Driving in the car earlier, completely sick of the songs that fill the radio today (we traded oldies 103.3 for AMP Top 40? C’mon now), I decided to pop in an old mix that I made in the Fall of 2008 into the CD player. Having no idea what to expect, I was immediately comforted as songs from my favorite bands in high school began to play over the car speakers. I was pleasantly surprised when one of my all-time favorite songs from when I was younger, “Vienna” by Billy Joel, came on amidst singles from artists like The Format and Ben Folds, not expecting to hear such a soulful track surrounded by more contemporary ones. Having not heard the song in years, and having never paid close attention to the lyrics, I was suddenly overcome with a sense of purpose as I processed the words. The song was a perfect response to the way I had been feeling about my life. I had listened to these lyrics countless times as a younger girl, but sitting in the car just now, they finally began to make sense to me for the first time.
Let me backtrack a little. As a rising junior in college, I am consistently reminded about the dark, empty abyss that is my future. Not knowing what at all it is I want to do with my life, I am filled with a constant anxiety about “the next step.” I am wholly overwhelmed at the thought of resumes and cover letters, networking and interviews, and the big bad question of what I am going to do after I graduate. This summer has only amplified my anxieties. I feel completely inadequate when comparing myself to friends who have prestigious internships and learning opportunities. Sure babysitting and dog walking are fun jobs and good money, but what am I doing to prepare for my vocational future this summer? Nothing. I feel as though I am on a rollercoaster that gets faster with every new step I take, and that I am already falling behind on the journey that is the rest of my professional life.
Listening to the song “Vienna” was a much needed reminder, that hey, I am only nineteen years old, and I have the rest of my life to work. As Billy Joel asks, what’s the hurry about? I got chills as the lyrics progressed, “slow down, you’re doing fine/you can’t be everything you want to be before your time... 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.” Listening to the song my confidence was restored as I realized that I am my own person, and that I am doing fine. It is important to be reminded to slow down and to understand that we have our whole lives to figure out what it is that we are passionate about. I used to embody the person that Billy Joel is talking to in the song, for I only saw when I was wrong and I never saw when I was right. I recognize now that I truly have so much going for me, and even though my future has yet to play out in the few years I have been waiting for it to, I have faith that it will all unfold in due time. The song continues as it reminds the listener that “only fools are satisfied,” and you should “dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true.” Joel sings, “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.” Listening to these words I promised myself to always dream big, but to be patient with those dreams. The lyrics allowed me to recognize that I can afford to lose a day or two, or even a summer relaxing and making money in my own way, before embarking on a career that will last me the rest of my life.
"Vienna" by Billy Joel
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?
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?
