Longest Time
Billy Joel
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Oh, oh, oh For the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest time If you said goodbye to me tonight There would still be music left to write What else could I do I'm so inspired by you That hasn't happened for the longest time Once I thought my innocence was gone Now I know that happiness goes on That's where you found me When you put your arms around me I haven't been there for the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall And the greatest miracle of all Is how I need you And how you needed me too That hasn't happened for the longest time Maybe this won't last very long But you feel so right And I could be wrong Maybe I've been hoping too hard But I've gone this far And it's more than I hoped for Who knows how much further we'll go on Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone I'll take my chances I forgot how nice romance is I haven't been there for the longest time I had second thoughts at the start I said to myself Hold on to your heart Now I know the woman that you are You're wonderful so far And it's more than I hoped for I don't care what consequence it brings I have been a fool for lesser things I want you so bad I think you ought to know that I intend to hold you for the longest time
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Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Background"The Longest Time" is a song by American singer-songfriend Billy Joel, which first appeared on the 1983 album, An Innocent Man.
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Chart SuccessThe song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary charts in the United States.
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GenreIt's commonly identified as Doo-Wop, using harmony vocals that echo the sound of 1950s groups like The Drifters, lending a nostalgic feel to the song.
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A CappellaIt is primarily an a cappella song, with Joel's voice supported only by backing vocals and a simple bass line. The only significant non-vocal sound is the snapping of fingers.
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Musical InspirationThe song was inspired by groups like The Four Seasons, with Billy Joel wanting to emulate their style in a tribute to the Doo-Wop era.
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Multiple VoicesExcept for the bass line, all the voices in the song are Joel’s own, layered on top of each other.
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Music VideoThe contrasting black and white visual aesthetics in the music video depict a high school reunion, which fits perfectly with the nostalgic feel of the song.
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Song LyricsThe lyrics speak about the fear of losing love and precious time slipping away - themes that evoke a universal emotional response.
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Successive Hits"The Longest Time" was the fourth single from An Innocent Man album that made it to the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Error in LyricsFans have pointed out an error in the lyrics where Joel sings "For the longest time, if you said goodbye to me tonight..." but "tonight" is longer than the "time" the phrase refers to. However, it is just seen as a clever wordplay.
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Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
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"Longest Time Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25745243/Billy+Joel/Longest+Time>.
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