She’s Always a Woman

This blog post is dedicated to all the beautiful women in my life.

Wherever you may be around the world, you know who you are and you will always remain ever so dear in my heart.

~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~

She’s Always a Woman is a beautiful love song composed by legendary American singer and songwriter Billy Joel in his 1977 album The Stranger following other hits including Just the Way You Are. Composed in compound time signature of 6/8, this song peaked at no. 17 on the US singles chart that year.

Joel wrote this song for his then first wife, Elizabeth Weber, who took over management of his career and was able to organise his financial affairs after the singer had signed some bad deals and contracts. She was a tough and savvy negotiator who could “wound with her eyes” or “steal like a thief” and would “never give in”.

Because of her tough, no-nonsense style, many business associates felt she was “unfeminine”. But to Joel, she was always a woman. They eventually divorced in 1982.

(Listening tip: use a good set of headphones)

She’s Always a Woman

She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child but she’s always a woman to me

She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she’ll never believe
And she’ll take what you give her as long it’s free
Yeah she steals like a thief but she’s always a woman to me

Chorus

Oh ….. she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She’s ahead of her time
Oh ….. and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she’ll promise you more than the garden of Eden
Then she’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleeding
But she’ll bring out the best and the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself ’cause she’s always a woman to me

She’s frequently kind and she’s suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases she’s nobody’s fool
And she can’t be convicted she’s earned her degree
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you
But she’s always a woman to me

Hee Sook is a Korean woman (cover image above) whose portrait is the subject of Tasmanian-born artist Sam Wade‘s original 2007 oil painting.

I met the artist during his exhibition in 2007 at the Eva Breuer Art Dealer in Woollahra. Sam told me that Hee Sook is a fellow art student when he was studying at the Julian Ashton Art School at The Rocks, Sydney.

One can fall in love with a fictitious character similar to how one can admire a person whom one has never met before. With Hee Sook, I admire her beauty through the eyes of one of Australia’s most talented young artists. His original works sell out the moment they are for sale on the market.

I fell in love with his painting of Hee Sook the moment I laid eyes on it, just like I did with so many beautiful women I have met throughout my life. Glancing over a shoulder, her smile is endearing.

And although I have never met her in person, she will always be a beautiful woman in my heart.

~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~

The cover image above was photographed on 18 May 2014 at the Lane Cove National Park in New South Wales, Australia.

Eva Breuer Art Dealer
83 Moncur street
Woollahra, New South Wales

Tel: +61 2 9362 0297

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm. By Appointment outside trading hours.

http://www.evabreuerartdealer.com.au/

Lane Cove National Park
New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service
Level 14, 59 – 61 Goulburn street
Sydney, New South Wales

Tel: 1300 072 757 (within Australia); (+61 2) 9995 6500 (when calling from overseas)

Enviroline (environment information and publications requests)
Tel: 131 555 (within Australia); (+61 2) 9995 5550 (when calling from overseas)

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/lane-cove-national-park