, the anti-war "Christmas in Fallujah." Just don't expect to hear his voice on it.

Billy Joel gave his newest song, "Christmas in Fallujah," to 21-year-old Cass Dillon.

At 58, Joel felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters the Piano Man received from soldiers in Iraq. So he gave it to Cass Dillon, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Long Island.

"I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier's age," Joel said in a statement on his Web site. "I wanted to help somebody else's career. I've had plenty of hits. I've had plenty of airplay. I've had my time in the sun. I think it's time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience."

-snip-

"Christmas in Fallujah" went on sale Tuesday on Apple Inc.'s iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, which builds homes for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

[FrdmLvr]

Well that’s nice. Hope the song doesn’t suck too bad. It’s been a LONG while since Billy wrote anything worth hearing.

Eeeeeeeewwwww! Billy Joel? I can't stand his music. And it's not a generational thing, I'm about his age, I think.

[jdm]

Now he might be.

[Revolting cat!]

Compare this POS to Letters from Home that John Michael Montgomery sang a year or so ago (I forgot who wrote it.)

[Red6]

If my memory is not failing me, he use to give free concerts to troops overseas.

The point is simple- some like Michael Moore lie about the troops. The say they care between their attacks on troops portraying them as blood thirsty, stupid, and abusive. With all their caring, little to nothing goes to those they so care about. The Iraq war for Michael Moore is nothing more than a stage where he can get some good “shock” footage to use in a controversial low budget film that will make milions.

Billy Joel is different. Even if he’s anti-war, he’s not attacking the soldier and he’s putting his money where his mouth is. So, while BJ might be misguided in his views, he’s not a bottom feeding low life slob like a Michael Moore.

[Revolting cat!]

And it's not a generational thing, I'm about his age, I think.

90?

[RDTF]

these look a bit different:

http://www.joelfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=73766&sid=f836d71c62c972f1bfd2bde6c8daf2c1

Christmas In Fallujah”
Words & Music By Billy Joel
Preformed By Cass Dillon
2007

It’s Evening In the Desert
I’m Tired and I’m cold
But I’m just a solder
I do what I am told

We Came with the Crusaders
to save the holy land
It’s Christmas In Fallujah
and no one gives a damn

And I just got your letter
And this is what I read you said

I’m fading from your memory
so I’m just as good as dead

We are the armies of the empire
We are the legionnaires of Rome

It’s Christmas In Fallujah
and we ain’t never coming home

We came to bring these people freedom
we came to fight the infidel

there is no justice in the desert
Because there is no god in hell

They say osama’s in the mountains
deep in a cave near Pakistan

But there’s a sea of blood in Baghdad
A sea of oil in the sand

Between the Tigris and Euphrates
another day comes to an end

it’s Christmas In Fallujah
Peace on earth goodwill to men

it’s Christmas In Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

it’s Christmas In Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

it’s Christmas In Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

it’s Christmas In Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

Merry Christmas from Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

Merry Christmas from Fallujah
hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

hallelujah hallelujah
(hoorah)

hallelujah hallelujah
Hoorah!

[jdm]

Whatever it is, it sucks! :)

[angcat]

I’m fading from your memory
so I’m just as good as dead

Yes he is right about that!

[Renegade]

Cass Dillon should be carrying an assult rifle instead of a guitar .

[RedRover]

Wait, didn’t Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen end the war already? (Billy Joel never was an innovator.)

[Renegade]

98% of the soldiers in Iraq don’t know who Billy Joel is . He hasn’t had a big hit in at least 20 years .

[WackySam]

Typical Billy Joel arrangement. Sounds like its from “the Nylon Curtain” era.

I didn't here the whole song since I had to stop at "we came with the crusaders" line, but the cord arrangement sounded exactly like the end of an old YES song to me- just can't remember which one.

[april15Bendovr]

Billy Joel Must of written this song in rehab while in a manic episode and withdrawing from drugs or alcohol.

He probably doesn't want to sing it because he was mentally incapacitated when he wrote it.

My Guess

[oh8eleven]

Are there really a lot of soldiers who take the time to write letters to Billy Joel? Why do any?!
Excellent question. Given the age gap, I wonder if "a lot" of soldiers have even heard of him, let alone written letters.

[The KG9 Kid]

I've said it before, I'll say it again:

Billy Joel has never made a single song that didn't make me want to snap off the radio as soon as I heard the first opening notes.

Same thing with Springsteen with the exception of maybe one tune. You gotta be an east coast Vinnie to like either performer. I think they both suck.

[CletusVanDamme]

More noise from the toad-faced drunk.

Always hated his “music”.................

[Spiff]

If Billy Joel is writing anti-war songs, as this article suggests, then why has he donated one of his songs to appear on the pro-troops/pro-armed forces "CD For The Troops" compilation CD that just went on sale at AAFES? It is on the front page of the AAFES website. In fact, on the CD's official website, Bill Joel is the first artist listed. Go to CDfortheTroops.com

200,000 copies of the CD are being donated to the troops. Sponsors include AAFES, Sony, TriWest, and America Supports You.

Note that Billy Joel does not mention "CD for the Troops on his official website. Nor do the lyrics of the song Christmas in Fallujah appear on his own site, despite the site having an alphabetic listing of nearly every song he's written and sung along with their lyrics.

The Billy Joel song that appears on the album is "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." You can see a full song listing here on the Tri-West/Tri-Care website. Tri-West/Tri-Care is the primary health care provider for military service and family members as well as retirees.

The CD is also featured on the America Supports You website. This website and effort is a program of the Department of Defense to support the troops.

Here's the Billy Joel - Christmas in Fallujah lyrics as I found elsewhere on the internet:

Christmas In Fallujah - Cass Dillon

It's evening in the desert 
I'm tired and I'm cold 
But I am just a soldier 
I do what I am told 
We came with the crusaders 
To save the Holy Land 

It's Christmas in Fallujah 
And no one gives a damn 

And I just got your letter 
And this what I read 
You said I'm fading from your memory 
So I'm just as good as dead 
We are the Armies of the Empire 
We are the Legionnaries of Rome 

It's Christmas in Fallujah 
And we aien't never coming home 

We came to bring these people Freedom 
We came to fight the Infidel 
There is no justice in the desrt 
Because there is no Good in Hell 
(/div)(div style='float: right;') 
They say Osama's in the Mountains 
Deep in a cave near Pakistan 
But there's a sea of blood in Baghdad 
A sea of oil in the sand 
Between the Tigris and Euphrates 
Another day comes to an end 

It's Christmas In Fallujah 
Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men 
It's Christmas In Fallujah 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
It's Christmas In Fallujah 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
It's Christmas In Fallujah 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
It's Christmas In Fallujah 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
Merry Crhistmas from Fallujah 
Merry Crhistmas from Fallujah 
Hallelujah, Hallelujah 
OO-RA!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Billy, leave the seatbelt off the next time you drive drunk.

[Sopater]

It’s Christmas In Fallujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
It’s Christmas In Fallujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
It’s Christmas In Fallujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
It’s Christmas In Fallujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Merry Crhistmas from Fallujah
Merry Crhistmas from Fallujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
OO-RA!

Sounds like he ran out of things to say before the song was over.

[Sopater]

If I could play the piano half as good as Billy Joel, I'd be this guy.