Summer, Highland Falls

by Billy Joel
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

They say that (F5)these are not the best of times,

but (Gm11)they’re the on ly times I’ve ev er (F5)known.

And I be (F5)lieve there is a time for med i ta tion in ca (Bb)the drals of our (C)own.

(A7)Now I have (Dm)seen that sad sur (F)ren der in my (Bb)lov er’s eyes,

and (G7sus)I can on ly stand.

a part and (Csus)sym pa thize.

For we are (Bb)al ways what our (F)sit u a tions hand us, it’s eith er (C)sad ness or

eu pho ri a.

So we’ll (F5)ar gue and we’ll com pro mise, and (Gm7)re al ize

that (Bb)noth ing’s ev er changed.

For all our mu tu al ex (Fmaj7)per i ence, our sep a rate con clu sions are the (C)same.

(A7)Now we are (Dm)forced to rec og nize our in hum an i ty.

Our (G7sus)rea son co ex (G7)ists with our in (Csus)san i ty.

And though we (Bb)choose be tween re al i ty and (Gm7)mad ness, it’s eith er (C)sad ness or

eu pho ri a.

(A)How (Dm)thought less ly we (F)dis si pate our (Bb)en er gies.

Per (G7sus)haps we don’t ful fill each oth er’s (Csus)fan ta sies.

And as we (Bb)stand up on the ledg es of our lives

with our (C)res pect ive sim i (Bb)lar i ties,

it’s eith er (Csus2)sad ness or

eu pho ri a.

(F)Whoa

ho, ho.

Whoa, ho,

ho,

(Bb)whoa.

Summer, Highland Falls — Simple Sheet Music

5 people have learned this song

"Summer, Highland Falls" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of Bb, 120 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Summer, Highland Falls”

How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "Summer, Highland Falls"?
Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music — same song, less visual density.
What key is "Summer, Highland Falls" by Billy Joel played in?
Summer, Highland Falls is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Summer, Highland Falls"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Summer, Highland Falls" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Summer, Highland Falls"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Summer, Highland Falls"?
"Summer, Highland Falls" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Summer, Highland Falls"?
This arrangement uses 17 chords: A7, Am7, Bb, C, Csus2, Csus4, Dm, Eb, +9 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords — helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "Summer, Highland Falls". Key of Bb, 120 BPM.
What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below — like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.