Elton John – Daniel

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Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

They say Spain is pretty, though I've never been
Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen
Oh and he should know, he's been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much

Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died, but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky

Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

Send "Daniel" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:55

"Daniel" as written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Vladimir Cort

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Daniel song meanings
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73 Comments

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  • -1
    General Comment:I didn't dare touch this song when I thought that it was written by someone who'd lost a brother in a plane crash, and that Elton John had just covered the message.
    However hearing the entymology, I have realised it's the usual sentimental ignorance that misleads people into thinking they're going to wind up as stars in heaven.
    He sings, "scars that won't heal," if the brother is in heaven there are no scars. God is Holy, mankind is Not!
    Holiness means morally clean and perfect, without holiness no one will see God, so God made a way to imput holiness to mankind. The way is Jesus on the cross. He fought the battle and won, and won for us the right to sit in heaven.
    The Bible clearly shows us the path to get into heaven and God says "Be Holy for I am Holy."
    Flagged joronon July 11, 2012   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • +1
    My Opinion:If John's biography states this was written by bernie about a vet leaving, then it is safe to say that is what its about.

    I think what throws people...including myself....is the last verse which is a refrain of the first.

    Take out the last verse and read the first 3 in order and it makes sense. Daniel is leaving for spain (vietnam) and his brother watches him leave.

    The second verse is the younger brother talking about missing him.

    The third verse is when he comes back.

    It is a great song by a great writer and a great musician...

    Peace.
    Flagged mikeb26on April 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: I may be bending the intended meaning, but I think he is talking about the spirit of a friend who passed away. Yet he is humble at the same time, confessing that as humans we can't see beyond what our physical eyes can handle and comprehend. We are "blind". His friend, who's physical form is no more, is no longer bound by physical limitations, and his spirit can now see, clearly, the big picture.

    It's Elton's condolence letter to Daniel
    Flag deep33contimplationon September 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel like I may be the only one that thinks Daniel is actually the younger brother.

    The line "You are older than me" sounds way too blunt and awkward if Daniel is in fact his older brother. I've always interpreted it as figurative, Daniel is "older" than the narrator because he experienced so much in Vietnam that he's grown to be, in a sense, more mature and thus "older".

    Fantastic song either way.
    Flag johnzoidberg22on September 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I HAVE ONE MORE JOURNAL MESSAGE FOR YOU. PLEASE READ
    Flag ALWAYSYOURS4EVERon August 17, 2011   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    Memory:I had a brother,named Daniel, who was only four years old when he was hit and killed by a car. Although Daniel was not older than me, I still fel the pain of losing a younger brother and the misery that my parents went through at the loss of their youngest son. His eyes might have died, but he is still a memory of a brother that I loved.
    Flag tkmooreon June 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Last nights episode of American Idol got me thinking about the song again.
    Flag pakalamusicon March 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always wondered what the lyrics meant. Glad I found this site, thanks to the comments I know now. I thought song was sung by younger brother about dead older brother that had a troubled life. The song is great, expect nothing less from Taupin or Elton for that matter.
    Flag pakalamusicon March 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I wonder how old the singer is supposed to be. An adult or a child that sees his older brother flying far away. Daniel you're a star.
    Flag Vinyardmeadowson January 12, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:according to Philip Norman's (brilliant) biography of EJ, when he and Bernie Taupin first toured the US, Bernie read a newspaper article about a young kid whose brother had been sent to fight in Vietnam. Tp save him worrying his parents had told the youngster that his brother was going on holiday to Spain. His brother then returned blinded and with many other wounds. Originally there was a third verse which brought it all together (a "denouement" as they call it) but it was cut in the studio to include the elctric piano solo and keerp the song to three minutes.
    Flag jonnytwospoonson November 15, 2010   Link

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