This Is The Time

by Billy Joel
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

We walked on the (Eb6/9)beach be side that (Fsus2)old ho tel.

They’re tear in’ it (Eb6/9)down now, but it’s (Fsus2)just as well.

I have n’t shown you (Eb6/9)ev ’ry thing a (Fsus2)man can do,

so stay with me, (Eb6/9)ba by; I’ve got (Fsus2)plans for you.

This is the time

to re mem ber, ’cause it will not last for ev er.

These are the days

to hold on to, ’cause we won’t al though we’ll want to.

This is the time,

but time is gon na (G7sus)change.

You’ve giv en me the (Gb)best of you,

but now I need the (Bb)rest (F)of you.

We walked on the (Eb6/9)beach be side that (Fsus2)old ho tel.

They’re tear in’ it (Eb6/9)down now, but it’s (Fsus2)just as well.

I have n’t shown you (Eb6/9)ev ’ry thing a (Fsus2)man can do,

so stay with me, (Eb6/9)ba by; I’ve got (Fsus2)plans for you.

This is the time

to re mem ber, ’cause it will not last for ev er.

These are the days

to hold on to, ’cause we won’t al though we’ll want to.

This is the time,

but time is gon na (G7sus)change.

I know we’ve got to (Gb)move some how,

but I don’t want to (Bb)lose (F)you now.

Some times it’s so (Fmaj7)eas y to let a (Bb)day

slip on (C)by

with out e ven (Fmaj7)see ing each oth er at (Bb)all.

But this is the (Fmaj7)time you’ll turn back to and (Gm7)so

will (E)I,

and those will be (Fmaj7)days you can nev er re (Bbsus2)call.

al though we’ll want to.

This is the time,

but time is gon na (G7sus)change.

You’ve giv en me the (Gb)best of you,

but now I need the (Bb)rest (F)of you.

This Is The Time — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

7 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "This Is The Time" by Billy Joel: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of F, 132 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “This Is The Time”

What key is "This Is The Time" by Billy Joel played in?
This Is The Time is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "This Is The Time"?
The arrangement plays at 132 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "This Is The Time" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "This Is The Time"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "This Is The Time"?
"This Is The Time" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "This Is The Time"?
This arrangement uses 17 chords: A7, Bb, Bbmaj7, Bbsus2, C, Dm, Dm7, Eb, +9 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "This Is The Time" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "This Is The Time" by Billy Joel. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "This Is The Time" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in F, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "This Is The Time" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.