"Vienna" by Billy Joel
"Vienna"
Billy Joel
The Stranger
Released: 1977
Recorded: A&R Recording, Inc., New York City
Label: Columbia Records
Writer: Billy Joel
Producer: Phil Ramone
ViennaSlow 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? 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 But you know that when the truth is told.. That you can get what you want or you get old You're gonna kick off before you even Get halfway through 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'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 When will you realize, Vienna waits for you? Slow down, you crazy child and take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two 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 half through Why don't you realize,. Vienna waits for you When will you realize, Vienna waits for you? |
Attachment to ViennaBilly Joel expresses his attachment to Vienna, Austria through his song, "Vienna." Joel says in a New York Times article that "Vienna" is one of his two favorite songs. In this song, Vienna is expressed as a metaphor for the "rest of your life" and "crossroads." Vienna was the "crossroads" between the Ottoman Empire and Holy Roman Empire. Joel has a personal attachment to Vienna, Austria because his father lives there. He saw how well the elderly were treated in Vienna, so he thought that when he grows old, "Vienna [will be] waiting for [him]."
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