Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a … Read Full Bio ↴Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967, John is one of the most successful artists of all time, having sold over 300 million records worldwide in a seven-decade career in music. He is acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his work during the 1970s, and his lasting impact on the music industry. John's music and showmanship have had a significant impact on popular music. His songwriting partnership with Taupin is one of the most successful in history.

John was raised in the Pinner suburb of London and learned to play piano at an early age, forming the blues band Bluesology in 1962. After leaving Bluesology in 1967 to embark on a solo career, John met Taupin after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for other artists, and John worked as a session musician for artists. John released his debut album Empty Sky in 1969, and a year later formed the Elton John Band and released his first hit single, "Your Song".

John's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s when he released a streak of chart-topping albums in the US and UK, which began with Honky Château (1972) and culminated with Rock of the Westies (1975). John continued his success in the 1980s and 1990s, having several hit singles and albums in both decades, and has continued to record new music since then. He has also had success in musical films and theatre, composing music for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot the Musical. In 2018, John began his ongoing farewell tour Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which is scheduled to conclude in 2023. The 2019 biopic Rocketman dramatized his life and career.

Outside of music, John is an HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser and has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s. He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, which has raised over £300 million since its inception, and a year later he began hosting his annual Foundation Academy Awards Party, which has since become one of the biggest high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. John was the chairman and director of Watford F.C, from 1976 to 1987, and again from 1997 to 2002, and is an honorary life president of the club. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, John developed a severe addiction problem to drugs and alcohol but has been sober since 1990. He entered into a civil partnership with Canadian filmmaker David Furnish in 2005; they married after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014.

John has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including nine number-ones in the UK and US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", a rewritten version of his 1974 single in dedication to Princess Diana, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling chart single of all time. In 2021, John became the first solo artist with UK Top 10 singles across six decades.

John has received numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards; including for Outstanding Contribution to Music; two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Disney Legend Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and is a fellow of The Ivors Academy. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charitable services in 1998 and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 2020.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John

Solo studio albums
Empty Sky (1969)
Elton John (1970)
Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
Madman Across the Water (1971)
Honky Château (1972)
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
Caribou (1974)
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
Rock of the Westies (1975)
Blue Moves (1976)
A Single Man (1978)
Victim of Love (1979)
21 at 33 (1980)
The Fox (1981)
Jump Up! (1982)
Too Low for Zero (1983)
Breaking Hearts (1984)
Ice on Fire (1985)
Leather Jackets (1986)
Reg Strikes Back (1988)
Sleeping with the Past (1989)
The One (1992)
Made in England (1995)
The Big Picture (1997)
Songs from the West Coast (2001)
Peachtree Road (2004)
The Captain & the Kid (2006)
The Diving Board (2013)
Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)
Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021)

Bite Your Lip
Elton John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She slid down to the city limits
Monkey time in fifteen minutes
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.
Don't let me down
Please stick around
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.

Strobe light on funky feet,

Soul children in the disco heat.
Top dog, top cat,
Move that muscle and shake that fat.
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.

Chicago, L.A.
Everyplace, everyway
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.

Illinois, Santa Fe,

Do do do do do do do what I say
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elton John's song Bite Your Lip are a call to action for anyone listening: get up and dance. The song sets the scene of a disco, with images of people moving their feet to the beat and dancing in a funky/soulful way. The phrase "bite your lip" is an idiom that means to control your emotions and refrain from speaking out of turn. In this context, it could be interpreted as a way to keep yourself in check and not let anything ruin the moment. The repetition of the phrase "get up, get up and dance" serves as a reminder that this is a song meant for movement and enjoyment.

The specific locations mentioned in the lyrics, such as Chicago and Santa Fe, could be seen as a nod to the universality of music and dance. It doesn't matter where you are or where you come from, the beat can bring people together and make them move. The lyrics are simple, but effective in their message. It's a song about letting loose and enjoying the moment, without any worries or concerns.

Line by Line Meaning

She slid down to the city limits
She traveled to the outskirts of the city

Monkey time in fifteen minutes
A dance named 'Monkey Time' is going to happen soon, in 15 minutes

Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance.
Encouragement to start dancing and enjoy the moment

Don't let me down
Please don't disappoint me by not dancing

Please stick around
Stay here with me and have fun

Strobe light on funky feet,
Funky dance moves are being illuminated by a strobe light

Soul children in the disco heat.
People who are passionate about dancing are enjoying themselves in the hot disco environment

Top dog, top cat,
Referring to the best dancers in the club

Move that muscle and shake that fat.
Instructions to dance and have fun by moving your body

Chicago, L.A.
Referring to different cities where people love to dance

Everyplace, everyway
Dancing is enjoyed everywhere