Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)

Billy Joel's song "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)" paints a vivid and dystopian picture of New York City's downfall. Written in the mid-1970s, the song imagines a future where the iconic city has been devastated and abandoned. The lyrics are filled with powerful imagery, depicting the collapse of the Empire State Building, the burning of churches in Harlem, and the destruction of the Bronx. Joel's narrative is both a lament and a reflection on the fragility of urban life and civilization itself.

The song's title, "Miami 2017," suggests a future where survivors of New York's destruction have relocated to Florida, reminiscing about the city's former glory. The lyrics mention significant events and places, such as the concert in Brooklyn and the boats waiting at the Battery, which ground the apocalyptic vision in real locations. The reference to the Spanish Civil War when describing the burning churches in Harlem adds a historical layer, drawing parallels between past conflicts and the imagined future chaos.

Joel's storytelling is not just about the physical destruction of New York but also about the social and cultural shifts that accompany such a catastrophe. The mention of the mafia taking over Mexico and the union strikes that paralyzed the city hint at broader societal breakdowns. The song ends on a melancholic note, with only a handful of survivors left to remember and tell the tale of New York's fall. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale, reminding listeners of the impermanence of even the most iconic and seemingly indestructible places.