The Longest Time – English Lyrics

• By: Billy Joel
• Album: An Innocent Man

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the timeless beauty of vocal harmony with Billy Joel's "The Longest Time." This track, a masterful homage to 1950s doo-wop, is special because it's almost entirely a cappella, with Billy Joel singing every single vocal part himself. Learning this song is a fantastic way to explore vocal layering, rhythmic precision (via finger snaps and claps), and the characteristic melodic phrasing of the classic doo-wop era, all delivered with Joel's signature storytelling.

[English]

(lips whistling)

(broom swishes)

- You gonna be much longer, son?

- Nah, not much longer.

(broom swishes)

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, 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 ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, 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 ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ For the longest time ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
longest /ˈlɔŋɡəst/ B1	adjective - most long; having the greatest duration
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measurable period during which events occur
goodbye /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ A1	noun - a farewell
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds combined to produce harmony
innocence /ˈɪnəsəns/ B2	noun - the state of being free from guilt or sin; naivety
happiness /ˈhæpinəs/ B1	noun - a feeling of pleasure and contentment
arms /ɑːrmz/ A2	noun - the two upper limbs of the human body
miracle /ˈmɪrəkəl/ B2	noun - an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws
romance /roʊˈmæns/ B2	noun - a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the center of emotions
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human
consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ C1	noun - a result or effect of an action or condition
fool /fuːl/ B1	noun - a person who acts unwisely or lacks sense
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or physical sensation
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
think /θɪŋk/ A2	verb - to have thoughts or form an opinion
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or keep something in one's hand or arms
greatest /ˈɡreɪtɪst/ B2	adjective - most excellent; remarkable