Released: March 10, 1980

Songwriter: Billy Joel

Producer: Phil Ramone

[Verse 1]
Oh, I didn't want to do it, but I got too lonely
Mmm, I had to call you up in the middle of the night
I know it's awful hard to try to make love long distance (ah, ah, ah)
But I really needed stimulation
Though it was only my imagination

[Chorus]
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
Sometimes a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
Is all you need, oh

[Verse 2]
When am I gonna take control, get ahold of my emotions?
Why does it only seem to hit me in the middle of the night?
You told me there's a number I can always dial for assistance (ah, ah, ah)
I don't want to deal with outside action
Only you can give me satisfaction

[Chorus]
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
Sometimes a fantasy (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Is all you need, oh

[Instrumental]
1:48 - 2:15

[Verse 3]
Oh, sure it would be better if I had you here to hold me
Be better baby, but believe me, it's the next best thing
I'm sure there's many times you've wanted me to hear your secrets
Don't be afraid to say the words that'll move me
Anytime you want to tell them to me

[Chorus]
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's just a fantasy (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not the real thing (oh-oh-oh-oh)
Sometimes a fantasy (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Is all you need

[Outro]
It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing (it's not the real thing)
It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing (it's not the real thing)

It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing (it's not the real thing)
It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing (it's not the real thing)

It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing (it's not the real thing)
It's just a fantasy (it's just a fantasy)
It's not the real thing

It's just a fantasy
It's not the real thing
Ah!
I've got blisters on my blisters!

Billy Joel

Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer/songwriter, producer, and composer who ranks as one of the most iconic and influential artists from the mid to late 20th century.

He is the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, wrote a total of 121 songs that achieved 33 Top 40 hits in the US, a 6-time Grammy winner out of 23 nominations, and one of the best-selling recording artists of all-time with 150 million albums sold worldwide.

Joel has since continued to tour and sells out in stadiums globally. He also delved into classical music composition, arranging an album, Fantasies and Delusions released in 2001, opened a motorcycle shop on his native Long Island, and is now regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Among his numerous accolades, he was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, bestowed with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013, and awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress in 2014.