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.
Step Into Christmas
Bernie Taupin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to thank you for the year
So I'm sending you this Christmas card
To say it's nice to have you here
I'd like to sing about all the things
Your eyes and mind can see
So hop aboard the turntable
Step into Christmas, let's join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free
Take care in all you do next year
And keep smiling through the days
If we can help to entertain you
Oh, we will find the ways
So merry Christmas one and all
There's no place I'd rather be
Than asking you if you'd oblige
Stepping into Christmas with me
Step into Christmas, let's join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free, oh
Welcome to my Christmas song
I'd like to thank you for the year
So I'm sending you this Christmas card
To say it's nice to have you here
I'd like to sing about all the things
Your eyes and mind can see
So hop aboard the turntable
Oh, step into Christmas with me, yeah
Step into Christmas, let's join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free
Step into Christmas, let's join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free
Step into Christmas, let's join together
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free, oh
(Step, step into Christmas)
(Forever and ever)
(Come along with me)
(Ah)
(Step, step into Christmas)
(Forever and ever)
(Come along with me)
(Ah)
The lyrics of Bernie Taupin's song "Step into Christmas" are an invitation to join in the festive spirit and welcome the new year with joy and merriment. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the presence of the listeners and thanking them for being a part of his journey throughout the year. He sends them a Christmas card and welcomes them to his Christmas song. He invites them to hop aboard the turntable and join him in celebrating the festivities together.
The chorus of the song highlights the fun and excitement of the holiday season. It encourages the listeners to let go of their worries and problems and embrace the moment. The singer invites them to eat, drink, and be merry, and watch the snow fall forever and ever. He assures them that the admission is free, implying that everyone is welcome to join the festivities.
In the end, the singer reminds the listeners to take care of themselves in the coming year and to keep smiling through the days. He promises to find ways to entertain them and invites them to step into Christmas with him. Overall, "Step into Christmas" is a cheerful, upbeat song that celebrates the spirit of togetherness and joy during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to my Christmas song
I am grateful to have you here to share in my joyous Christmas celebration
I'd like to thank you for the year
I appreciate all the good times we've had together this year
So I'm sending you this Christmas card
This card is my way of conveying my Christmas greetings to you
To say it's nice to have you here
I'm happy you're here with me to celebrate Christmas
I'd like to sing about all the things
I want to express all the merry things that are possible during Christmas
Your eyes and mind can see
I want you to open your eyes and mind to the magical moments of Christmas
So hop aboard the turntable
Join me in this merrymaking journey
Oh, step into Christmas with me, yeah
Be a part of this joyous Christmas celebration with me, come on!
Step into Christmas, let's join together
Let's celebrate Christmas together and have some fun
We can watch the snow fall forever and ever
We can admire the beauty of the snowfall throughout this festive time
Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me
Indulge in good food, drinks, and festivities with me
Step into Christmas, the admission's free
You're welcome to this celebration at no cost
Take care in all you do next year
I wish you the best for the coming year
And keep smiling through the days
Stay positive and happy through the ups and downs of the year
If we can help to entertain you
If we can make you smile or laugh, we're happy to do so
Oh, we will find the ways
We'll go the extra mile to ensure you have a great time always
So merry Christmas one and all
I wish everyone a very happy Christmas
There's no place I'd rather be
I'm so happy to be spending Christmas with all of you
Than asking you if you'd oblige
I'm requesting all of you to become a part of my Christmas celebration
Stepping into Christmas with me
Joining me in this merry and joyous time of Christmas
Contributed by James G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MisterHot
Nearly 50 years have passed, and this song still sounds fresh and fun.
SickAgain75
THEY PIPE THIS TUNE IN MY WORKPLACE AND YES IT STILL SOUNDS GREAT , SUPER 70'S FOREVER. CLASS OF ROCKIN 84 HERE!!!!. OH YEAH,, AND 50YRS FROM NOW IT WILL STILL SOUND GREAT!!!.
Jim Jimmy
I've heard this song 10 million times and I can still listen to it over and over.
Freaky Ears
Jim Jimmy I could listen to All of Elton songs 10 million times over I've been loving him since I was 15 years old and I never stopped loving his beautiful music! And I'll never stop loving him he's such an amazing beautiful kind understanding human being his humanitarian and he helps people who are Dan and out he's just such a sad down and out he's just such a beautiful man Every Witch Way beautiful person I love my Elton! T o o d l e s! I'm still standing.
Anita Robinson
Best Christmas song around, past and present, introduced to Elton's music when I was 7 and 40 years later he's still the best
daveyusa
One year on and still listening! Still my favorite and still the greatest Christmas song.........ever and ever!! Merry Christmas to you wonderful folks!
Declan E-Q
I rock out to this song 365 days a year 🙌🔥
Kim` Sear
One of my all time favorite Christmas music
Steven
It's not Christmas until I hear this song. Love it!
Carlos Augusto Silveira Pinto
Um espetáculo!
Do tempo em que se faziam música de verdade!
Saudações do Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