Released: August 8, 1983

Songwriter: Billy Joel

Producer: Phil Ramone

[Intro]
Dum dum dum

[Chorus]
Whoa, oh, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, 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

[Verse 2]
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]
Whoa, oh, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest

[Verse 3]
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 4]
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 5]
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]
Whoa, oh, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time
Whoa, oh, oh (For the longest)
For the longest time...

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.