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 Can't Steer My Heart Clear Of You
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all these rough seas
Left me reckless and abandoned
Say the spirits willing, chance a new beginning
Break down the cold front
Give me peace and understanding
And you wait, and you wonder
Will she still be the star to see me through
'Cause I can't steer my heart clear of you
No I can't steer my heart clear of you
It's the way it's been, ever since you sailed
Out of a storm and into view
And should I drift away, the compass holds the clue
You control the weather
And I can't steer my heart clear of you
Make me your penance, show me your innocence
Everything is history
From the aching to the pleasure
We enjoy the torture, the slow pain that it taught us
Everything gets twisted
Let me burn or bring me water
The lyrics to Elton John's song "I Can't Steer My Heart Clear Of You" speaks of a complicated and difficult love where the singer cannot seem to let go of their love interest despite the rough seas they have been through. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that they are being taken for granted, yet they still think they can handle it. They yearn for a chance for a new beginning with their love interest, but they are unable to break down the "cold front" that has been erected between them. They express a desire for peace and understanding in the relationship, hoping that their love interest will see them through the ups and downs they may face.
The chorus of the song repeats the sentiment of the title. The singer admits that they cannot control their heart and steer it clear of their love interest. The love interest is portrayed as being the one in control of the relationship, having the ability to bring thunder and control the weather. The singer seems to be resigned to their fate, as they cannot seem to let go of their love interest and continue to be drawn back to them.
In the second verse, the singer pleads with their love interest to make them their penance and show them their innocence. They acknowledge that everything in their relationship is rooted in their history, both the good and the bad. They enjoy the "torture" and the pain that the relationship brings, whether it be good or bad. The singer ultimately leaves their fate in their love interest's hands, hoping that they will either bring them water or let them burn.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Can't Steer My Heart Clear Of You" paint a picture of a complex and tumultuous love that the singer cannot seem to give up. They recognize their love interest's control over the relationship and the effect they have on their heart but are unable to steer it clear of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me for granted, I think that I could stand it
Even though I know you don't appreciate me, I still think I can handle it
After all these rough seas
Despite all the difficult times we've had
Left me reckless and abandoned
I feel lost and helpless without you
Say the spirits willing, chance a new beginning
If we're both willing, we can start over fresh
Break down the cold front
Let's remove the barriers between us
Give me peace and understanding
Help me feel calm and realize where we stand
And you wait, and you wonder
You're curious about my feelings and actions
Will she still beat the drum and bring the thunder
Can you still excite and inspire me?
Will she still be the star to see me through
Can you still guide and support me?
'Cause I can't steer my heart clear of you
I can't help but love you and be drawn to you
No I can't steer my heart clear of you
I am powerless to resist your pull
It's the way it's been, ever since you sailed
My feelings have been this way since you first came into my life
Out of a storm and into view
Despite starting with turmoil, you became important to me
And should I drift away, the compass holds the clue
If I try to move on, my heart will still point to you
You control the weather
You have a significant impact on my emotional state
And I can't steer my heart clear of you
No matter how hard I try, I can't stop loving you
Make me your penance, show me your innocence
Punish me if you must, but let me see your true intentions
Everything is history
Our past is behind us, but it still affects us
From the aching to the pleasure
We've experienced both good and bad times together
We enjoy the torture, the slow pain that it taught us
We've learned from our struggles and grown closer as a result
Everything gets twisted
Our relationship is complicated and hard to navigate
Let me burn or bring me water
Either let our relationship end in flames or help me put out the fire
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.....