Billy Joel has written many megahit songs. “Vienna,” which he wrote in 1977, was never a hit, even though Billy Joel always thought it was one of his best songs. Then, in 2024, the song suddenly became hugely popular. On Spotify alone, it was streamed more than 650 million times. The song’s “slow down” message resonated particularly with people in their late teens, 20s, and 30s–the approximate age at which Billy Joel wrote the song.
In the 2024 official video, a smiling old woman is sweeping with a broom–a meaningful image if you know the story behind the song.
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Level 3: Low Intermediate

Is Vienna Waiting For You?

When Billy Joel was eight years old, his parents divorced. His father, who was an immigrant from Germany, was unhappy in the United States. He decided to move back to Europe. Billy didn’t see him again for many years.

Billy Joel became a songwriter and singer. By the time he was in his 20s, he was giving concerts in the U.S. and in Europe. On a concert tour in Europe, Billy decided to visit his father, who was living in Vienna, Austria. They went for a walk. As they walked down a street in Vienna, Billy noticed an old woman. She was sweeping the street with a broom.

“That’s kind of sad,” Billy said to his father.

“What’s sad? his father asked.

“That old woman,” Billy replied. “It’s sad that she has to do that kind of work.”

“You think it’s sad,” his father said. “But does she think it’s sad? Maybe not. She doesn’t look unhappy. She has a job, and she is useful. People appreciate her work.”

Billy thought about life in the United States. “It’s all about young people, young people, young people,” he realized. He and his friends were trying to squeeze their whole lives into their 20s and 30s. “By the time we’re middle-aged, our lives are over,” they thought. Was that true? Now Billy didn’t think so. He had a whole lifetime to achieve his goals.

Very quickly, he wrote a song he called “Vienna.” He began the song with the words “Slow down, you crazy child” and ended it with a question: “When will you realize Vienna waits for you?” What does “Vienna waits for you” mean? Does Vienna represent old age? Billy Joel says it does, but it represents more than that. “It’s a time when everything starts to make sense. It’s a time when you look around you, and you have some gratitude for the things in your life. That’s what was waiting for me in Vienna.”

is Vienna waiting for you?.pdf

Story: Copyright © 2024 Sandra Heyer. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Image: Copyright © Kani Chaothai | Dreamstime.com. Reprinted with permission.