Pop Song 646 of 1000 'Allentown' Billy Joel 1982

Pop Song 646 of 1000 'Allentown' Billy Joel 1982

Official MV    • Billy Joel - Allentown (Official Video)  

The song's theme centers around the resilience of Allentown, Pennsylvania and the surrounding Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania in the 1980s as it coped with the decline of its historically strong manufacturing sector and its emergence as a part of the Rust Belt in the latter part of the 20th century, including the depressed, blue-collar livelihood of Allentown residents following the decline and eventual closure of Bethlehem Steel, which was the world's second-largest steel manufacturer for most of the 20th century.
The introductory rhythm for the song is designed to be the sound of a rolling mill converting steel ingots into I-beams or other shapes. Such a sound was commonly heard throughout South Bethlehem when the Bethlehem Steel plant was in operation from 1857 through 1995.
Joel regards the song as being "hopeful" towards the plight of the unemployed steel workers. Even though the lyrics tell a sad tale, Joel says the song's message is "we're not moving out or giving up...we're going to try.