Longest Time

Longest Time by Billy Joel is featured in Lights Out, the twentieth episode of Season Four. It is sung by Artie, Jake, Kitty, Marley, Ryder, and Sam with the New Directions.

The lights have finally returned at McKinley High, and as the New Directions badly want to jam out, Will gives them a new challenge. To sing, only with their voices - no musical instruments, no bottles or objects. They use the chance to sing an a cappella version of Longest Time, clicking their fingers, whistling and using their voices. During the dance, Kitty continues to give Ryder sad looks after his rejection of her in the school library. Will applauds their hard work after they have finished the performance.

Lyrics[]

Artie with New Directions:
Woah-ooh-oh-oh (Jake: The longest)
For the longest time (Marley: Time)
Woah-ooh-oh (Jake: The longest)
For the longest

Artie:
If you said goodbye to me tonight (Ryder: Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
There would still be music left to write

Kitty (with New Directions):
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened
(For the longest time)

Artie:
Once I thought my innocence was gone (Ryder: Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Now I know that happiness goes on

Kitty:
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is

Artie and Kitty (with New Directions):
I haven't been there (for the longest time)

Artie with New Directions:
Woah-ooh-oh-oh (Jake: The longest)
For the longest time (Marley: Time)
Woah-ooh-oh (Jake: The longest)
For the longest

Sam:
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall (Ryder: Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
And the greatest miracle of all

Marley:
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too

Marley and Sam (with New Directions):
That hasn't happened (for the longest time)

Ryder (with New Directions):
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'd hoped for)

Jake:
Who knows how much further we'll go on (Ryder: Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone

Marley (with New Directions):
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there
(For the longest time)

Ryder (with New Directions):
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'd hoped for)

Artie:
I don't care what consequence it brings (Ryder: Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
I have been a fool for lesser things

Artie and Kitty (with New Directions):
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you
(For the longest time)

Artie (and Marley) with New Directions:
Woah-ooh-oh-oh (Jake: The longest)
(For the longest time)
Woah-ooh-oh (Marley: Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh) (Jake: The longest)
For the longest (time)

Woah-ooh-oh (Marley: The longest time) (Jake: The longest)
For the longest (time)
Woah-ooh-oh (Jake: The longest)

Artie with Marley and New Directions:
For the longest time

Trivia[]

This is the third a capella performance on Glee which is not done by The Warblers, the first being Rolling in the Deep, and the second being How Will I Know.
The actual name of this song is The Longest Time. This is the second time that the name of a song has been altered. The other two being My Dark Side and Thousand Miles. It remains unknown, in all cases, why the titles are changed.
For unknown reasons, this version features slightly altered lyrics than the original.
This is the last of the five songs originally by Billy Joel that were sung in the show, outside Movin' Out. The other ones are Piano Man (unreleased version), Only the Good Die Young, New York State of Mind and Uptown Girl.
- Uptown Girl and Longest Time' both come from An Innocent Man, Billy Joel's ninth studio album, released in 1983.