Billy Joel

Released: November 29, 1977

Songwriter: Billy Joel

Producer: Phil Ramone

[Verse 1]
Slow down, you crazy child
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart
Tell me why are you still so afraid, hmm?
Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out
You've got so much to do
And only so many hours in a day, ayy

[Chorus 1]
But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You're gonna
Kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?

[Verse 2]
Slow down, you're doin' fine
You can't be everything you wanna be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic
On the borderline tonight, tonight
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong
You know you can't always see when you're right
You're right

[Chorus 2]
You've got your passion
You've got your pride
But don't you know
That only fools are satisfied?
Dream on
But don't imagine they'll all come true, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?

[Instrumental break]

[Chorus 3]
Slow down, you crazy child
And take the phone off the hook
And disappear for a while
It's all right, you can afford
To lose a day or two, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?

[Chorus 1]
And you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you could just get old
You're gonna
Kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
Why don't you realize
Vienna waits for you?

[Outro]
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?

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.

more tracks from the album

The Stranger

From the albums

The Stranger (1977)
13 Going on 30: Music From the Motion Picture (2004)

Billy Joel popular songs

ViennaBilly Joel

Billy Joel

The Stranger