If this was from Bernie to Elton, then I doubt that Elton would have sang it. He's not stupid - why would he sing a song bashing himself???
No, this is defintely written to the artistic upper-crust. People like Andy Warhol - but not necessarily to Warhol in specific - who surround themselves with famous artists (musical, artistic, etc...) and show them off at parties ("look who MY friend is!") and other social events. Lines like, "I didn't sign up with you," make me think that this was NOT meant for the Record Labels (whom he DID sign up with). Lines like, "I'm not a present for your friends to open," makes me think this is not written about a signifcant other (why would he be shared with others, if he's in a relationship?). Also, if he were in a relationship, would his lover get over being dumped with a couple drinks? Possibly, but coupled with the line about finding a replacement, it makes me think the relationship is a bit less intimate.
"Where the dogs of society howl," paints a really good picture of someone being surrounded by morally vapid people, just clamouring for a "piece" of the singer.
The replacements, being mongrels, looking for "tidbits like you," sounds like he's calling the object of the song unimportant. Not someone who made the singer what he is, but someone who gave him simple social spotlight.
We can wrap this up by taking the main line, "Beyond the Yellow Brick Road." The Yellow Brick Road leads to Oz - a city of pure superficiality. All glittery, but very little substance - the Wizard himself being a metaphor for the life of empty wealth. I kind of see the singer comparing himself to The Wizard, in fact. A country-boy, elevated to prominence, then giving it all up to fly back to that poverty. In other words, "Stop worshipping me! I'm breaking free of this life-style."
Those lyrics were too good to pass up. And everyone knows it's not gonna betoo obvious to everyone what or who it's about. I'd say Elton liked and liked those lyrics. The line huntin the horny back toad allows him to express himself with subtle accents. Also I've heard him sing it with "and" at the start, changing it's meaning to refer to himself instead of the owl.
To be able to add melody as beautifully to great lyrics is an exciting triumph that overshadows any other minor concerns such as how it's going to be interpreted. As we can see...
Those lyrics were too good to pass up. And everyone knows it's not gonna betoo obvious to everyone what or who it's about. I'd say Elton liked and liked those lyrics. The line huntin the horny back toad allows him to express himself with subtle accents. Also I've heard him sing it with "and" at the start, changing it's meaning to refer to himself instead of the owl.
To be able to add melody as beautifully to great lyrics is an exciting triumph that overshadows any other minor concerns such as how it's going to be interpreted. As we can see there will always be many different interpretations and a song can mean much to different people in different ways.
In trying to determine the line of thought that might have inspired the lyrics in the main we should not pick out any single line if not corroborated by others, as the writer would have exercised licence to perhaps include wording which didn't strictly stick to the point.
Opening lines are a good starting point to set the meaning in place and then to see if it is consistant in the main. In this case he seems to be addressing someone who doesn't have their two feet firmly on the ground, perhaps someone who has gotten a little carried away. The writer detaches himself from it and suggests to himself that he should have stayed on the farm. He should have listened to his Father. Bernie's father was a comercial farmer and tried independent farming too.
"You know you can't hold me forever, I didn't sign up with you,"
So unlike Elton being sighed up to a recording company contract, presumably Bernie wasn't tied into any contract but rather freelance. The following lines suggest some artistic licence was applied to fit the rythem and rhyme, I'm not a --- he has to be something! And like "the blues" his unhappyness.
The rest of it all fits with the notion that it's Bernie talkin about himself and his professional relationship with Elton and perhaps his disalusionment with aspects of it and perhaps there's a touch of resentment coming through. Maybe he feels unappreciated undervalued ans unrecognised.
The last verse compounds this theme.
Refering to mongrels like him who are hard up, The final line is the hardest hitting and almost pushing it too far but not quite...sniffin for tidbits like you on the ground. It's continuing with the imagery of the mongrel like him that allows it. Well that's what mongrels do.
It's a fantastic song, Elton makes it that. Before hand it was fantastic lyrics. Credit to them both, but it seems obvious to me that Bernie wrote it about himself and Elton. It's a sad song, anyhow Bernie collaborated with numerous other artists and still works with Elton to this day or certainly recently so it needn't be taken to seriously.
Wow, kind Sir, thanks. That would appear to describe the song and the inspiration behind it perfectly. I never knew what a powerful song this was from Elton. My respect for him and his amazing voice has just gone through the roof!
Wow, kind Sir, thanks. That would appear to describe the song and the inspiration behind it perfectly. I never knew what a powerful song this was from Elton. My respect for him and his amazing voice has just gone through the roof!
If this was from Bernie to Elton, then I doubt that Elton would have sang it. He's not stupid - why would he sing a song bashing himself???
