Today’s featured song comes with the very recent news of Billy Joel’s brain condition diagnosis where he had to cancel tours. The 76 year-old singer-songwriter is said to be receiving ‘excellent care’ and is ‘fully committed to prioritising his health’. The Longest Time is the third song to appear here from Billy Joel, with his last entry – The Downeaster Alexa in April. Apart from his well-known early major classics, my listening appreciation of him was born out of songs like today’s entry from his 1983 ‘An Innocent Man’, ‘The Bridge’, and ‘Storm Front’.
I have recounted the personal story below on a few occasions, but it remains one of my favourites; so bare with me those already familiar with it:
I saw Billy Joel’s Stormfront tour in ’91 in Sydney with my schoolmate Gary. He’s actually the one who drew that caricature of my family – the one featured in the ‘Reflection’ menu. Anyway, Gary was a massive Billy Joel fan. We used to go back and forth over music because, while he was all about Billy, I leaned more towards Elton John.
I still remember when Elton’s Kiss the Bride came out – Gary would mock me by belting out, “I want to kiss the bride……groom!” Classic Gary with his injection of ‘Groom‘ in place of John’s ‘Yeh!’ A clever jab, just like his caricature work.
So yeah, I went to the concert mostly to appease him, though I did (and still do) dig a lot of Joel’s music – including today’s featured track: The Longest Time.
This all reminds me, I have had in my movie collection for years now, the DVD of Billy Joel and Elton John collaboration of the 1994 “Face to Face tours“. I’m dusting off that baby this morning and my daughter and I will enjoy it over breakfast and the rest of our lazy Saturday morning.
The following was extracted and abridged from the Wikipedia reference below:
The Longest Time is a doo-wop song released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album An Innocent Man. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel’s musical influences, the song is presented in the style of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song features Joel on lead vocals, all backing vocals, and percussive sounds such as finger snaps and hand claps. Joel had intended to feature a vocal group but Joel recorded each of the parts himself.
[Intro]
Dum dum dum
[Chorus]
Woah, oh, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Woah, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
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
[Bridge]
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
[Verse 3]
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
[Bridge]
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
[Verse 4]
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
[Outro]
Woah, oh, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
(Repeat)
References:
1. The Longest Time – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
First of all…it was a hell of an acomplishment having a doo-wop song hit in 1984. That in itself is like finding the Hope Diamond. It’s so catchy though that it is hard to deny how great it is. Glad you did get to see him…even if only to appease a friend. Great post Matt
Your salient comments particularly the accomplishment of a doo-wop song in this era makes for a neat addendum to this article. Nice one Max and I appreciate your kind words.
Thanks for the reminder of this song!
I’ve always liked the retro sound of Billy Joel’s album “An Innocent Man”, including the neat doo-wop vibe of “The Longest Time.” I mostly know Joel, based on specific songs, not entire albums. With that said, “An Innocent Man” may be may second favorite album after “The Nylon Curtain.”
Joel’s brain condition, which I understand is excessive cerebrospinal fluid built-up in the brain that leads to balance, bladder and memory issues, sounds pretty concerning to me. I hope the piano man will be able to recover. Apparently, there’s a procedure to drain the fluid, but given Joel’s age, I’m not sure he’s the right candidate for it.
I know Joel also mainly from specific songs, from specific albums. I think I only owned Stormfront. I don’t think I’ve heard the Nylon Curtain as an album. I just scanned the Track Listing and there are a few on there that caught my attention.
Thanks for clarifying and expanding more on Joel’s medical attention. I hope they can do something to offset it despite the difficulties concerning his age.
I feel bad about Billy Joel’s brain condition but I could never stand him.
Never stand him as a person or his music? Or both? Hehe
His music. I don’t know him as a person. Although if his personality is anything like his music, I guess I don’t want to know him LOL
To be honest, I’m surprised to read how much disdain you have for his music. I wouldn’t consider myself a devoted fan of his, by any stretch, but I can’t fault his legacy and his musical influence especially the New York scene. Is it that cocktail lounge New York sound you don’t like? What is it, that turns you off exactly? If its any consolation, I can’t stand ‘Piano Man’, ‘Just the Way You Are’, and ‘Tell Her About It’ and some other big hits.
I’m trying to think of a song of his that I like.
The problem is that he is REALLY LOVED around here & his stuff was PLAYED TO DEATH which didn’t help. I know people who revere him. I’m not one of them.
I really hated “Only the Good Die Young” ~ maybe it all started there. That’s a long time ago ~ but I was 17 when it came out ~ & I was Catholic. I was also sexually active ~ for over THREE YEARS at that point.
I was like ~ you know ALL the wrong Catholic girls, asshole.
& that was the end of that.
He has an attitude. That smarmy smile.
The funny thing is, before my kids left today we listened to ‘The Longest Time’ again and ‘Uptown Girl’ which they obviously gelled with. I remember the same appreciation I had of those songs when I was young, although I’m no longer in awe of them like I once was. But it’s cool to see their fascination with it upon first listens recalling my attraction. I also dislike ‘Only the Good Die Young’, but I have no personal connection with it like you do.
There are two from him I still really like which are ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ – ‘Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs Invasion’. I can sing that song front to back – no problem and enjoy that. Also ‘I Go to Extremes’. I think ‘A Matter of Trust’ is pretty good too.