Billy Joel - My Life Lyrics Meaning

This is a song about strength. The strength to examine yourself, and the strength to live life the way you want. The strength to leave behind toxic people, you know them, the overbearing and intrusive who want to pull your puppet strings. Your way is wrong, their way is right, they'll give you a second chance to see the light - THEIR light. THEIR way which is clearly the best way.

Remember this song was written in the middle 1970s, a time when the social expectation was still very much about conforming. Work that job, even if you despise it. Pay off that mortgage. Pay your dues, for years and years if necessary. Stay with a woman even if she drives you nuts and doesn't listen to you. Do as your told.

Billy was moving in on age 30 at the time the song was recorded. Late 20s is a time when many people figure it out (if they are ever going to), that they truly escape from the cliques and herd mentality of high school and college.