Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Billy Joel
Keyboards
Peter Hewlett
Background Vocals
Frank Sims
Background Vocals
David Brown
Lead Guitar
Russell Javors
Rhythm Guitar
Doug Stegmeyer
Bass Guitar
Liberty De Vitto
Drums
Jimmy Bralower
Percussion
Ronnie Cuber
Synthesizer
Mark Rivera
Synthesizer
Dave Lebolt
Synthesizer
Jon Faddis
Synthesizer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Billy Joel
Songwriter
David Matthews
Horn Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Phil Ramone
Producer
Jim Boyer
Engineer
Peter Hefter
Assistant Engineer
Lyrics
[Intro]
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh
[Verse 1]
You're havin' a hard time
And lately, you don't feel so good
You're gettin' a bad reputation in your neighborhood
It's alright
It's alright
Sometimes that's what it takes
You're only human
You're allowed to make your share of mistakes
Only human, ooh, ooh
[Verse 2]
You better believe there will be times in your life
When you'll be feeling like a stumbling fool
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
So take it from me, you'll learn more from your accidents
Than anything that you could ever learn at school
[Chorus]
Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later, you'll get your second wind
[Chorus]
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Yeah
[Verse 3]
It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain
You're gonna be crashin' into stone walls again and again
It's alright
It's alright
Though you feel your heart break
You're only human
You're gonna have to deal with heartache
Only human, ooh, ooh
[Verse 4]
Mmm, just like a boxer in a title fight
You got to walk in that ring all alone
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
You're not the only one who's made mistakes
But they're the only things that you can truly call your own
[Chorus]
Don't forget your second wind
Wait in the corner until that breeze blows in
[Bridge]
Oh, you've been keepin' to yourself these days
'Cause you're thinkin' everything's gone wrong
Sometimes you just wanna lay down and die
Oh, that emotion can be so strong
But hold on
Till that ol' second wind comes along
[Bridge]
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Only human, ooh, ooh
Only human
[Verse 5]
You probably don't want to hear advice
From someone else, no
But I wouldn't be telling you
If I hadn't been there myself
It's alright
It's alright
Sometimes that's all it takes
We're only human
We're supposed to make mistakes
Only human, ooh, ooh
[Verse 6]
But I survived all those long, lonely days
When it seems I did not have a friend
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
'Cause all I needed was a little faith
So I could catch my breath and face the world again
[Chorus]
Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later, you'll feel that momentum kick in
One more time
[Chorus]
Don't forget your second wind, woo
Sooner or later, you'll feel that momentum kick in
Oh yeah
[Outro]
Don't forget your second wind
Only human, ooh, ooh, ooh
Don't forget the ol' second wind
Mmm, that second wind
Only human
Yeah, second wind
Ooh-ooh, yeah
Only human, ooh, ooh, ooh
Only human
Written by: Billy Joel