Vienna by Billy Joel

Artist: Billy Joel

Genre: Pop

Length: 3:34

In a July 2008 New York Times article, Joel cited “Vienna” as one of his two favorite songs. It was inspired by trip Joel took meeting his father, who abandoned the family when he was eight, in Vienna fifteen years later. On his visit to Vienna, he noticed the senior citizens were being treated as useful, contributing members of society: Why did I pick Vienna to use as a metaphor for the rest of your life? … So I go to visit my father in Vienna, I’m walking around this town and I see this ol...

Vienna lyrics

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? (mmmmm) ( mmmmm))
Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out
You got so much to do and only
So many hours in a day (Ay) ( Ay))
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 (Oooh) ( Oooh))
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to 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)
You got your passion, you got your pride
But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true (Oooh) ( Oooh))
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down you crazy child
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It's alright, you can afford to lose a day or two (oooh) ( oooh))
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
And 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 (oooh) ( oooh))
Why don't you realize, Vienna waits for you?
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

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