When I think of the world landscape today, the first thing that comes to mind is that everyone hates each other. That’s a generalization, but being 28, it seems like the world is at a tipping point.

But then I listen to Billy Joel’s Angry Young Man, released in 1976, and realize it’s always been like this. And that my feelings towards the world aren’t original.

The song is about the Angry Young Man, who’s always fighting the good fight so to speak, but contrasted with the wiser older narrator who kind of doesn’t give a shit anymore, who I suppose may be the Angry Young Man himself, just grown up.

These lines stand out, from the perspective of the old man.

I believe I’ve passed the age of consciousness and righteous rage
I found that just surviving was a noble fight
I once believed in causes too
I had my pointless point of view
And life went on no matter who was wrong or right

Present day feels like a tipping point, like there’s a lot of angry people fighting a lot of valid causes. And this song says that’s always happening, and everyone has their causes and views, and in the end, life keeps going, and we sort of soften up when we take a step back.

A lot of time has passed since that was released. And people may look back now on that and more or less say ‘well yeah, what the fuck does Billy Joel have to be worried about, he’s a rich white musician‘. And that’s fair. And maybe me, a well-off white kid agreeing with him shows my ignorance more than my brilliance, but the world has been this way forever.