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)
I've Got 2 Wings
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got two wings to fly
They may be made of paper
They may never reach the sky
But I believe in mercy
I believe that man is good
And if they want two wings like me
There's a chance they could
I am the elder Utah Smith
I was born in Cedar Grove
That's in Louisiana
On a dirt-poor stretch of road
I found the calling early
Gave birth to righteous words
And in a tent around the South
I took my sonic church
I was a light for the living
And I spoke of peace and love
With two wings and my old Gibson
I bought blessings from above
I was here and I was gone
Just a heartbeat from the past
But I went from paper wings
To the real thing at last
I am the elder Utah Smith
I take all as they are
I was the first man of the cloth
To blacken a guitar
Love was my redeemer
I felt it from the start
The Holy ghost was channeled
Through the sound of my guitar
I was a light for the living
And I spoke of peace and love
With two wings and my old Gibson
I bought blessings from above
I was here and I was gone
Just a heartbeat from the past
But I went from paper wings
To the real thing at last
Been a long time in the ground
Unmarked is my grave
But I reside elsewhere these days
Thanks to souls I've saved
I traveled far, I traveled wide
Three quarts for the Lord
Till one day he called me home
To claim his great reward
I was a light for the living
And I spoke of peace and love
With two wings and my old Gibson
I bought blessings from above
I was here and I was gone
Just a heartbeat from the past
But I went from paper wings
To the real thing at last
I was a light for the living
And I spoke of peace and love
With two wings and my old Gibson
I bought blessings from above
I was here and I was gone
Just a heartbeat from the past
But I went from paper wings
To the real thing at last
The lyrics of "I've Got 2 Wings" by Elton John are a tribute to the late Utah Smith, a gospel singer and guitarist known for his unique style and powerful performances. The song portrays Smith as a spiritual figure who used his music to spread messages of love, peace, and redemption.
In the first verse, Smith acknowledges that his wings may not be perfect, describing them as made of paper and possibly unable to reach the sky. However, he still believes in the power of mercy and the innate goodness of humanity. He suggests that if others desire wings like his, there is a chance for them to obtain them as well.
The following verse provides some background information about Smith's origins. He was born in Cedar Grove, Louisiana, in poverty-stricken circumstances. Smith discovered his calling early on and became a preacher, using his words to convey righteousness and to create an atmosphere of spiritual connection in the form of a sonic church that traveled around the South.
Smith's guitar and music were instrumental in his ministry. He expresses that his Gibson guitar, coupled with his two wings, became symbols of blessings from above. His presence as a light for the living and his message of peace and love resonated with people. Though his time on Earth was brief, Smith left an indelible mark, transitioning from metaphorical "paper wings" to the "real thing."
The final verse reflects on Smith's afterlife. Though he may have an unmarked grave, he believes his soul resides elsewhere, thanks to the souls he saved during his lifetime. Smith's dedication to spreading the message of love and peace is depicted as a noble act, earning him a reward in the afterlife as he is called home by the Lord.
Overall, "I've Got 2 Wings" pays homage to Utah Smith's legacy as a gospel singer and preacher who used his music to uplift and inspire others. The lyrics depict him as a spiritual guide who believed in the power of love and redemption through music.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the elder Utah Smith
I am the experienced and respected Utah Smith
I've got two wings to fly
I have the capability to rise above and achieve
They may be made of paper
My wings may seem fragile and unreal
They may never reach the sky
They may never truly fulfill their potential
But I believe in mercy
I have faith in compassion and forgiveness
I believe that man is good
I hold a positive view of humanity
And if they want two wings like me
And if others desire the same sense of freedom and empowerment as me
There's a chance they could
They have the potential to achieve it
I was born in Cedar Grove
I entered this world in Cedar Grove
That's in Louisiana
A place located in Louisiana
On a dirt-poor stretch of road
In an impoverished area
I found the calling early
I discovered my purpose at a young age
Gave birth to righteous words
I spoke truth and virtue
And in a tent around the South
And in various locations across the South
I took my sonic church
I spread my message through the power of music
I was a light for the living
I served as a guiding influence for the living
And I spoke of peace and love
I preached about harmony and affection
With two wings and my old Gibson
Using my metaphorical wings and my trusted Gibson guitar
I bought blessings from above
I obtained blessings and divine favor
I was here and I was gone
I made a temporary presence
Just a heartbeat from the past
Similar to a fleeting moment from history
But I went from paper wings
However, I progressed from metaphorical wings
To the real thing at last
To the genuine and tangible manifestation of my aspirations
I take all as they are
I accept everyone without judgment
I was the first man of the cloth
I was among the earliest religious figures
To blacken a guitar
To infuse spiritual passion into playing the guitar
Love was my redeemer
Love provided my salvation
I felt it from the start
I experienced it from the very beginning
The Holy ghost was channeled
I channeled the presence of the Holy Spirit
Through the sound of my guitar
By means of the melodies produced by my guitar
Been a long time in the ground
I have been buried for a significant period
Unmarked is my grave
There is no distinguishing mark on my burial site
But I reside elsewhere these days
However, my presence dwells in a different realm now
Thanks to souls I've saved
Due to the individuals whose lives I positively impacted
I traveled far, I traveled wide
I journeyed extensively
Three quarts for the Lord
I dedicated a significant portion of my life to the Lord
Till one day he called me home
Until the day the Lord summoned me to his presence
To claim his great reward
To receive the magnificent recompense he promised
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.....