Joel, who said he once attempted suicide himself, stated in a 1985 interview that he wrote the song as a way to help young people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.[1]
In its original draft, he was concerned the song sounded too depressing so he imbued it with a bouncy, joyous beat and melody, with lyrics emphasizing personal forgiveness and optimism. The song was originally titled simply "Second Wind” but Joel changed it to "You're Only Human" with "Second Wind" as the subtitle after drummer Liberty DeVitto mocked the name.[2] Joel donated all royalties from the song to the National Committee for Youth Suicide Prevention.[3]
During the song, Joel audibly chuckles after briefly hesitating and stuttering during one of the verses. At the prompting of Paul Simon and Christie Brinkley, who was listening in the studio, he left it in the finished recording as it seemed to illustrate the song's point about celebrating personal fallibility.[1]
At the beginning of the video, Joel plays "Piano Man" on his harmonica. The entire video pays homage to the film It's a Wonderful Life,[2] as the angelic Joel shows a suicidal young man, played by Jason Andrews,[6] threatening to jump off a bridge because of a break-up with his girlfriend what life will be like without him, as his family and friends mourn his death—as well as showing him the joys in his future he would be missing if he dies (e.g. high school graduation, marriage). The video ends with the young man choosing to live, and reconciling with his girlfriend when Joel plays "Piano Man" once again before tossing him his harmonica.