Album: An Innocent Man (1983)

Charted: 25 14

License This Song 

• Oh, oh, oh
  For the longest time
  Oh, oh, oh
  For the longest
  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 Writer/s: BILLY JOEL
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

• Hilltopviewer from Dublin,irelandHi. This is a great tune,especially a nod to Earl 'Speedo' Carroll of the 1950's Doo-Wop group The Cadillacs, were Billy sings a small phrase of 'Gloria' by The Cadillacs as the end of the song fades to a finish, which is a lovely homage to that era, 1954 or 1955. Great stuff!
• Brian from SocalDoes anyone know who the designer was for those slick glasses Billy was wearing in the beginning of the video? They look Cartier but I can’t seem to find info on any glasses worn by Billy Joel besides his classic Wayfarers.
• Marsha York from TexasDid Richard Dean Anderson ever appear in a video with Billy Joel?
• Jim from Lady Lake, FlBilly Joel sang the entire song himself. He recorded and mixed 14 tracks of himself singing. The only instrument on the track is a bass guitar.
  
  To David Newman, The Beatles didn't right Devil in Her Heart. It was a single released by the girl group, The Donays. The Beatles changed "His to Her" and George Harrison sang lead on it. The Donays' version never had almost no chart success. The Beatles loved to find little known records by little known black artists, and cover them. many of the songs they covered were originally B-Sides.
• Miles from Vancouver, CanadaPossibly my favorite song of Billy's. He does the multitracked harmonies so well, even if I miss the piano. I first heard this song from a Rockapella parody at the end of Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, which got me interested in it. Truly a soulful 80's classic. In fact, it's cool that it's followed on the Greatest Hits album by You're Only Human, another uplifting song (matter of fact, I think I'll put it on now). Also, a clarification for David from Chicago, George was the one that sang "Devil In Her Heart". That song was a cover of the one-single wonder The Donays.
• Mindy from Miami, FlAll the vocal tracks are by Billy Joel just Billy!
• Teagan from Grand Rapids, MiIn the music video. The band members are the mock election winners. Liberty DeVitto being most handsome, Mark Rivera being most popular, *possibly Doug Stegmeyer as best athlete, *possibly David Brown as most likely to succeed, and Russell Javors as best dressed.
  When the music begins and the camera pans to Billy Joel, you can see on the adjacent wall that Joel was Class President.
  
  * - Pretty sure Stegmeyer is best athlete, but it is hard to tell with that one and most likely to succeed.
• Edward from Henderson, NvShe also says "Uptown Girl" is about her.
• Yitz from Wilmington, DeThe song is about Christie, or at least she says so in an interview.
• David Newman from Chicago, IlBilly Joel rhymes "chances" and "romance is" as did the Beatles in "She's Got the Devil in Her Heart". Kieth Richards says "steal anything that's good" (or something to that effect). My question is, "Who did Lennon/McCartney steal this rhyme from?"
• Ken from Louisville, KyThe do-wop backing vocals were done by Billy and some of his band members.
• Nate from A-town, Vano Hall and Oates were two of the guys singing in this song
• Olivia from Webster Gro Ves, Moactually some teachers at my school sang this a cappella. honestly it wasn't that bad but not nearly as good as billy joel could ever do
• Dc from Hilo, HiAren't all the vocals by multi-tracked by Billy Joel himself? Sure sounds like it..

More Songfacts:

HookBlues Traveler

The Blues Traveler song "Hook" is a Peter Pan reference, but also about the catchy hook of the song, which is what "brings you back."

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

"Here I Go Again" was a #1 hit for Whitesnake in 1987, but it was first released in 1982 with the lyric, "Like a hobo I was born to walk alone."

LevonElton John

Elton John's classic "Levon" runs 5:22, and Elton wouldn't let his record company edit it down for the single. His next single was "Tiny Dancer," which is even longer, running 6:12.

Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)Lou Bega

The party tune "Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)" was the theme song for the 2000 Democratic Convention (the party of Bill Clinton), until someone noticed the line, "A little bit of Monica in my life."

KatmanduBob Seger

Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, was the archetype for faraway mysticism when Bob Seger wrote a song about it in 1975.

Only Wanna Be With YouHootie & the Blowfish

"Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish is a tribute to Bob Dylan, but Dylan sued them over it for using lyrics from his song "Idiot Wind."

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.