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)
Guilty Pleasure
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reach across the line
Let's talk about it, tell me one more time
What is it you want
What you think you'll find
Inside of this old heart of mine
Come on out
'Cause you wanna play
Here you went to choose and you're gonna stay
So I knew that's the price I pay
Can't you tell the deal's been done
Won't you let me love you
I don't see no smoking gun
I'm not up here to judge you
What do you see when you look at me
Tell the man to measure
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Or just some guilty pleasure
I roamed around
Looking for a clue
Searched the world it's what I used to do
Where I went
What I went though
A bit too hard to find a way to you
I can't move so
Never really could
Sing a song that you understood
It's what you do when you think you should
Surrender like you knew you always would
Can't you tell the deal's been done
Won't you let me love you
I don't see no smoking gun
I'm not up here to judge you
What do you see when you look at me
Tell the man to measure
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Or just some guilty pleasure
Hold out, distilling down
What's it gonna be
Never tell
In a million years
No, you can't get enough of me
Can't you tell the deal's been done
Won't you let me love you
I don't see no smoking gun
I'm not up here to judge you
What do you see when you look at me
Tell the man to measure
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Or just some guilty pleasure
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Or just some guilty pleasure
In "Guilty Pleasure" by Elton John, the lyrics revolve around the singer's desire for emotional connection and the uncertainty of where they stand in a relationship. The song opens with a plea for honesty and open communication, as the singer asks the other person to express their wants and desires once more. They question what the person is looking for and what they believe they will find within the singer's heart.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that they are willing to play along and engage in the relationship, despite understanding the potential consequences and sacrifices involved. They mention that the deal seems to have been done already, implying that they have committed themselves emotionally and are ready to love without judgment. There is no evidence of wrongdoing or betrayal ("I don't see no smoking gun"), and the singer emphasizes that they are not there to pass judgment but to love unconditionally.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's past experiences and struggles to find their way to the other person. They admit that it has been difficult to reach the point of connection and understanding, but they have always been willing to surrender to the emotions and desires present. The singer expresses a desire for reciprocation but questions if they are considered a true lover or just someone the other person indulges in as a guilty pleasure.
In the final verse, there is a sense of longing and uncertainty. The singer expresses that they are unsure what the other person truly wants and contemplates whether they are simply a pleasurable distraction or if there is potential for a deeper love. The song ends with the repetition of the question, leaving the outcome open-ended.
Overall, "Guilty Pleasure" explores themes of longing, desire, and insecurity in relationships. It raises questions about the nature of love and whether the singer's feelings are truly reciprocated or if they are merely a temporary pleasure for the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand it over
Give me what I'm asking for
Reach across the line
Cross the boundary and engage in conversation
Let's talk about it, tell me one more time
Discuss the matter and explain once again
What is it you want
What are your desires
What you think you'll find
What do you expect to discover
Inside of this old heart of mine
Within my aging emotions
Come on out
Reveal your true intentions
'Cause you wanna play
Because you desire to participate
The rain went east, come to roll away
The troubles have moved on, clearing the path
Here you went to choose and you're gonna stay
You made a decision and intend to remain
So I knew that's the price I pay
I was aware that consequences would follow
Can't you tell the deal's been done
Can't you see the agreement has been made
Won't you let me love you
Will you allow me to love you
I don't see no smoking gun
I don't see any significant evidence
I'm not up here to judge you
I'm not in a position to condemn you
What do you see when you look at me
What do you perceive when you observe me
Tell the man to measure
Instruct someone to assess
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Am I the romantic partner you desire
Or just some guilty pleasure
Or am I simply an indulgence that brings guilt
I roamed around
I wandered aimlessly
Looking for a clue
Searching for a hint or sign
Searched the world it's what I used to do
Explored the globe, that was my habit
Where I went
Wherever I traveled
What I went through
The experiences I endured
A bit too hard to find a way to you
It was challenging to discover a path to reach you
I can't move so
I am unable to progress
Never really could
Never truly had the ability
Sing a song that you understood
Express myself through a song that resonated with you
It's what you do when you think you should
It's a common action when you feel it's appropriate
Surrender like you knew you always would
Yield as if you were aware it would occur
Hold out, distilling down
Persevere, refining and concentrating
What's it gonna be
What will the outcome be
Never tell
Keep it a secret
In a million years
Even if given an eternity
No, you can't get enough of me
No, you are insatiable when it comes to me
Am I the lover you'd like my love
Am I the romantic partner you desire
Or just some guilty pleasure
Or am I simply an indulgence that brings guilt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELTON JOHN, BERNARD J.P. TAUPIN
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.....