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Does Elton John Know His Lyrics?

Variety | January 31, 2026



Legendary singer/songwriter Elton John guesses iconic lyrics from his hit songsā€”including Rocketman, Tiny Dancer, and Your Songā€”and shares what actually goes into his songwriting process.

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Comments

This post currently has 41 comments.

  1. @StacyLung-k6r

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    His was the first real concert I attended on Nov. 3, 1974 in Chicago. Then I was able to attend another show back in 1980, but it started very differently. John Bonham had just died. He didn't say anything, just sat down and started playing "Funeral for a
    Friend." Such an emotional experience.

  5. @Alantheleopard

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    I guess that it must be relatively easy to remember lines from the most popular songs; songs that will never fall into oblivion because so many people keep singing them. But how about any of the multiple songs of Sir Elton which, unfairly, have fallen into oblivion?

    I wonder for instance if Sir Elton would guess lines like:
    Ā 
    "Don't that big red sun
    Look a lot like fire?
    When you come out of the ground
    After forty-eight hours"

    (clue: it's set in Africa as well).

  7. @EliasMoore-t9n

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    'Tiny Dancer" was about Bernie Taupin's first wife Maxine Feibelman. They had an acrimonious breakup, which is probably why he says the song is just a song about
    L.A. women in general. But it was about her. But it was definitely about her. She was from L.A., an "L. A. lady." She was the "seamstress for the band", but all she did was sew patches on the holes or tears in the band's jeans. But the really definitive proof was in the lyric booklet for the "Madman Across The Water" album.
    Across from the Tiny Dancer lyrics was a full page photo of Feibelman, captioned "With love to Maxine." The song was about her.

  11. @sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    One of the worst bits of Bernie's lyricism is in Rocket Man
    A great song, but the lines
    "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
    In fact it's cold as hell
    And there's no one there to raise them
    If you did"

    šŸ˜© absolutely terrible!!!!

  15. @Unknown17

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    Who but Elton shapes his music to fit the lyrics? Most songwriters dream up little tunes in their heads, then cram in whatever words seem to fit at the moment. Elton's emotional depth allows him to first feel Bernie's lines intimately and then respond with a tune that is a personal reflection–a heart-felt reaction–to what is given him. And they're both so adept at what they do that the combination of their talents lends both a freshness and a timelessness to the songs that emerge. There never has been a pairing so emotionally and musically entwined.

  24. @stopthebus

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    If you haven't heard the song 'Harmony' from his 1973 album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', crank it up on a decent sound system and be prepared for an experience. The chord progressions are really unusual and combine with a huge chorus lift. I have loved Elton's music for years and will continue to for many more.

  28. @MiturBinEsderty

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    I still think he has AIDS just rich people who were diagnosed in the early 1990ā€™s had access to blood transfusions and filtering and could take experimental drugs in other countries.

    And I say this without a mean intention. I was greatly affected by seeing the AIDS blanket the NY portion at an AIDS walk seeing the pictures of the people who died overwhelmed 14 year old me. To the point of tears. Itā€™s a horrible virus.

    And Iā€™m an asshole troll normally FYI

  29. @mikeohagan2206

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    Don't let your son go down on me is a great song. Elton is a great pianist and Bernie taupin writes great songs.. elton's ability to make music from written word and turn it into something great is amazing.

  32. @RonHarrisMe

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    I am in my 60s. Elton John was a BIG deal when I was growing up. Everyone I knew in the 70s had his albums. When everyone talks of someone being a "superstar"… Elton John is the first one I think of. These "kids" today, almost NONE of them sing live, because they can't sing. Autotune has ruined the music industries. There are ACTUAL talent out there, with fantastic voices, that will never be heard. I just stopped listening to music after the 80s (except Country) Country music is and always has been TIMELESS.

  33. @lisaharrington6488

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    Not surprising to me at all that Elton knew every single line. He is such an inspiration! Hope you do more of the Know Your Lines with others of his generation and before. Much more interesting with the older music.

  34. @FoxNoctom

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    Yes, yes he knows his Lyrics. He also knows who wrote it, played in it, did the Catering for the Music video shoots, and probably knows everyone who Sang it in there cars because this mans memory is stronger then everyone else's, holy shit well done Elton!

  40. @KHoltzie

    January 31, 2026 at 7:10 pm

    I saw Eltie in Buffalo in 2017ā€”AWESOME AWESOME show, I missed ā€˜Your Songā€™ (which my Mom asked me to record for her) trapped standing in a balcony stairwell trying to get up to my seatā€¦great night overall + I still have the concert ticket stub to reminisce with! ā­ļø

Comments are closed.

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