A question about Billy Joel's My Life. What does the line "Now he gives them a

Keith Emerson · 08-29-2008, 04:17 PM

stand-up routine in L.A." mean? The lyrics are below:
Got a call from an old friend
We used to be real close
Said he couldn’t go on the American way
Closed the shop, sold the house
Bought a ticket to the West Coast
Now he give them a stand-up routine in L.A.
Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A.

lizzylonglegs · 08-29-2008, 04:18 PM

Stand up routine is an entertainer who is trying to get a break into the Big Time by playing small venues, (That's how I see it).