From American Songwriter · Kat Caudill · · 1m 10s
High Schoolers in 1973 Knew These Songs
High schoolers in 1973 knew every word to these three songs.
In brief
High schoolers in 1973 knew every word to these three songs. High schoolers in 1973 knew every word to Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting', Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird', and Billy Joel's 'Piano Man'. Originally reported by American Songwriter.
High schoolers in 1973 knew these songs
High schoolers in 1973 knew every word to these songs, even if they didn't go to school that year.
Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting'
Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting' was partially inspired by a pub near where Bernie Taupin grew up.
Bernie Taupin on the pub
Taupin said the song was based on a pub in Market Rasen called the Aston Arms where fights happened on Saturday nights.
Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird'
Lynyrd Skynyrd released 'Free Bird' on their 1973 album, which later became a single.
The song's guitar solo
The song is famous for its long guitar solo, though the lyrics express a desire to move on from a past love.
Billy Joel's 'Piano Man'
Billy Joel got his nickname from 'Piano Man', which he sang about being a 'piano man' at a bar between 1972 and 1973.
What to remember
High schoolers in 1973 knew every word to Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting', Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird', and Billy Joel's 'Piano Man'.
