Welcome to Chillers, the ongoing series where we take a look at songs that give me goosebumps. Bi-weekly posting will be done on WordPress with a cross-post to Bluesky.

Billy Joel’s most successful hit, Piano Man, has become ingrained in the cultural bloodstream in a way few songs ever manage. It’s the kind of track people shout out at bars or jokingly request whenever they spot a piano in the corner. But underneath that playful reputation lies something far more melancholy — a beautifully depressing snapshot of lives suspended in place.

The titular Piano Man narrates the Saturday night scene from behind his keyboard, serving as both witness and confidant to a cast of regulars grasping for meaning. Old men reminiscing about better days, a bartender named John quietly suffocating in routine, and a crowd unified by the dull ache of unmet dreams. Despite the light, swaying melody, every verse is another step deeper into the shared heaviness of the room.

What makes the song so human is how interconnected everyone becomes — not just the patrons leaning on the music to survive another week, but the Piano Man himself. By the end, he acknowledges a bitter truth: he is part of the same cycle, providing just enough comfort for everyone (including himself) to keep going. It’s resignation, reflection, and reluctant acceptance all rolled together.

Or maybe it’s simply the lingering taste of cheap beer.