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.
TINY DANCER
Bernie Taupin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine cM
cnd I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much
I miss my blue jean baby
It's lonely out in Lc, lady
On such a timeless flight
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
cnd you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
cnd I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no, I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
The song "Tiny Dancer" by Bernie Taupin and Elton John is a beautiful and poignant tribute to a special person. Taupin pulls out all the stops to paint a vivid picture of the blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band, whom he has seen dancing in the sand. There's a sense of wistfulness and nostalgia that pervades the lyrics, as one can sense Taupin's deep admiration and respect for this tiny dancer.
In the first verse, Taupin creates a striking image of the woman who will one day become a tiny dancer in his hand. Her pirate smile and pretty eyes draw people to her, and her love for the music and those who make it will make her an ideal mate for a music man. There's a deep sense of admiration here for someone who is perhaps not famous, but who is deeply connected to the world of music.
The song then moves on to describe some of the people that the tiny dancer encounters, giving us glimpses into her life. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing, of wanting to be close to this special person. Taupin's lyrics reveal his deep emotional bond with her, as he sings in the chorus, "Hold me closer tiny dancer, count the headlights on the highway, lay me down in sheets of linen, you had a busy day today." The song is a tribute to the power of music to bring us together, to connect us across the distance and time, and to help us remember those who have touched our lives in profound ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
A woman who wears blue jeans, lives in Los Angeles, and is responsible for sewing clothes for the band.
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
She has pretty eyes and a mischievous smile, and she'll likely marry a musician.
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
The woman is a ballerina and someone has seen her dancing in the sand.
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
The singer has an emotional connection with the ballerina and feels like he holds her in his hand at all times.
Jesus freaks out in the street
Religious fanatics act out in public.
Handing tickets out for God
An aggressive attempt to spread religious beliefs and gain followers by handing out tickets to religious events.
Turning back she just laughs
The ballerina sees the commotion but finds it all rather amusing.
The boulevard is not that bad
The ballerina doesn't find the chaos on the street to be all that terrible.
Piano man he makes his stand
A man stands strong on his talent for playing the piano.
In the auditorium
The setting for the piano man's performance.
Looking on she sings the songs
The ballerina is watching and singing along to the piano man's songs.
The words she knows, the tune she hums
She knows the lyrics and melody of the piano man's songs and hums along to them.
But oh how it feels so real
The emotions the singer feels towards the ballerina are intense and genuine.
Lying here with no one near
The singer is alone but deeply connected to the ballerina in his thoughts.
Only you and you can hear me
The singer is speaking to the ballerina and it's just the two of them in his mind.
When I say softly, slowly
The singer is speaking in a hushed tone and slowly conveying his thoughts and feelings.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
The singer desires physical closeness with the ballerina.
Count the headlights on the highway
A way to pass the time while driving and getting lost in thought.
Lay me down in sheets of linen
The singer wants to be comfortable and rest in soft linens.
You had a busy day today
The singer is acknowledging that the ballerina likely had a busy day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kimberly barr
Their songwriting partnership is amazing. The idea of letting people make a video for this song and the other two is going to be special. I really enjoy hearing them talk about what inspired them for this song.
CB Fall
Awesome & Exciting.
Ronan Rogers
Bernie. You’ve written the best lyrics of anyone, including Lennon & McCartney
David Holler
Piano intro still sends chills to the spine. Always brings back precious memories when I was 12 years old and holding that precious album in my little hands. For my birthday, my father (a professional songwriter) surprised me by taking me to see you perform in Berekely, California. Not a big venue, but you opened with Tiny Dancer. From that moment, I knew what I wanted to do. Though now I'm 55, it's only been recently that I've been told I look like Elton. Believe me , it's not by design. However, when I play 'Your Song' and see the response, I'll take the joy on people's faces any day. I've even been approached to do Tribute shows but I've said no. For no other reason than, 'that's not what Elton would do.' Having him hear my original songs I've written and recorded would be all a fan could ever wish for. Until then, I patiently wait for the next album. Bernie and Elton, together forever. Carry on. Carry on.
HomeTech Gal
I love these songs and wish a "Good Luck" to anyone who receives the honor for the videos. These have been some of the best songs of all time for me. They so much remind me of my childhood growing up with a large family of brothers and sisters. I especially relate to "Daniel" because I have a brother named Daniel who went into the military back in the mid seventies and one of my sisters continually played that song. Sir Elton John your music will always mean so much to me. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Tiny Dancer
It was 1973. I was 9 years old and bored. My babysitter/housesitter handed me two albums by a "new guy" I might like: "Madman Across The Water" from 1971 and "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player", his new album. I chose the one with the groovy denim record jacket, "Madman ...", and have been hooked on Elton since the opening piano chords of what would become my song, "Tiny Dancer". More than 40 years later and I am Tiny Dancer! Can't wait to see the videos this contest produces. Still inspiring us after (almost) 50 years, keep on rockin', Elton and Bernie!
Tmac1963
Tiny Dancer I Love this song! Have loved Elton John since Benny and the Jets and Philadelphia Freedom. I was just looking on YouTube for the songs of my life. The songs that would be my soundtrack and found this video on the inspiration for Tiny Dancer and the contest. Cannot wait to see what artist fond up with.
James Accardo
Tiny Dancer ! My Favorite I love this song
Iris Gross
I never caught the whole Los Angeles vibe in the song, but then I was a young kid who from over 40 years ago till today has never been there! On the bucket list though. That explanation has made the new video make sense though
Justin Herbert
I always heard it as a love song for Bernie's girlfriend who became his wife i believe her name was Maxine - all these experiences this young couple was going through together - that's how i always heard it.