anonymous June 14th, 2008 02:57PM  
This song is Billy's way of telling his critics and fans alike, that he knows what and who he is. At this point in his carrear (1974) he knows the music industry up, down, left and right. He knows exactly how it works and exactly how he may end up.

"But I know the game, you'll forget my name
And I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts"

If he doesn't keep comming out with good music, everyone will forget about him and make room for the new super-stars

"It was a beautiful song
But it ran too long
If you're gonna have a hit
You gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05"

This describes how record companies pretty much ran everything for you back in those days. They wanted a good song to be short enough to keep the listener's attention and make them wanna hear it again and again and again.

"Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you'll forget my name
I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts"

Once again stating how everyone loves him now that he has a great song that just came out, but in 3 or 4 years, no one will remember who he is unless he writes another great song that everyone wants to listen to.