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)
Just Like Noah's Ark
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's two of every kind
Pretty girls and boys in drag
Walking a fine thin line
Shaking hands and busing cheeks
Licking their lips like they could eat
Me alive in a couple of weeks
Yeah just like Noah's ark
Italiano promotion men
Chomping a big cigar
Slapping backs and making cracks
About the fags in the bar
Radio boss dipping his nose in a little white packet
You put it out son and we'll all back it
Yeah it's just like Noah's ark
[Chorus:]
And the waves are crashing round us
But we're ready for the flood
And we don't need a sign like an olive branch
In the beak of a snow white dove
We're not as dumb as we might look
You can't keep us in the dark
With me and you it's two by two just like Noah's ark
These four walls have seen
The Cockettes and the Casters
From San Francisco to Ohio
I've seen beauty and disaster
Cocky young roosters and little chicks
Flashing smiles, shaking them hips
Trying to hook it up for the late night shift
Here in Noah's ark
[Chorus]
And we wrote it as we saw it from the centre of the stage
All access to the liars who claim they wrote a page
But for every tiny dancer there's a dog that's had its day
The truth is never quite the same as what the papers say
[Chorus]
Elton John's song Just Like Noah's Ark, speaks about the diverse group of people who frequent nightclubs, like people entering Noah's Ark, a reference to the biblical story of Noah who saved pairs of every species from the great flood. In the song, Elton sings about there being two of every kind, pretty girls and boys in drag walking a fine thin line. This could be interpreted as the people who enter nightclubs are all unique and different in their own way, but when they enter the club, they are all equal in their desire to have fun and let loose.
As the song continues, Elton sings about the Italian promotion men chomping big cigars, slapping backs and making cracks about the fags in the bar while the radio boss dips his nose in a little white packet. This verse highlights the power dynamics at play in a nightclub, where people in positions of authority often think less of the patrons just there to have fun.
The chorus talks about the waves crashing around them, but they are ready for the flood. This could be a metaphor for the societal pressures and expectations that surround them, but they are not scared to be themselves and to enjoy themselves in their unique way. In the final verse, Elton sings about the truth not being quite the same as what the papers say, emphasizing that the people who enter nightclubs are often misrepresented in mainstream media.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just like Noah's ark
The situation is like the story of Noah's Ark where he took two of every kind of animal, but in this case it's two of every kind of person.
There's two of every kind
Everyone is represented here, including pretty girls, boys in drag, Italians, and radio executives.
Pretty girls and boys in drag
The club has a diverse group of people, including those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Walking a fine thin line
People here are pushing societal boundaries and norms, and may face criticism or judgement because of it.
Shaking hands and busing cheeks
People are friendly and socializing with one another, pretending to like and support each other.
Licking their lips like they could eat
People are greedy and hungry for power, popularity, or attention.
Me alive in a couple of weeks
People here may be willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top, even if it means hurting or betraying others.
Italiano promotion men
People of Italian descent who work in promotion are present at the club.
Chomping a big cigar
One of the Italian promotion men is smoking a cigar.
Slapping backs and making cracks
The promotion men are joking around and making fun of people they perceive as gay or feminine.
About the fags in the bar
The promotion men are specifically targeting and making fun of people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Radio boss dipping his nose in a little white packet
A radio executive is snorting cocaine or some other drug.
You put it out son and we'll all back it
The executive is willing to promote anything as long as it will make money and increase ratings.
And the waves are crashing round us
The people in the club are facing difficult and turbulent times.
But we're ready for the flood
Despite the challenges, the people here feel prepared and capable of handling whatever comes their way.
And we don't need a sign like an olive branch
Unlike in the story of Noah's Ark, the people here do not need a specific sign or symbol to indicate that things will be alright.
In the beak of a snow white dove
This refers to the dove that Noah sent out from the ark as a symbol that the flood waters had receded.
We're not as dumb as we might look
Despite how they may appear or be perceived, the people in the club are intelligent and capable.
You can't keep us in the dark
People here are aware of what's going on and won't be blinded or deceived by those in power.
With me and you it's two by two just like Noah's ark
Together, the people in this club form a diverse but united group, just like the animals on the ark.
These four walls have seen
The club has a long history and has witnessed many different people and events over time.
The Cockettes and the Casters
These are two famous groups of performers from the San Francisco area known for their outrageous and flamboyant shows.
From San Francisco to Ohio
The club has a reputation that extends beyond the local area and even the state.
I've seen beauty and disaster
The artist has witnessed both the good and bad aspects of the club's history.
Cocky young roosters and little chicks
There are young and confident people here, as well as those who are more vulnerable.
Flashing smiles, shaking them hips
People are here to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
Trying to hook it up for the late night shift
Some of the people here are looking for romance or sex later in the night.
The truth is never quite the same as what the papers say
Media outlets may not always report the truth or same events as they actually occurred.
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.....