No, this is defintely written to the artistic upper-crust. People like Andy Warhol - but not necessarily to Warhol in specific - who surround themselves with famous artists (musical, artistic, etc...) and show them off at parties ("look who MY friend is!") and other social events. Lines like, "I didn't sign up with you," make me think that this was NOT meant for the Record Labels (whom he DID sign up with). Lines like, "I'm not a present for your friends to open," makes me think this is not written about a signifcant other (why would he be shared with others, if he's in a relationship?). Also, if he were in a relationship, would his lover get over being dumped with a couple drinks? Possibly, but coupled with the line about finding a replacement, it makes me think the relationship is a bit less intimate.
"Where the dogs of society howl," paints a really good picture of someone being surrounded by morally vapid people, just clamouring for a "piece" of the singer.
The replacements, being mongrels, looking for "tidbits like you," sounds like he's calling the object of the song unimportant. Not someone who made the singer what he is, but someone who gave him simple social spotlight.
We can wrap this up by taking the main line, "Beyond the Yellow Brick Road." The Yellow Brick Road leads to Oz - a city of pure superficiality. All glittery, but very little substance - the Wizard himself being a metaphor for the life of empty wealth. I kind of see the singer comparing himself to The Wizard, in fact. A country-boy, elevated to prominence, then giving it all up to fly back to that poverty. In other words, "Stop worshipping me! I'm breaking free of this life-style."
Yes, but sometimes Elton doesn't know what he's singing about, so he might of sang a song bashing himself
Yes, but sometimes Elton doesn't know what he's singing about, so he might of sang a song bashing himself
Those lyrics were too good to pass up. And everyone knows it's not gonna betoo obvious to everyone what or who it's about. I'd say Elton liked and liked those lyrics. The line huntin the horny back toad allows him to express himself with subtle accents. Also I've heard him sing it with "and" at the start, changing it's meaning to refer to himself instead of the owl. To be able to add melody as beautifully to great lyrics is an exciting triumph that overshadows any other minor concerns such as how it's going to be interpreted. As we can see...
Those lyrics were too good to pass up. And everyone knows it's not gonna betoo obvious to everyone what or who it's about. I'd say Elton liked and liked those lyrics. The line huntin the horny back toad allows him to express himself with subtle accents. Also I've heard him sing it with "and" at the start, changing it's meaning to refer to himself instead of the owl. To be able to add melody as beautifully to great lyrics is an exciting triumph that overshadows any other minor concerns such as how it's going to be interpreted. As we can see there will always be many different interpretations and a song can mean much to different people in different ways. In trying to determine the line of thought that might have inspired the lyrics in the main we should not pick out any single line if not corroborated by others, as the writer would have exercised licence to perhaps include wording which didn't strictly stick to the point. Opening lines are a good starting point to set the meaning in place and then to see if it is consistant in the main. In this case he seems to be addressing someone who doesn't have their two feet firmly on the ground, perhaps someone who has gotten a little carried away. The writer detaches himself from it and suggests to himself that he should have stayed on the farm. He should have listened to his Father. Bernie's father was a comercial farmer and tried independent farming too. "You know you can't hold me forever, I didn't sign up with you," So unlike Elton being sighed up to a recording company contract, presumably Bernie wasn't tied into any contract but rather freelance. The following lines suggest some artistic licence was applied to fit the rythem and rhyme, I'm not a --- he has to be something! And like "the blues" his unhappyness. The rest of it all fits with the notion that it's Bernie talkin about himself and his professional relationship with Elton and perhaps his disalusionment with aspects of it and perhaps there's a touch of resentment coming through. Maybe he feels unappreciated undervalued ans unrecognised. The last verse compounds this theme. Refering to mongrels like him who are hard up, The final line is the hardest hitting and almost pushing it too far but not quite...sniffin for tidbits like you on the ground. It's continuing with the imagery of the mongrel like him that allows it. Well that's what mongrels do.
It's a fantastic song, Elton makes it that. Before hand it was fantastic lyrics. Credit to them both, but it seems obvious to me that Bernie wrote it about himself and Elton. It's a sad song, anyhow Bernie collaborated with numerous other artists and still works with Elton to this day or certainly recently so it needn't be taken to seriously.
Wow, kind Sir, thanks. That would appear to describe the song and the inspiration behind it perfectly. I never knew what a powerful song this was from Elton. My respect for him and his amazing voice has just gone through the roof!
Wow, kind Sir, thanks. That would appear to describe the song and the inspiration behind it perfectly. I never knew what a powerful song this was from Elton. My respect for him and his amazing voice has just gone through the roof!