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)
Letter
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Produced by chris thomas
Recorded 1969 at emi studios, abbey road
Never released (the bread and beer band)
[instrumental]
As the lyrics to "Letter" are not provided, it is difficult to interpret them. However, the song was recorded in 1969 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, but was never released by Elton John. Instead, it was recorded by the Bread and Beer Band, a group John was a part of before rising to fame as a solo artist. The instrumental track is the only known version of the song.
Despite not being released by John, "Letter" is a unique addition to his discography, displaying his early work before becoming a household name. The Bread and Beer Band was formed in 1968, consisting of John, Caleb Quaye, Roger Pope, and Tony Murray. They performed at local pubs and clubs in London before disbanding in 1969.
Interestingly, the instrumental track of "Letter" showcases John's piano skills, which would later become a hallmark of his solo career. The song has never been performed live by John, but it remains a rare gem among his early recordings with the Bread and Beer Band.
Line by Line Meaning
[instrumental]
No words are spoken, only the music fills the silence.
I can imagine how you feel
Empathy is expressed towards a loved one's emotional state.
And I know just what to do
Confidence is conveyed in being able to handle the situation.
I'll get the same thing happen to me
It is acknowledged that the same emotions will be felt in return.
When I'm in love with you
Love is the catalyst for these emotions, and it is directed towards the subject of the song.
Letter, get a message to my baby
A plea is made for a letter to be sent to a loved one.
Tell her I'm away, I don't know when I'm coming back
The reason for the absence is unknown and indefinite.
And for you baby, I'm trying to make it someday
Efforts are being made to achieve success and return to the loved one's side.
Gonna make it up to you, baby, baby
There is a desire to make amends and improve the relationship.
Kidnapped by dusted angels
Metaphorically, the artist is stuck in a state of limbo or purgatory.
And the memory of a weeping willow
A memory of sadness or loss is invoked.
Nothing is left of us but the longing
All that remains is a yearning for what once was.
Life in sleeping bags and blue jeans, baby
The current state of living is simple and temporary, emphasizing the impermanence of life.
Letter, won't you tell me where's she gone to
The singer is seeking information about the whereabouts of their loved one.
Stole my heart, my little angel, ah, on a July day
A memory of falling in love is expressed.
Oh, I love my baby, you know my love will never die
The depth of love is proclaimed, with an assurance of its persistence.
And I'll be waitin' for eternity, for my baby's reply
Patience and a willingness to wait for a response is conveyed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELTON JOHN, LEE HALL
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.....