<P> The song was released in 1977 , following several other hits from The Stranger including `` Just the Way You Are '' , `` Movin ' Out ( Anthony 's Song ) '' and `` Only the Good Die Young '' . Musically , Joel has said that he was influenced by Gordon Lightfoot and his mellow acoustic guitar ballads . It is a love song that Joel wrote for his then wife , Elizabeth Weber . Elizabeth had taken over management of Joel 's career , and was able to put his financial affairs in order after Joel 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 '' , but would `` never give in '' . Because of her tough - as - nails negotiating style , many business adversaries thought she was `` unfeminine , '' but to Joel , she was always a woman . The two eventually divorced in 1982 . </P>
who wrote shes always a woman to me
Joel