Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the twenty second row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:51

"Candle in the Wind" as written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Candle In The Wind song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The song is about Marilyn Monroe, but heard that Elton John also sang it at Princess Diana's funeral.
    Flag FuzzySockon March 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know it's about Marilyn Monroe, but I also think it's about seeing the worth in someone as more than what they appear to be. Goodbye Norma Jean from the young man in the 22nd row, who sees you as something more than sexual, more than just our Marilyn Monroe. He telling her that someone out there in the world at least always saw her as more than just her polished celebrity image.
    Flag ilylagirl13on May 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know it's about Marilyn Monroe, but I also think it's about seeing the worth in someone as more than what they appear to be. Goodbye Norma Jean from the young man in the 22nd row, who sees you as something more than sexual, more than just our Marilyn Monroe. He telling her that someone out there in the world at least always saw her as more than just her polished celebrity image.
    Flag ilylagirl13on May 28, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Loneliness was tough
    The toughest role you ever played
    Hollywood created a superstar
    And pain was the price you paid
    Even when you died
    Oh the press still hounded you

    Works Perfect for Michael Jackson too!
    Flag stranger34on July 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A beautiful song.

    I doubt we'll ever know what happened to Marilyn.

    I do prefer this to Candle In The Wind '97.
    Ick. It was too forced.
    Flag fizzle1on November 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The lyrics of the song are a sympathetic portrayal of the life of Marilyn Monroe (the song's opening line "Goodbye Norma Jean" refers to Monroe's real name).

    Also

    Taupin was inspired to write the song after hearing the phrase "candle in the wind" used in tribute to the late Janis Joplin.
    Flag shanshanshabangon August 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song gives me shivers... it sounds so good on vinal.

    "Goodbye Norma Jean
    From the young man in the 22nd row
    Who sees you as something as more than sexual
    More than just our Marilyn Monroe "

    my favourite part..
    Flag Kellee_022on August 16, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I think that while this definitely applies to Marilyn Monroe, Bernie Taupin is much more subtle than that. It can apply to anyone who was 'hounded by the press' or in other ways destroyed by their own fame, but that Marliyn was obviously in mind when the song was written. "your candle burned out long before your legend ever did" can be taken to mean that while her life ended very abruptly and tragically, she will endure as a legend for much longer than her life lasted. and that goes for other such legends as well.
    Flag gorfanzaion May 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh I love Elton but I'm only really just getting into him a lot now.. I've never looked up the lyrics before so didn't realise it was about Marylin.
    It's such a respectful song.
    Flag regan_89on September 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lacy jones JFK wasn't murdered by the government and neither was marilyn. trust me i did a huge report on him and i love marilyn but i doubt their deaths had anything to do together
    Flag jaquiseeon July 19, 2006   Link

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