I’m sure you know that Vienna is the capital of Austria.
I went to school in the US and even I know that.
So why is Billy Joel singing about Vienna?
He’s not. At least not really.
That’s right, the Vienna lyrics meaning is not actually about the city of Vienna.
But Joel did find his inspiration for the song while in that city.
Keep reading to learn what inspired the song, and what message Joel is trying to convey through the lyrics of this beautiful tune.
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Vienna Lyrics And Meaning
Vienna is a song written and performed by Billy Joel. It was featured on his 1977 album The Stranger and is ultimately about needing to slow down in life.
The song has become hugely popular thanks to its incredibly relatable nature. It is also considered a major turning point in Joel’s career.
After its release, Vienna received large amounts of critical acclaim for its lyrics, melody, and the emotion it made us feel. It has become one of Joel’s most streamed songs, even though it was originally a B-side track to Just the Way You Are.
It was a song that grew on people, too, causing it to age well over time. As it gained popularity, it earned gold certifications in the United Kingdom and Denmark and platinum certifications in the United States.
The popularity of the song rose even more when it was featured in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30. We will now look at the lyrics in full, before getting into their meaning.
Vienna Lyrics
Verse 1
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? Mm
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, hey
Chorus
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, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Verse 2
Slow down, you’re doin’ fine
You can’t be everything you wanna 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
Chorus
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, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you crazy child
And take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two, ooh
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 could just get old
You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
Why don’t you realize Vienna waits for you?
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?
Vienna Meaning
The song is about the human experience. It encourages us to embrace our life at a measured pace and not try to rush through it. The lyrics suggest that young people often feel pressure to achieve success quickly and this can lead to fear and anxiety about growing older.
Joel uses the metaphor of Vienna in his song, because it’s a city known and loved for its slow pace and quality of life. Vienna is there to symbolize that it’s okay to take time to discover yourself.
It’s about trying to enjoy the journey without rushing yourself toward success. The song is there to remind us everyone has their own path and there’s no need to hurry just to try to meet some arbitrary societal expectations.
The inspiration for Vienna came from an encounter in the actual city of Vienna that Joel had with his father. It was during this visit that he observed how older people were valued more in the community.
It greatly contrasted with the American view, where many elderly people are taken to retirement homes and forgotten about. This realization gave Joel a fresh perspective on aging and helped make him feel more comfortable with the prospect of growing older.
The track also carries the message of “carpe diem,” which means “seize the day.” It tells us to make the most of the present day without worrying about the future. We should take time to stop and smell the flowers, not rush past them on our way to some goal.
In the opening of the song, Joel tries his best to sum up how many people feel. He writes:
Slow down, you crazy child
You’re so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you’re so smart
Tell me why you are still so afraid?”
He writes this because, when we’re young, we’re constantly looking ahead to the future and trying to seek out our dreams and goals. Many people have the fear of aging in the back of their minds, because it is a fear of not having enough time to achieve what we want.
In the lines “It’s all right, you can afford to lose a day or two, ooh when will you realize Vienna waits for you?” He is telling us to have patience and try to enjoy our time on earth.
It’s not good to rush through it. We all end up in the same place anyway. Vienna is supposed to be a way to give us peace of mind.
Vienna Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
The city of Vienna has inspired countless songs and other pieces of art. Billy Joel’s inspiration came not from the beauty of the city, but from the way its inhabitants lived their lives. Specifically, the way they dealt with aging and the elderly.
This spark of inspiration led to a beautiful song with an equally beautiful message. It is a message that is not new by any means. We’ve all been told to stop and smell the roses. But the Vienna lyrics meaning reiterates this message in possibly the most beautiful way I’ve heard.
If you like Billy Joel, we also take a look at the meaning of the We Didn’t Start The Fire lyrics. This is one of Joel’s most famous songs, but it is one the singer himself does not particularly like.
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