My Favorite Song: The Longest Time

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This article is about the 1983 Billy Joel song.

The Longest Time , is the third song featured on the 1983 album called "An Innocent Man". The song is written and performed by Billy Joel. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom the song reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.The single finds Billy Joel singing in a classic doo-wop style. Much of An Innocent Man references past rock styles, this particular song is not quite a cappella. A bass guitar slyly lays the undercurrent of the melody.

Contents

Lyrics

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

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

Background

The song was written about his budding love affair with supermodel Christie Brinkley, whom he married in 1985, a year after releasing this song. Some believe that this song typifies this period in which Joel’s music lost the angst, tension, and hunger which had made his earlier work so extraordinary.

The song features Joel on lead vocals and all backing vocals. Two musical instruments are present in the song: a bass guitar and a snare drum being played with brushes. When the song is covered by vocal groups, the bass part is typically sung by a human. All other sounds in the song are Joel's vocals, along with percussive sounds such as finger snaps and hand claps. Phil Ramone and Joel had intended to feature a vocal group called "The Persuasions" one of the top a cappella groups at the time, but when they sang in the studio they tended to go flat as the song progressed. The Persuasions were dismissed and Joel recorded each of the parts himself.

In Billy Joels biography, he says: "They came in. They’re passing around the cognac, and we had a bass guitar on the track, which means they had to stay exactly in pitch – and they kept going flat, flat, flat. More cognac, going flatter. Phil finally told me, “You’re going to have to do all the parts yourself.”

Covers

For the Longest Time by Zhané

The Longest Time by The Overtones

For the Longest Time (Schuyler Sisters Version) by Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones (Ft. Jasmine Cephas Jones, Phillipa Soo & Renée Elise Goldsberry)

The Longest Time by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Longest Time by Glee Cast

Other Songs From Album

• Easy Money
• An Innocent Man
• This Night
• Tell Her About It
• Uptown Girl
• Careless Talk
• Christie Lee
• Leave a Tender Moment Alone

Song Credits

Produces By: Phil Ramone

Written By: Billy Joel

Label: Columbia Records

Background vocal arranged by: Tom Bahler

Mastered By: Ted Jensen

Engineering Assistance By: Scott James and Mike Allaire

Engineered By: Bradshaw Leigh and Jim Boyer

Vocals: Billy Joel

Drums: Liberty DeVitto

Bass: Doug Stegmeyer

Recorded At: A&R Recording (New York City, New York)

Release Date:August 8, 1983