Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
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
And it's more than I hoped for

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



Lyrics submitted by sweet summer sweat

Track duration: 03:37

"Longest Time" as written by Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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For The Longest Time song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about gratitude, living in the moment, joy. Some rough stuff had happened in the past and he got over it. Now that a special someone he is passionate about has reciprocated, he feels very fortunate, joyful about the way things are now. And if it doesn't last, he will always be grateful that he was given this opportunity to experience this joy and inspiration in his life. He will come out as a better person from the experience.
    Flag synderellaon June 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think he said "I had second thoughts", not "I had said good thoughts".
    Flag RyanMcGinnison January 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is called "THE LONGEST TIME" NOT with a FOR in the front!!! ahhhh!!!
    Flag pianodudeon November 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:We were supposed to sing this in choir one year (I had the bass part), but most of the guys in the choir were only there to hang out with their girlfriends, and the song was scrapped due to our inability to wrap our vocal cords around it. Or because the choir director was a jerk, I'm not sure which.

    To me, it alost sounds like the relationship is over too--"If you said goodbye to me tonight...", "maybe this won't last very long...". And why does he say "how much I need you"--which is in the present tense--"...and how you needed me too," in the past tense? Is he suggesting that he still loves her, but she doesn't need him anymore?

    It almost sounds, to me, like it's not just about being happy to be in love; there's an edge of desperation to it saying "you can see how happy you make me, so please don't leave me". I heard a rumor that this was written to Christine B. to try and avert their breakup, and it worked for another 10 years--which would explain the sense of doubt and seperation to it. Dunno if that's true, though.
    Flag ProfessorKnowItAllon October 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:isn't it "I had second thoughts at the start" not "I had said good thoughts at the start"?
    Flag pandamorandaon October 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of my favorite songs. I like how simple it is, how he just comes out and says what he feels instead of hiding behind flowery words.
    Flag bookwurm2010on July 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I remember this song playing when I was like 5 and me and my later to be crush, were playing in the snow. He was pretty much babysitting me, seeing as how he would've been 12. But Wow. I'm 17 now and stll cry every time I hear this, because it reminds me of innocent times.
    Flag lyrics2myhearton November 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I LUV THIS SONG
    Flag iluvFMon April 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ahahahahhaha t tom

    that's amazing. i like you.
    Flag paintsyourmirroron March 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Seriously, its pretty much a love song to Christie B. About how he hasn't felt this way for so long, he forgot how wonderful it feels, and even if it doesn't last he will cherish the feeling now.
    Flag crdesqon March 08, 2006   Link

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