"She's Always a Woman" is a love song written and composed by Billy Joel, released on his 1977 album The Stranger on Columbia Records. Produced by Phil Ramone and recorded at A & R Recording in New York City, it is about a woman the singer loves despite her flaws. He wrote it for his then-wife Elizabeth Weber, who had taken over the management of his career; they divorced in 1982. Joel was influenced by Gordon Lightfoot and folk fingerpicking, playing arpeggiated triads in the right hand over a minimal production.
The song is in 6/8 metre and E-flat major, with choruses in the relative minor, C minor. It features mellotron flutes, the only time Joel used the instrument. Billboard called it a "dramatic ballad". Running 3:21, it was released as the fourth single from the album in the United States and Canada, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. In the UK it reached No. 53 in 1986 as a double A-side with "Just the Way You Are", and re-entered the chart in 2010 at No. 29. Later versions include those by Lynda Carter, Josh Groban and Regine Velasquez.
