About the song
Billy Joel’s Keeping the Faith is a nostalgic anthem that encapsulates the spirit of the 1950s and 1960s. Released in 1983 as the closing track of his acclaimed album An Innocent Man, this song serves as a heartfelt tribute to Joel’s teenage years and the timeless allure of classic rock and roll.
With its infectious doo-wop melody and evocative lyrics, Keeping the Faith paints a vivid picture of a simpler time. Joel reminisces about cruising down the highway in a vintage car, hanging out with friends, and falling in love under the summer moon. The song’s nostalgic tone is further enhanced by the single’s cover art, which features Joel and the judge from the song’s music video in a jukebox courtroom setting.
Despite its commercial success, reaching No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Keeping the Faith was the only single from An Innocent Man to fail to chart in the UK. However, the song’s enduring popularity and cultural significance have solidified its place in Joel’s discography and the hearts of music fans worldwide.
The music video for Keeping the Faith is a visual feast that complements the song’s nostalgic theme. Directed by David Mallet, the video features a courtroom trial where Joel’s innocence is put to the test. The courtroom is filled with iconic figures from the 1950s and 1960s, including a Jimi Hendrix lookalike, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere. Joel’s wife-to-be, Christie Brinkley, makes a cameo appearance as the “red-haired girl in a Chevrolet,” while comedian Joe Piscopo adds a touch of humor with his cameo at the end.
Keeping the Faith is more than just a catchy pop song; it’s a testament to the enduring power of music to transport us back in time and evoke fond memories. Joel’s heartfelt lyrics and the infectious melody make this track a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Video
Lyrics
If it seems like I’ve been lost in let’s remember
If you think I’m feeling older and missing my younger days
Oh, then you should have known me much better
‘Cause my past is something that never got in my way
Oh, no
Still I would not be here now if I never had the hunger
And I’m not ashamed to say the wild boys were my friends
Oh, ’cause I never felt the desire
To let music set me on fire
And then I was saved, yeah
That’s why I’m keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith
We wore matador boots
Only Flagg Brothers had them with the Cuban heel
Iridescent socks with the same color shirt
And a tight pair of chinos
Oh, I put on my shark skin jacket
You know the kind with the velvet collar
And ditty bop shades
Oh, yeah
I took a fresh pack of Luckies
And a mint called Sen-Sen
My old man’s Trojans and his Old Spice after shave
Oh, combed my hair in a pompadour
Like the rest of the Romeos wore
A permanent wave, yeah
We were keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith
You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
‘Cause the good ole days weren’t always good
And tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems
Learned stickball as a formal education
Lost a lot of fights but it taught me how to lose ok
Oh, I heard about sex but not enough
I found you could dance and still look tough anyway
Oh, yes I did
I found out a man ain’t just being macho
Ate an awful lot of late night drive-in food
Drank a lot of take home pay
I thought I was the Duke of Earl
When I made it with a red haired girl
In the Chevrolet, oh yeah
We were keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith
You know the good ole days weren’t always good
And tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems
I told you my reasons for the whole revival
Now I’m going outside to have an ice cold beer in the shade
Oh, I’m going to listen to my 45’s
Ain’t it wonderful to be alive when the rock n’ roll plays, yeah
When the memory stays, yeah
I’m keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I’m keeping the faith
I’m keeping the faith
Yes I am
You know I’m keeping the faith, oh yes I am
You know I’m keeping the faith
Oh, you know I am
I’m keeping the faith, oh yeah