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)
Michelle's Song
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch the ripples gently spreading
Tiny daughter of the Camargue
We were meant to be together
We were made for one another
In a time it takes to grow up
If only we were old enough
Then they might leave us both alone
So take my hand in your hand
Say it's great to be alive
No one's going to find us
No matter how they try
No one's going to find us
It's wonderful so wild beneath the sky
Sleeping in the open
See the shadows softly moving
Take a train towards the southlands
Our time was never better
We shall pass the sights of splendor
On the door of a new life
It had to happen soon I guess
Whether it is wrong or it is right
We learned to be so graceful
Watching wild horses running
And from those agile angels
We knew the tide was turning
For we watched as on the skyway
The herons circled slowly
While we mere mortals watched them fly
Our sleepless eyes grew heavy
The lyrics to Elton John's "Michelle's Song" tell the story of two individuals who were destined to be together, but due to their youth, they find themselves having to hide from those who disapprove of their relationship. The first verse describes the two lovers as being like pebbles in the water, made for each other and creating ripples that spread outwards. However, they are not old enough to be accepted by society and need to hide in order to be together.
The second verse has the two lovers escaping to the southlands, watching the shadows move and taking in the sights of splendor. The couple learns about grace through watching wild horses run and from the agile angels they observe. The last line of the verse highlights the fleeting nature of their happiness, as they know that their time together is limited whether it is right or wrong. The chorus encourages the lovers to revel in their great adventure, taking in the wonders of the world as they dance beneath the sky.
Overall, "Michelle's Song" speaks of the thrill of young love and the desire to escape societal judgment. The lyrics paint a picture of two young individuals who know they are meant to be together, yet must hide in order to do so. The chorus urges the couple to appreciate their time together fully, taking in all of the wonderful sights and experiences around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Cast a pebble on the water
Starting something small can create a big impact
Watch the ripples gently spreading
Even small actions have consequences
Tiny daughter of the Camargue
Referring to someone special, a daughter of a place in France
We were meant to be together
Destined to be together
We were made for one another
Perfect match for each other
In a time it takes to grow up
In the time that it takes to mature into an adult
If only we were old enough
Wishing to be mature enough for something
Then they might leave us both alone
Wanting to be left alone by others
So take my hand in your hand
Holding hands as partners
Say it's great to be alive
Recognizing the value of life
No one's going to find us
Wanting to be isolated from others
No matter how they try
Even with effort, people cannot find them
It's wonderful so wild beneath the sky
Feeling carefree under the grand open sky
Sleeping in the open
Sleeping outside without shelter
See the shadows softly moving
Noticing the gentle movements in the shadows
Take a train towards the southlands
Taking a journey towards the south
Our time was never better
This is the best time in their lives
We shall pass the sights of splendor
Seeing beautiful sights as they travel
On the door of a new life
Entering a new phase of life
It had to happen soon I guess
Thinking that this was inevitable
Whether it is wrong or it is right
Regardless of the moral implication, they will continue on
We learned to be so graceful
Becoming more elegant over time
Watching wild horses running
Admiring the beauty of nature
And from those agile angels
Describing the beauty of the wild horses
We knew the tide was turning
Realizing that things were changing
For we watched as on the skyway
Seeing the skyway as they watched
The herons circled slowly
Noticing the movements of the herons
While we mere mortals watched them fly
Feeling less than as compared to nature's beauty
Our sleepless eyes grew heavy
Tiredness set in as they watched through the night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lauryliepolito52
Cast a pebble on the water
Watch the ripples gently spreading
Tiny daughter of the Camargue
We were meant to be together
We were made for one another
In a time it takes to grow up
If only we were old enough
Then they might leave us both alone
So take my hand in your hand
Say it's great to be alive
No one's going to find us
No matter how they try
No one's going to find us
It's wonderful so wild beneath the sky
Sleeping in the open
See the shadows softly moving
Take a train towards the southlands
Our time was never better
We shall pass the sights of splendor
On the door of a new life
It had to happen soon I guess
Whether it is wrong or it is right
We learned to be so graceful
Watching wild horses running
And from those agile angels
We knew the tide was turning
For we watched as on the skyway
The herons circled slowly
While we mere mortals watched them fly
Our sleepless eyes grew heavy
@elainecragel4647
I remember this album was the first Elton John album I ever bought. I was 15, and played it over and over ever hoping for a love this tender and romantic.
@richardsmith6083
Me too!😁
@jeffreyhill3373
So it's now been 50 years. I love this movie on so many levels. One sitting at a drive-in with a date. But it's so much more. Those of you get it.
@jeffreyhill3373
And it's Becky Hil. Not my husband.
@caiobelo4857
I feel an indescribable connection with the Friends album, I can't explain it. It feels like it's something from my childhood, even though i was born almost 30 years after it was released. I suppose that' s what a good album does for you.
@danielhkhk7283
Me too!
@CaptainBeGone
Without a doubt one of the greatest love songs ever recorded ❤
@nina1522
One of the most utterly beautiful songs I've ever heard. Astoundingly beautiful.
@chiefnavydoc
this song still sheds a tear at age 46..
@pallyden0110
It was my 1st Elton John album. I remember it was a dollar or two. He had just started to be known. I was 11, bought it from my money earned having a paper route. It was different time then.