Mainly influenced by the sound of The Ronettes’s “Be My Baby”, “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” from 1976’s Turnstiles was written shortly after Billy Joel moved out of Hollywood and went back to New York City in 1975. He had relocated there to try and boost his career.
[Verse 1]
Bobby's driving through the city tonight
Through the lights in a hot new rent-a-car
He joins the lovers in his heavy machine
It's a scene down on Sunset Boulevard
[Chorus]
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
[Verse 2]
Johnny's taking care of things for awhile
And his style is so right for troubadours
They got him sitting with his back to the door
Now he won't be my fast gun anymore
[Chorus]
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
[Bridge]
Moving on is a chance that you take
Every time you try to stay together
Say a word out of line and you find
That the friends you had are gone forever
Forever
[Verse 3]
So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last, some will just be now and then
Life is a series of hello's and goodbye's
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again
[Chorus]
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
[Bridge]
Moving on is a chance that you take
Every time you try to stay together
Say a word out of line and you find
That the friends you had are gone forever
Forever
[Verse 4]
So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last, some will just be now and then
Life is a series of hello's and goodbyes
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again
[Outro]
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
Say goodbye to Hollywood
Say goodbye, my baby
Say Goodbye to Hollywood was written by Billy Joel.
Say Goodbye to Hollywood was produced by Billy Joel.
Billy Joel released Say Goodbye to Hollywood on Wed May 19 1976.