Narrative Analysis

The song, Piano Man by BIlly Joel, is a narrative song that exhibits several poetic devices, while promoting the themes of hope and optimism. The poetic devices include an allegory, ballad, hyperboles, dialogues, imagery, metaphors, similes, mood, and tone. The song is narrated by the performer, a piano man, at a bar who is discussing how he first started playing and the important people he met, such as Bill, the real estate novelist, Davy, who's still in the Navy, as well as the weaitress that ispracticing politics. Overall, Joel is singing about how the night has unraveled although it's debatable if he's singing about that night or a previous one.