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)
Mama Can
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darling, all the joy money can bring
Baby, do they bring you happiness
Darling, you're no different from the rest
Can't you see that it's love you really need
Take my hand and I'll show what a love could be
Before it's too late
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Mama don't want you, daddy don't need you
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Baby, fancy friends showing you a smile
Darling, rich relations for a while
Baby, I can only give you love
Darling, this old heart should be enough
All I need is a chance to make you mine
Let me in, I'll change the way you feel inside
Before it's too late
Mama don't want you, daddy don't want you
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Mama don't want you, daddy don't need you
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Elton John's song Mama Can't Buy You Love is all about the idea that money cannot buy you happiness or love. The opening lines ask whether the person being addressed is happy with all the material possessions they have been given, and emphasize that they are no different from anyone else in needing love to truly feel fulfilled.
The chorus reinforces this idea, telling the listener that their parents' money and status cannot buy them love or make them feel wanted. Instead, they are urged to take a chance on love before it's too late.
The second verse further emphasizes the contrast between material wealth and emotional fulfillment, with the singer asserting that their own love is worth more than any fancy friends or rich relatives. The final lines once again urge the listener to take a chance on love, rather than relying on material possessions or the approval of others.
Overall, Mama Can't Buy You Love is a powerful reminder that true happiness and fulfillment cannot be bought with money or status, but are found through connections with people who genuinely care about us.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, so they give you anything
People give you anything you want because you're a baby.
Darling, all the joy money can bring
Money can bring joy, but it doesn't last long, darling.
Baby, do they bring you happiness
Everyone thinks they bring you happiness, but it's not true.
Darling, you're no different from the rest
You're just like everyone else, darling.
Can't you see that it's love you really need
Love is what you truly need, don't you see?
Take my hand and I'll show what a love could be
Let me show you what true love feels like if you hold my hand.
Before it's too late
Don't wait too long to find true love or it might be too late.
Mama don't want you, daddy don't want you
Your parents don't want you, baby.
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Don't rely on your mom, baby, because she can't buy you love.
Mama don't want you, daddy don't need you
Your mom doesn't want you, and your dad doesn't need you, baby.
Give it up baby, baby mama can't buy you love
Stop relying on your mom, baby, because she can't buy you love.
Baby, fancy friends showing you a smile
Your fancy friends always show you a smile, baby.
Darling, rich relations for a while
Your rich relatives only care about you for a short time, darling.
Baby, I can only give you love
I can only offer you love, baby.
Darling, this old heart should be enough
My old heart should be enough for you, darling.
All I need is a chance to make you mine
Just give me a chance to make you mine, that's all I need.
Let me in, I'll change the way you feel inside
Let me in your heart, and I'll change the way you feel inside.
Before it's too late
Don't wait too long to give us a chance or it might be too late.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CASEY JAMES, LEROY BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrispnw2547
@@littlewing6231 With all due respect, while his rock peers (David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Cher, and others) released successful disco/R&B inspired music in the late 70s, Elton struggled to find his voice. Bowie sought after the Philadelphia sound in America and his Young Americans album was commercially successful. Elton tried to do the same with less success. The Thom Bell sessions resulting in this song and Are You Ready for Love and Mama Can't Buy You Love that follows a standard song construction. Yes, the refrain is repeated several times but that is not abnormal.
Over 2/3 of the Bernie Taupin written I'm Still Standing is the title (Is it just way below his talent and as basic a track for top 40?)
I'm still standing
(Yeah yeah yeah)
I'm still standing
(Yeah yeah yeah)
While Elton is a great performer, R&B soulful music is not his strength. Elton works best in a pop genre. Thanks for sharing your insights.
@wolf-bearchief3705
This would be a great opening title for an 80's sitcom
@donaldyoung9002
I have been a huge Elton John fan for almost 50 years, and this is one his most underrated songs.
@lewis20002000
True, its my second favorite behind "Island girl", but I was a kid when it came out and I had snowballs to make and a school bus to catch, I didn't know what I liked or didn't like.
@tinalittleoldman678
@@lewis20002000 just listening to both awesome
@ricardobelmares9264
True
@stephentorres1444
Absolutely!
@lousanto1054
I absolutely LOVE this song. Elton John's talents indeed transcend times and eras.
@phill.2924
My memory of this song is being 13 years old, riding home at night from the amusement park in the back-facing seat of the huge station wagon. Just staring into space and listening to the song after a day of running in the park. Good memories!
@cynthiaseeley4306
Love Elton John
@donnamcnamara8558
WOW ,WHAT A FLASH BACK
GREAT MEMORY ❤