While Taupin was still a boy, his father decided to try his hand at independent farming, and the family relocated again, this time to a run-down property called Maltkiln Farm in the north-Lincolnshire village of Owmby-by-Spital. Here a third brother, Kit, was born 11 years junior to Bernie. The family attended Holy Rood Catholic Church in the town of Market Rasen, where Bernie and Tony served as altar boys. Bernie attended school at Market Rasen Secondary Modern. Unlike his older brother, he was not a diligent student, although he showed an early flair for writing. At 15 he dropped out of school. He spent his teenage years hanging out with his friends, hitchhiking the country roads to attend youth club dances in the surrounding villages, playing snooker in the Aston Arms Pub in Market Rasen, and drinking ale well before his eighteenth birthday. He had worked at several part-time, dead-end jobs when, at the age of 17, he answered an advertisement that led to his collaboration with Elton John.
In 1967, he answered an advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express by Liberty records A&R man Ray Williams. Thus began the famous and well-loved songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The pair have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date, though John worked with other lyricists between 1977 and 1983. Taupin's lyrics include such memorable tunes as "Rocket Man", "Tiny Dancer", "Candle in the Wind", "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", and 1970's "Your Song", their first hit.
In 1971, Taupin recorded a spoken-word album entitled Taupin, in which he recites some of his early poems against a background of impromptu, sitar-heavy music created by some members of Elton's band, including Davey Johnstone and Caleb Quaye. Side One is entitled "Child" and contains poems about his early childhood in southern Lincolnshire. The first poem, "The Greatest Discovery," which looks at his own birth through the eyes of his older brother, was also set to music by Elton John and included on the Elton John (album). There are poems about Taupin's first two childhood homes, Flatters and Rowston Manor, and others about his relationship with his brother and grandfather. Side Two includes a variety of poems of varying obscurity, from a marionette telling her own story to a rat catcher who falls victim to his prey. While the lyrics to Side One provide interesting insights into Taupin's childhood, the album makes for a tedious listening experience, and Taupin stated in interviews that he wasn't pleased with the results.
In 1980, Taupin recorded his first album as a singer, He Who Rides the Tiger. Although he demonstrated a more-than-adequate vocal ability, the album failed to make a dent in the charts. Taupin later suggested in interviews that he didn't have the creative control he would have liked over the album.
In 1987, he recorded another album entitled Tribe. The songs were co-written with Martin Page. "Citizen Jane" and "Friend of the Flag" were released as singles. Videos of both singles featured Taupin and then-wife Toni Russo, and the "Citizen Jane" video also included Toni's sister, actress Rene Russo. Once again, neither the album nor the singles made much of a dent in the charts.
In 1996, Taupin pulled together a band called Farm Dogs, whose two albums were conscious (and successful) throwbacks to the grittier, earthier sound of Tumbleweed Connection. While Taupin wrote the lyrics, the music was a collaborative effort among the band members. Their first album, 1996's Last Stand in Open Country, received critical praise but little airplay. As mentioned above, the title track was later recorded by Willie Nelson and Kid Rock for Nelson's 2002 album The Great Divide.
In 1998, Farm Dogs released its second and final album, Immigrant Sons. Again a respectable effort, the album went nowhere despite a tour of small clubs across America.
