The Longest Time

“I knew I'd curse you for the longest time”

Uncle Jerry identifies 'for the longest time' as an echo of Billy Joel's 1983 song 'The Longest Time.' He quotes from the Joel song, noting its themes of lost innocence and reconnection: 'Once I thought my innocence had gone. Now I know that happiness goes on. That's where you found me. That's when you put your arms around. I haven't been there for the longest time.' He notes that in the Joel song the couple gets back together, which parallels the ambiguous question of whether James and Betty reunite, but leaves this unresolved.