Billy Joel - big man on mulberry street

화자는 사회에 적응하지 못하고 갈등과 고뇌를 겪고 있으며, 자신의 정체성과 삶의 의미에 대해 질문한다
자아의 갈등 속에서 자신은 특별한 존재라고 느끼지만, 내면의 불안과 외로움이 그를 괴롭힌다
결국 그는 타인에게 자신의 진짜 모습을 드러내기를 두려워한다

Why can't I lay low
Why can't I say what I mean
Why don't I stay home
And get myself into some boring routine

Why can't I calm down
Why is it always a fight
I can't get unwound
Why do I throw myself into the night

I'm on the outside
I don't fit into the groove
Now I ain't a bad guy
So tell me what am I trying to prove

Why can't I cool out
Why don't I button my lip
Why do I lash out
Why is it I always shoot from the hip

I cruise for Houston to Canal Street
A misfit and a rebel
I see the winos talking to themselves
And I can understand
Why is it everytime I go out
I always seem to get in trouble
I guess I made an impression on somebody
North of Hester and south of Grand

And so in my small way
I'm a big man on Mulberry Street
I don't mean all day
Only at night when I'm light on my feet

What else have I got
That I'd be trying to hide
Maybe a blind spot
I haven't seen from the sensitive side

But you know in my own heart
I'm a big man on Mulberry Street
I play the whole part
I leave a big tip with every receipt

I'm so romantic
I'm such a passionate man
Sometimes I panic
What if nobody finds out who I am