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The longest time

Billy Joel

RockMedium for beginners12 chords

How to play it

Fingering diagrams for the shapes in this song. × = don't play, ○ = open string.

C×
G
F
G7
D7××
E7
Am×
C7×
Dm××
B7Diagram coming soon
Em
D××

Chords & lyrics

Chord names sit directly above the word where you change.

Text size
 
Capo on 3rd fret
              º 
C    G   C   F    G7              C         G    C   F   G7              
   
Oh,  oh  oh  oh   For the longest time.     oh   oh  oh.  For the longest...  
C               F           C                            D7            G   
     
If you said goodbye to me tonight.   There would still be music left to write.  
E7             Am      G7         C      C7      
What else could I do?  I'm so inspired by you.   
F            Dm               G       C      
That hasn't happened for the longest time.   
C                  F             C                          D7              
G    
Once I  thought my innocence was gone.      Now I know that happiness goes on.  
E7               Am          G7                C     C7           
That's where you found me,   when you put your arms around me.    
F          Dm                 G       C  
.I haven't been there for the longest time.  
   
C   G   C   F   G7              C      G    C   F   G7                  
Oh! oh  oh  oh  For the longest time.  Oh!  oh  oh. For the longest..   
C                     F              C                         D7          
G     
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall.    And the greatest miracle of all,  
E7          Am        G7             C      C7       
.  is how I need you.   And how you  needed me too.  
F           Dm               G       C       
That hasn't happened for the longest time.   
G                Am                   B7                     C              
     
Maybe this won't last very long,  but you feel so right, and I could be wrong.  
Em              Am                
Maybe I've been hoping too hard,  
.   D              D7           G           G7         
but I've gone this far and it's more than I hoped for  
C                  F                C                  D7                G  
     
Who knows how much further we'll go on.  Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone.  
E7             Am       G7           C      C7          
. I'll take my chances, I forgot how nice romance is.   
F          Dm                 G       C       
.I haven't been there for the longest time.   
G            Am                        B7                  C                
   
I had second thoughts at the start.  I said to myself hold on to your heart.  
 Em             Am                     
.Now I know the woman that you are.    
       D            D7           G           G7          
You're wonderful so far and it's more than I hoped for.  
C                 F              C                     D7               G   
     
I don't care what consequence it brings. I have been a fool for lesser things.  
E7         Am          G7           C        C7          
.   I want you so bad,  I think you ought to know that   
F           Dm               G       C       
I intend to hold you for the longest time.   
C   G   C   F   G7              C      ||: G   C   F   G7               C  :||  
Oh, oh, oh, oh. For the longest time.      Oh  oh  oh  For the longest.time.  
.                                                        (repeat)           
    
 
          
 

Details

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Chord set

C · G · F · G7 · D7 · E7 · Am · C7 · Dm · B7 · Em · D

Practice tip

Loop the first two chords slowly until the change is clean, then add the rest.