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)
Hoop Of Fire
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long walks on lonely beaches, guitars with nylon strings
But underneath you'd rather leap through a hoop of fire
You shy away from lips that want, that want to kiss you
Tongue-tied on formal evenings, wealth don't impress you
But if you ask me, you like the heat in a hoop of fire?
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
No late nights making love in secret places
You feel pressure all around you, mistrust in strangers faces
But don't pretend you wouldn't spend some time in a hoop of fire
And it's hard to read just how you feel or what your dreams desire?
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
But don't pretend you wouldn't spend some time in a hoop of fire
And it's hard to read just how you feel or what your dreams desire?
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
The lyrics of Elton John's song Hoop Of Fire delve into the complexities of human desires and the contradictions within oneself. The opening lines seem to suggest that the subject of the song yearns for simplicity and quietness in life, away from the trappings of wealth and materialism. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that what they truly crave is the adrenaline rush of risk and danger, symbolized by the fiery hoop.
The next verse highlights the subject's hesitation towards intimacy and their unease around people they do not know. Yet, the underlying suggestion is that they secretly revel in excitement and uncertainty, which is why they may be drawn to the thrill of jumping through the hoop of fire.
The chorus confirms that the subject's pulse quickens when in proximity to the singer, indicating a physical attraction. However, it is also implied that the pulse quickens with the thrill of the challenge and the unknown, which the hoop of fire may represent.
The last verse reiterates the subject's apprehension towards societal pressure and expectations. Even so, the singer believes that they cannot deny their true nature and desires, which may include a willingness to take risks and live more adventurously.
Overall, the song suggests that human beings are complex creatures, and what we want may not always align with what we say or what we think we want. It also seems to imply that a certain level of risk and unpredictability is necessary for us to truly feel alive.
Line by Line Meaning
You say that all you want are the simple things
You claim to desire a life of simplicity.
Long walks on lonely beaches, guitars with nylon strings
You want to spend time walking on deserted beaches and playing music on a guitar with nylon strings.
But underneath you'd rather leap through a hoop of fire
Despite your claimed desire for simplicity, you actually crave excitement and danger.
You shy away from lips that want, that want to kiss you
You are hesitant to engage in romantic relationships.
Tongue-tied on formal evenings, wealth don't impress you
You feel uncomfortable in formal social situations and are not impressed by wealth.
But if you ask me, you like the heat in a hoop of fire?
However, if I were to guess, I believe you actually enjoy the thrill of danger and excitement.
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
When you're near me, your heart beats fast, similar to the excitement and rush of jumping through a hoop of fire.
No late nights making love in secret places
You do not seek out clandestine, intimate moments.
You feel pressure all around you, mistrust in strangers faces
You experience anxiety and distrust around strangers.
But don't pretend you wouldn't spend some time in a hoop of fire
Despite your hesitations and fears, I believe you would still be willing to take risks and seek out excitement.
And it's hard to read just how you feel or what your dreams desire?
Your true feelings and desires are difficult to discern.
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Again, your heart beats fast when you are near me, signifying your desire for excitement and danger.
Your pulse that races when I'm close reads like a hoop of fire
Reiterating the idea that your fast heart rate around me reveals your craving for thrill and danger.
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.....