And So It Goes

"And So It Goes"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Storm Front
Released	1990
Format	CD single
Recorded	The Hit Factory, Times Square Studio, New York, United States
Genre	Ballad
Length	3:38
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Billy Joel
Producer	Billy Joel Mick Jones
Billy Joel singles chronology
"That's Not Her Style" (1990) "And So It Goes" (1990) "Shameless" (1991)

"And So It Goes" is a ballad written by Billy Joel in 1983, though it was not released until six years later. It appeared as the tenth and final track of his megahit album Storm Front. The original 1983 demo was released on the 2005 box set My Lives.^[1] Joel wrote the song about a doomed relationship with model Elle Macpherson. Their relationship was dramatic, as Macpherson was only a teenager while Joel was reaching his mid-30s. Joel dated Macpherson for a brief time shortly before becoming involved with model Christie Brinkley, who would ultimately become his second wife. In the original demo version of "And So It Goes," Joel sings the melody simply and almost humbly, accompanied by a simple piano backdrop, in a style very reminiscent of a hymn.

The single peaked at #37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart in 1990. It has been covered by many subsequent artists (see "Cover Versions" below). The King’s Singers and others have developed several vocal harmony arrangements of the song, which are often performed by high school and college choirs.^[2][3]

The song was featured at the end of the Boston Legal episode "Son of the Defender."^[4]

On November 16, 2010, during an interview on the Howard Stern show on Sirius Radio, Billy Joel was asked what song is his best work that is least appreciated. To answer this question, he played "And So It Goes."

Cover versions

• Former New York Yankee Bernie Williams covered the song on his jazz album, The Journey Within.
• The band Marianas Trench has covered the song live^[5] and they recorded the song for the "Director's Cut" edition of their album Masterpiece Theatre.
• American bagpiper Jori Chisholm covered the song on his debut solo album, Bagpipe Revolution.
• Singer and former American Idol competitor Carmen Rasmusen has covered the song previously.^[6]
• Singer Sara Gazarek covered it on her album, Return to You.^[7]
• The King's Singers covered it on their album, Good Vibrations.^[8]
• David Archuleta performed the song for the American Idol season 7 final three show.
• Independent singer/songwriter Kevin Wong covered it on his album, The Pink in the Grey.^[9]
• Jennifer Warnes covered the song on her 2001 album The Well^[10]
• Karrin Allyson covered the song with cello accompaniment on her 2009 album By Request: The Best of Karrin Allyson (compilation). The cello part was written by Bill Mclaughlin.

Chart positions

The expression

• In the 1969 novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut used the phrase "So it goes" as a transitional phrase to another subject, as a reminder, and as comic relief. Generally the phrase was used after every time someone's (or something's) death is described or mentioned in the novel.

• From 1982 to 1983, NBC News produced NBC News Overnight with anchors Linda Ellerbee, Lloyd Dobyns. They used the phrase 'And so it goes' to transit from one news story to the next.

References

1. ^ "Amazon.ca". http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000BHNLW6. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
2. ^ "King's Singers - Male Chorus". Singers.com. http://www.singers.com/kings.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
3. ^ "And So It Goes, Pop Choral Series - Hal Leonard Online". Halleonard.com. http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=8202317&menuid=3217&subsiteid=5&. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
4. ^ TV.com. "Boston Legal: Son of the Defender - Season 3, Episode 18". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/boston-legal/son-of-the-defender/episode/970411/summary.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
5. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
6. ^ "Carmen Rasmusen". JPop.com. http://www.jpop.com/Carmen+Rasmusen. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
7. ^ "Return To You: Sara Gazarek: Music". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OY8MTI. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
8. ^ "Good Vibrations: The King's Singers: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00138F0CG. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
9. ^ "The Pink In The Grey: Kevin Wong: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003J9WKKC. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
10. ^ "The Well: Jennifer Warnes: Music". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NNOX. Retrieved 2012-01-14. 
11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1286&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=5nj2tik6euiu8r5vemsb3cd8n4. Retrieved 2012-01-14.