"You May Be Right" is a song written and performed by rock singer Billy Joel released as a single from his 1980 album Glass Houses. The single reached #7 on the US charts and #6 in Canada. It failed to chart, however, in the UK unlike his preceding and succeeding singles "All for Leyna" (UK #40) and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (UK #14). The Japanese single features "Close to the Borderline" as a B-side.

"You May Be Right"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Glass Houses
B-side	"Close to the Borderline"
Released	March 7, 1980
Recorded	1979
Genre	Rock new wave[1] power pop[2]
Length	4:15
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Billy Joel
Producer(s)	Phil Ramone
Billy Joel singles chronology
"All for Leyna" (1980) "You May Be Right" (1980) "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980)
Music video
"You May Be Right" on YouTube

The song is the first track off the album and begins with the sound of broken glass, which is included to metaphorically signify the smashing of the glass house from which the album is named. "You May Be Right" is also on Billy Joel's Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II (on disc 2) and Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert albums.

Reception

Cash Box said that the song is "witty, urbane and energetic," and that the "hard guitar" playing is "reminiscent of Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones."[3]

Music video

The video version differs from the album version. The most notable difference is the intro, where the sound of broken glass is replaced with "one, two, one, two, three, four".

Personnel

• Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic piano, harmonica
• Dave Brown – electric guitar
• Russell Javors – electric guitar
• Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
• Liberty DeVitto – drums, percussion
• Richie Cannata – saxophone solo

Charts

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10]	Platinum	1,000,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The song has also been covered by:

• The song was used as the theme song for the television show Dave's World, as sung by Southside Johnny.
• The song was performed by Garth Brooks on the live video This Is Garth Brooks recorded in Dallas, Texas, and at Brooks's 1997 New York concert with Joel as a special guest.^{[citation needed]}
• AVAIL
• Keith Urban
• The Vindictives
• The New Directions glee club on Glee
• The folk-punk band AJJ, the Rock Bottom Remainders and by Alvin and the Chipmunks on their 1980 album Chipmunk Punk.[11][12][13][14]
• A Danish version was sung py rock-pioneer Peter Belli in 1981 and was a minor hit for him. The Danish title was "Hvis det er sandt" and the text was by Fini. It was part of his same year album "Er det sådan?".

References