ðə sˈɔŋ wʌz ɪnspˈaɪɚd baɪ ðə skˈɑːɾɪʃ bˈæləd "bˈɑːɹbɚɹə ˈælən", ænd ɪz juːnˈiːk fɔːɹ dʒˈoʊl ˌæzɪtˌɪz ɹˈɪʔn̩ ɪn aɪˈæmbɪk tˈɛtɹɐmˌiːɾɚ.
The song was inspired by the Scottish ballad "Barbara Allen", and is unique for Joel as it is written in iambic tetrameter.