The album cover for Madman Across the Water was embroidered over two weeks by Janis Larkham, wife of the album art director David Larkham. She used the back of an old Levi's jacket, and the original was gifted to Elton himself. Contrary to rumours, there was no initial run of very expensive album covers with similar embroidery, nor embossed versions; it was just flat printed, though it did include a lavish booklet. Janis chose to credit herself as "Yanis" for this artwork.
This was John's lowest charting album in the United Kingdom after his debut, only reaching #41. In the United States, Madman Across the Water managed to reach #8 in early 1972 on the Billboard 200.
Madman Across the Water
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman, don't you know
Once a fool had a good part in the play
It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way
They think it's very funny everything I say
Get a load of him, he's so insane
You better get your coat dear
It looks like rain, yeah
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
The in-laws hope they'll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the madman across the water
I can see very well
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There's a joke and I know it very well
It's one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word I'm a madman, don't you know
The ground's a long way down but I need more
Is the nightmare really black
Or are the windows painted
Will they come again next week
Can my mind really take it
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
The in-laws hope they'll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of a madman across the water
The song "Madman Across The Water" by Elton John is both mysterious and eerie in its lyrics. The song talks about a "madman" who is talking about a boat on the reef with a broken back. The madman seems to be talking to someone, possibly a friend or family member, telling them that he can see this broken boat very clearly. He also mentions a joke that he had told them a long time ago, indicating that this madman has been around for a while and has some history with the person he is speaking to.
The madman also talks about being a fool in the past and wonders if he would still be here today if he had not been a part of it. He mentions that people find him funny, but in a peculiar way, and some even think he is insane. The madman mentions that they will come again next Thursday afternoon and that the in-laws hope to see them soon, but he questions whether it is in their conscience to see another glimpse of the madman across the water.
The imagery in this song is haunting and the lyrics leave the listener with an ominous feeling. The madman seems to be on the brink of insanity and the boat on the reef with a broken back could be a metaphor for his own broken state of mind. The song suggests that the people around him find him strange and possibly a danger to himself or others.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see very well
I am highly perceptive
There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
There is a damaged ship in a perilous location
And I can see it very well
I am highly perceptive
There's a joke and I know it very well
There is a humorous situation that I am well aware of
It's one of those that I told you long ago
It is an anecdote that I have recounted previously
Take my word I'm a madman, don't you know
Believe me when I say that I am a bit crazy
Once a fool had a good part in the play
Previously, someone foolish played a significant role
If it's so would I still be here today
If that were the case, would I still be present?
It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way
It is strange, but amusing
They think it's very funny everything I say
People find my every utterance to be comical
Get a load of him, he's so insane
Look at him, he is crazy
You better get your coat dear
You should prepare to leave and take any necessary outerwear
It looks like rain, yeah
It appears that precipitation is imminent
We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
We will return for another meeting on a specified day and time
The in-laws hope they'll see you very soon
My extended family desires to see you in the near future
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Is it your moral compass that compels you to seek out
Another glimpse of the madman across the water
Another encounter with the insane individual on the opposite shore
The ground's a long way down but I need more
The ground is far beneath me, but I want additional stimulation
Is the nightmare really black
Is this terrible scenario truly lacking any hope
Or are the windows painted
Is the hopelessness merely an illusion
Will they come again next week
Will they return in seven days' time
Can my mind really take it
Am I capable of handling the experience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bretbailey1116
God, Elton John has so many good songs! This for me is my all time fave. Just killer lyrics, the strings!!! Everything is perfect about this song. After 44 years it's still tough and relevant. No one questions Lennon-McCartney and Jagger-Richards as a songwriting team. I'm not sure Elton John-Bernie Taupin get enough credit for their partnership. So many diverse and timeless songs. This one's proof.
@lightwarrior7365
Bret Bailey Agree100%!
@gardensofthegods
YEP !
@pamelalink8122
I completely agree with you Bret!
@mariocastoldi612
Dramatic, clever, intense, timless, spaceless, beyond every kind of music! Seems coming. from another world!!
@joefairweatherblues8511
The orchestration, yeah! Right on 👍 Classic track
@markproulx1472
There aren’t many upsides to being old, but being in college when this album was released is one of them. At the time, I had no idea how lucky I was to be surrounded by such wonderful music.
@stephenclark3774
I'm 68 years old and glad to see that the younger people are listening to this brilliant song. I've been listening to it since 1971 - Keep the brilliance going all of you music aficionados
@thetogo2962
Its a brilliant song!
@seankagan5720
Yeah it don't get why some people my age think music has an expiration date... they're just missing out plain and simple