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)
Empty-Garden
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain
And what's it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed, we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace
And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most of the day
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play
And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger, if only he could hear
Who lived there
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name
And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most of the day
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play
And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out, can you come out to play, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
The song "Empty Garden" by Elton John is a tribute to his dear friend John Lennon, who was murdered in 1980 in front of the Dakota building in New York City. The lyrics describe the empty garden where John Lennon used to spend his time gardening, weeding out the tears and growing a good crop. The garden is now empty and nothing grows there anymore, just like the emptiness left behind by the loss of a loved one. The line "It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain" may refer to the one person who took away John Lennon's life and damaged the lives of so many others.
Elton John expresses his grief and longing for his friend by repeatedly knocking on the door and calling out his name. He asks Johnny to come out and play, even though he knows that he cannot. The last verse speaks of John Lennon's legacy and how he will always be remembered as a gardener who cared a lot and grew a good crop. The reference to roots growing stronger is a metaphor for his lasting impact on the world, as his music continues to inspire new generations.
Overall, "Empty Garden" is a heartfelt and poignant tribute to the loss of a dear friend and musical collaborator. The lyrics use the image of a garden as a metaphor for the memories and legacy of John Lennon, and the emptiness left behind by his sudden death.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened here
The singer is observing an empty garden and wondering what led to its current state.
As the New York sunset disappeared
The scene is set with the reference to a specific location and moment in time.
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
The singer discovers a garden that is empty and barren, located amidst the pavement.
Who lived here
The artist questions who was responsible for the garden and its upkeep.
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
The artist suggests that the gardener had a deep passion for gardening, fueled by love and dedication.
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
The singer admires the gardener's skill for nurturing the garden, removing anything that could damage it, and producing a good harvest.
And now it all looks strange
The singer observes how the garden looks completely different from its initial state, creating a sense of unfamiliarity and unease.
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain
The artist reflects on how small and seemingly insignificant things can cause a huge impact.
And what's it for
The artist questions the purpose of this garden that is now empty and lifeless.
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
The artist describes the location of the garden as being situated by a brownstone door, further emphasizing its abandonment.
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
The singer notes how nothing grows in the surrounding cracks and insinuates how lifeless the entire area is.
And we are so amazed, we're crippled and we're dazed
The artist and others who happen upon this empty garden are stunned and bewildered by its state.
A gardener like that one no one can replace
The singer acknowledges and respects the gardener's unique and exceptional abilities.
And I've been knocking but no one answers
The singer has attempted to get in touch with someone in regards to the garden, but to no avail.
And through their tears
The mention of tears adds a layer of emotionality to the story.
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
There are others who speculate that the gardener's best work was done when he was younger.
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger, if only he could hear
The artist imagines what the gardener would say in response to this speculation, emphasizing the importance of time and growth in gardening.
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
The community hopes for a positive change in the garden and their spirits, heightened with every instance of precipitation.
We hear, we hear your name
The singer and their community associates the garden and its emptiness with the gardener who once cared for it.
Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
The artist addresses the gardener (Johnny) directly, hoping he can make a reappearance and revive the garden.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.....