Speaking more broadly about the song's message, he said in a 2008 interview that it conveys "you don't have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race and killing yourself.

Marilu Henner's character Elaine Nardo refers to the song while on vacation in Europe with Alex Reiger, played by Judd Hirsch.

In a July 2008 New York Times article, Joel cited this as one of his two favorite songs, along with "Summer, Highland Falls".

[12] Writing in 2022, Tim Grierson of MEL Magazine attributed the song's endurance to it being featured in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30, prominence on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok through the early 2020s, and its messaging, leading to a popularity that he identifies as particularly strong among younger people.

[13] Joel also attributed its late popularity to the film, adding “That’s a movie that was popular with girls, and girls are who most of the enthusiasm for the song comes from ... It’s a coming-of-age song: ‘Slow down you crazy child.’ So I guess it resonates with younger people.” He has also said that the lyrics reminds listeners “you don’t have to squeeze your whole life into your 20s and 30s trying to make it, trying to achieve that American dream, getting in the rat race and killing yourself.

[15] In 2013, Christian Borle's character sang a cover of this song on Season 2, Episode 14 of the hit TV show SMASH.

[18] In 2024, Ken Marino and David Wain's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band released a cover of the song to their official YouTube channel featuring Weird Al Yankovic playing the accordion solo.