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)
Last To Arrive
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's cold in the winter, some freeze in the fall
The banquet's the supper that's set for the swine
If you're not at the gathering, and you've gone down the line
You're the last to arrive, you're the first one to leave
You don't give us the time, you don't drop us a line
Well a dime in the phone is the best way I know
The truck picks you up on your front porch at night
And you're back before sundown if you don't get blind
We're not chaining you down to your castle tonight
We're just trying to make you see some sort of light
They'll all drink your health out of pewter and wood
Get drunk in the hayloft playing dirty and good
There's ten pounds of oxen were skewered on spit
There'll not be an ounce if you don't make it quick
The opening lines of Elton John's "Last To Arrive" immediately conjure up an image of a bleak and inhospitable place, with doors locked to keep out the cold and people freezing as the seasons change. This sets the stage for a song about isolation, and the consequences that come from failing to connect with the people around you. The banquet may be laid out, but it is intended only for the pigs; if you're not present at the gathering, then you're already lost somewhere down the line.
The lyrics then shift focus to one person in particular, who is the last to arrive and the first one to leave. This person does not give any time to those who have gathered, nor do they drop a line to let people know what's going on in their life. The singer suggests that the best way to reach out would be to drop a dime in a phone, but it seems unlikely that this person will be making that kind of effort. Instead, they simply show up late, and then disappear just as quickly.
The third verse offers a glimpse into why this person behaves the way they do. They are not pinned down to their own "castle" (i.e. their home), but they still seem to feel trapped in some way. The singer suggests that they are not trying to keep this person from leaving, but only to show them "some sort of light". The final verse provides a description of the revelry taking place at the gathering, and the tangible sense that something is missing without the person who is constantly arriving too late. Overall, the song is a powerful testament to the importance of connection, even when it seems easier to remain isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
They're barring the doors at the back of the hall
The organizers have closed the doors at the back of the hall, indicating that the event is gonna begin soon.
It's cold in the winter, some freeze in the fall
The weather becomes very cold during winter and some people in fall (autumn) may also feel the chilliness of the cold breeze.
The banquet's the supper that's set for the swine
The feast arranged is a delight for people who eat voraciously without restraint, just like how swines do.
If you're not at the gathering, and you've gone down the line
If you're not present at the event, your status among the people gathered might begin to wane and you'll be perceived as not important among the crowd.
You're the last to arrive, you're the first one to leave
You arrive late for the event and are the first person to leave, without spending enough time there.
You don't give us the time, you don't drop us a line
You do not provide enough time or show your concern by keeping in touch with the people present at the event.
Well a dime in the phone is the best way I know
Making a call for which ten cents are required is one of the easiest ways to keep in touch with people.
You're the last to arrive, my friend you're the first one to go
You arrive late and leave early and this is a habit of yours which is being pointed out.
The truck picks you up on your front porch at night
A truck comes to pick you up from your house at night, indicating how late you are.
And you're back before sundown if you don't get blind
If you do not drink too much and avoid getting drunk, you'll be back home before it's dark outside.
We're not chaining you down to your castle tonight
No one is trying to restrict you from doing what you want to do, and you are free to go wherever you wish.
We're just trying to make you see some sort of light
People are trying to make you understand the importance of attending events and being social as it can lead to great opportunities.
They'll all drink your health out of pewter and wood
People will raise a toast in your honor and offer drinks in all sorts of glasses and containers.
Get drunk in the hayloft playing dirty and good
People will get drunk while gambling in a hayloft and will have a fun time.
There's ten pounds of oxen were skewered on spit
Ten pounds of ox meat are being cooked on a skewer.
There'll not be an ounce if you don't make it quick
If you don't show up soon enough, all the meat would have been eaten by the time you get there.
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
shineonugrzydieman
Incredible, never heard of this one, thanks