Big Dipper
Elton John Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now I saw you talking to a cute little slip of a sailor
And it looked at first like the whole thing would end as a failure
He had a thing about a quarter to four
And he just couldn't handle any more
He's got his own big dipper so he won't be needing your big dipper
He's got his own big dipper and he won't be needing yours

So you filled him up with all kinds of stuff to relax him
And you took him down to the fairground after some action
And by around about a quarter to six
You found a different way to get your kicks
Up on the real big dipper where you tried an few new tricks
Big dipper
Up on a great big dipper did you learn a few new licks

He hadn't been too keen at the start
Now he seems to have a change of heart
He's got his own big dipper
Only now he's not so sure, big dipper
He's got his own big dipper
But there's always room for more

Everybody's got a song to sing
Everybody's got to do their thing, big dipper, big dipper

And at around about a quarter to ten
You got up and did it all again
He's got his own big dipper and now he knows just what it's for
Big dipper
He's got his own big dipper but he's got his eye on yours

Another ride, another tune




Another crazy afternoon
Another reason for squeezing your big dipper

Overall Meaning

In Elton John’s song Big Dipper, the singer describes a scene where he saw someone talking to a sailor and it seemed like their interaction would end in failure at first. However, the sailor had a thing about a quarter to four and he just couldn't handle any more, so the singer notes that he had his own big dipper and he won't be needing theirs. The singer then describes how the person he saw with the sailor, took him down to the fairground and filled him up with all kinds of stuff to relax him. They rode the real big dipper and tried a few new tricks. He notes that the sailor hadn't been too keen at the start but now he seems to have had a change of heart, as he's got his own big dipper but there's always room for more.


The lyrics of the song appear to relate to the idea of individuality and self-sufficiency. The sailor had his own big dipper and did not need the singer's big dipper, which could be interpreted as a reference to each person's unique experiences and perspectives. The song speaks to the human need to find one's own path and experiences but still acknowledges the desire for more. The lyrics suggest that we all have our own stories to tell and that everyone is free to explore their life and all the experiences that it has to offer.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I saw you talking to a cute little slip of a sailor
You were talking to a handsome sailor, but it didn't look like it was going well.


And it looked at first like the whole thing would end as a failure
It seemed like the conversation would be unsuccessful at first.


He had a thing about a quarter to four
He had somewhere to be at 3:45.


And he just couldn't handle any more
He couldn't take it anymore.


He's got his own big dipper so he won't be needing your big dipper
He already has what he needs, so he doesn't need what you're offering.


So you filled him up with all kinds of stuff to relax him
You gave him substances to calm him down.


And you took him down to the fairground after some action
After something else happened, you took him to the carnival.


And by around about a quarter to six
Around 5:45.


You found a different way to get your kicks
You found another way to have fun.


Up on the real big dipper where you tried an few new tricks
You went on the roller coaster and tried some daring new moves.


Big dipper
Title of the Song.


Up on a great big dipper did you learn a few new licks
Did you learn anything new on the roller coaster?


He hadn't been too keen at the start
He wasn't interested in the beginning.


Now he seems to have a change of heart
Now he has changed his mind.


Only now he's not so sure, big dipper
He is now unsure about his own big dipper.


But there's always room for more
However, he's open to more possibilities.


Everybody's got a song to sing
Everyone has something to contribute.


Everybody's got to do their thing, big dipper, big dipper
Everyone has to find their own way and do what makes them happy.


And at around about a quarter to ten
Around 9:45.


You got up and did it all again
You did it all over again.


He's got his own big dipper and now he knows just what it's for
Now he understands the purpose of his own big dipper.


But he's got his eye on yours
But he's still interested in your big dipper.


Another ride, another tune
Another rollercoaster ride, another experience.


Another crazy afternoon
Another wild afternoon of fun.


Another reason for squeezing your big dipper
Another reason to enjoy your company, your big dipper.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELTON JOHN, GARY ANTHONY OSBORNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

not like todays crap

Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....

More Versions