Billy Joel has said his 1973 song ‘Captain Jack’ has not aged well for him, citing both its bleak subject matter and its drawn-out musical structure. The song matters because it remains a well-known early work from his breakthrough-era album *Piano Man*, yet he has increasingly avoided performing it despite audience demand.

Joel described the track as a dreary portrait of suburban stagnation and drug use, with verses built around only two chords. Some lyrics have also been viewed as insensitive or homophobic; he has said singing the song makes him feel depressed, although he has not ruled out playing it again.