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(lips whistling) 00:00
(broom swishes) 00:08
- You gonna be much longer, son? 00:15
- Nah, not much longer. 00:18
(broom swishes) 00:21
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 00:33
♪ For the longest time ♪ 00:37
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 00:40
♪ For the longest ♪ 00:43
♪ If you said goodbye to me tonight ♪ 00:45
♪ There would still be music left to write ♪ 00:50
♪ What else could I do ♪ 00:56
♪ I'm so inspired by you ♪ 00:59
♪ That hasn't happened for the longest time ♪ 01:02
♪ Once I thought my innocence was gone ♪ 01:07
♪ Now I know that happiness goes on ♪ 01:13
♪ That's where you found me ♪ 01:19
♪ When you put your arms around me ♪ 01:22
♪ I haven't been there for the longest time ♪ 01:25
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 01:30
♪ For the longest time ♪ 01:34
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 01:37
♪ For the longest ♪ 01:40
♪ I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall ♪ 01:42
♪ And the greatest miracle of all ♪ 01:47
♪ Is how I need you ♪ 01:53
♪ And how you needed me too ♪ 01:56
♪ That hasn't happened for the longest time ♪ 01:59
♪ Maybe this won't last very long ♪ 02:05
♪ But you feel so right ♪ 02:10
♪ And I could be wrong ♪ 02:13
♪ Maybe I've been hoping too hard ♪ 02:16
♪ But I've gone this far ♪ 02:21
♪ And it's more than I hoped for ♪ 02:24
♪ Who knows how much further we'll go on ♪ 02:28
♪ Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone ♪ 02:33
♪ I'll take my chances ♪ 02:39
♪ I forgot how nice romance is ♪ 02:42
♪ I haven't been there for the longest time ♪ 02:45
♪ I had second thoughts at the start ♪ 02:50
♪ I said to myself ♪ 02:56
♪ Hold on to your heart ♪ 02:58
♪ Now I know the woman that you are ♪ 03:01
♪ You're wonderful so far ♪ 03:07
♪ And it's more than I hoped for ♪ 03:09
♪ I don't care what consequence it brings ♪ 03:13
♪ I have been a fool for lesser things ♪ 03:18
♪ I want you so bad ♪ 03:24
♪ I think you ought to know that ♪ 03:27
♪ I intend to hold you for the longest time ♪ 03:29
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 03:35
♪ For the longest time ♪ 03:39
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 03:41
♪ For the longest time ♪ 03:45
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 03:47
♪ For the longest time ♪ 03:50
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 03:53
♪ For the longest time ♪ 03:56
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ 03:59
♪ For the longest time ♪ 04:02

The Longest Time – English Lyrics

✨ Open the app to fully understand the lyrics of "The Longest Time" – learning English has never been this fun!
By
Billy Joel
Album
An Innocent Man
Viewed
78,557,417
Language
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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

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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

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Key Grammar Structures

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