Lover's Cross
Bernie Taupin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You swam around below me and you dragged me up for air
Till all around the sounds of love came blowing through my door
You stayed awhile and like a child you stepped on all my toys
True love makes you bitter, true love turns you sour
But some time true love hits you in the strangest hours
I won't be your crucifix or savior to bruise
I don't want to hang on no lover's cross for you
Saints alive I've died a hundred times or more for you
Prowling through my lifestyle, like a black cat on the roof
Riding astride my innocence when I was a hundred proof
And of our passion you confessed you'd never felt so proud
For what I lack, and my mistakes you'll find in others now
You can tell them that they're better, hand 'em the same line
But for Christ's sake I don't think you'll find someone that kind
Don't leave your shadow, won't you take it away
Don't want to keep finding little bits of you that stayed
If I see you tomorrow, if I spot you in a crowd
Be kind enough to ask me "Hey, how are you doing now"
"I'm doing fine, hope you're the same way"
Then I'll turn towards your latest love and say
Are you gonna hang on a lover's cross for her
Will you be her crucifix, do you mind getting hurt
Are you gonna hang on a lover's cross for her
Cause saints alive, I've died a hundred times or more for her
The lyrics of "Lover's Cross" are a heartbreaking lament of being drawn in by a lover who is both a light in the darkness and a harbinger of pain. The first verse sets the stage with the imagery of a vulture circling, a perfect representation of danger lurking nearby. The lover is the night light shining through the jungle, providing safety and comfort. The image of being pulled up for air is both a literal and metaphorical representation of their relationship. The sounds of love blowing through the door represent the hope love brings, making everything feel worth it.
However, as the song progresses, we see the dark side of love. The lover is like a child stepping on toys, breaking things in their carefree exploration of the relationship. True love makes us bitter and sour; it's not always the happy ending we see in movies. The singer doesn't want to be a crucifix or savior, to be hung up on a lover's cross for this person. The chorus is a declaration of self-preservation, of refusing to be hurt anymore.
In the final verse, the singer is haunted by memories of the lover, still finding little bits of them everywhere. They long to move on but cannot escape the pain. The final lines are a message to the next person who will love this lover, warning them of what they are getting into. It's a painful reminder that love can hurt deeply and that we carry the scars with us forever.
Line by Line Meaning
You were my night light in the jungle when the vulture came to call
You provided protection and guidance in a dangerous situation.
You swam around below me and you dragged me up for air
You supported and uplifted me in times of struggle.
Till all around the sounds of love came blowing through my door
Love surrounded us and we were overcome by its influence.
You stayed awhile and like a child you stepped on all my toys
You were careless and destructive in our relationship.
True love makes you bitter, true love turns you sour
The intensity of love can lead to negative emotions.
But some time true love hits you in the strangest hours
Love can come unexpectedly and at inconvenient times.
I don't want to hang on no lover's cross for you
I refuse to be a sacrifice for your love.
I won't be your crucifix or savior to bruise
I won't allow myself to be hurt or burdened by your expectations.
Saints alive I've died a hundred times or more for you
I've sacrificed myself countless times for you.
Prowling through my lifestyle, like a black cat on the roof
You were invasive and disruptive to my way of living.
Riding astride my innocence when I was a hundred proof
You took advantage of my vulnerability when I was at my weakest.
And of our passion you confessed you'd never felt so proud
You were proud of the intensity of our relationship.
For what I lack, and my mistakes you'll find in others now
My shortcomings and flaws can be found in others as well.
You can tell them that they're better, hand 'em the same line
You will try to convince others that they can replace me with ease.
But for Christ's sake I don't think you'll find someone that kind
It will be difficult to ever find somebody as loving as me.
Don't leave your shadow, won't you take it away
Don't leave your negative impact on me, take it with you when you go.
Don't want to keep finding little bits of you that stayed
I don't want to be reminded of you and the damage you caused.
If I see you tomorrow, if I spot you in a crowd
If we happen to cross paths in the future.
Be kind enough to ask me "Hey, how are you doing now"
Show some decency and ask how I am doing.
"I'm doing fine, hope you're the same way"
I am doing well and hope you are too.
Then I'll turn towards your latest love and say
I will address your current partner.
Are you gonna hang on a lover's cross for her
Will you sacrifice yourself like I did for her?
Will you be her crucifix, do you mind getting hurt
Are you willing to be her source of salvation knowing that it may harm you?
Are you gonna hang on a lover's cross for her
Will you allow yourself to experience the pain of sacrificing for her?
Cause saints alive, I've died a hundred times or more for her
I have endured great pain and suffering for her, more times than I can count.
Contributed by Elliot P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.