The Downeaster “Alexa”

This weekend, Billy Joel’s daughter, Alexa, was briefly hospitalized following concerns about a possible overdose, possibly related to angst felt over relationships.  Assuming that is the case, she gets that angst rightfully.  Just listen to songs like “My Life” and “She’s Always a Woman” to hear Billy Joel singing about the same kind of frustration.  Of course, “Angry Young Man” and “Pressure” deal with angst in general, while songs like “Allentown” voice working class frustrations.

One of Billy Joel’s more often forgotten but well-written songs is “The Downeaster ‘Alexa,'” which appeared on his Storm Front album.  This song, too, voiced frustration, as it took up the plight of fishermen on the North Atlantic coast of the United States.  “Alexa” is the name of the boat of the character narrating the song.  Of course, Billy named it after his daughter.