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)
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Pt. 2
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fell from grace with God
And innocence abroad
Waged a war for the underdog
When the snow falls
And Central Park looks like a Christmas card
I just looked beyond the bagman
And the madness that makes this city hard
I heard a basketball
Somewhere out beyond a chain link fence
Inner city prisoners
Argue for the right of self-defense
But there's a fast break
And every work of art wakes something in the soul
Just focus on the brush strokes
And the bouquets that the dancers hold
Spanish Harlem still sounds good to me
Yeah Mona Lisa's getting older
Standing in the shadow of Miss Liberty
While I walk along the west side
Down through Little Italy
Searching for the city that
That took away the kid in me
In "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Pt. 2," Elton John reflects on his complex relationship with New York City and explores themes of lost innocence, social inequality, and personal growth.
In the first paragraph, Elton John expresses his initial disillusionment with New York City, believing that it has fallen out of favor with God and lost its innocence. He suggests that the city has become harsh and difficult, symbolized by the metaphor of "the bagman" and the general madness that permeates it. However, amidst the chaos, he finds solace in the beauty of Central Park covered in snow, likening it to a Christmas card. This juxtaposition implies that even in the face of difficulty, there are moments of tranquility and grace to be found.
The second paragraph delves into the idea of social inequality and the fight for justice within the city. Elton John notes the sound of a basketball game happening beyond the confines of a chain link fence, representing the barred existence of inner city prisoners. These individuals are arguing for their right to self-defense, suggesting their struggle for agency and fairness. Despite this, the mention of a "fast break" in basketball and the awakening of the soul through works of art hint at the power of creativity and culture to uplift and unite individuals across socioeconomic boundaries.
In the third paragraph, Elton John pays homage to Spanish Harlem and its enduring appeal. He acknowledges the passage of time, as reflected in the aging Mona Lisa, while connecting it to the overshadowed existence of the iconic Statue of Liberty. This juxtaposition symbolizes the overlooked hardships faced by marginalized communities, which are often obscured by symbols of freedom and opportunity. As he walks along the west side and through Little Italy, Elton John searches for a city that both captivates and took away the innocence he once had. It suggests a nostalgic longing for the New York City of his youth and the loss of his own childlike wonder.
Overall, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Pt. 2" explores the multifaceted nature of New York City, delving into themes of disillusionment, social inequality, and personal growth. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, Elton John captures the contrast between the city's harsh realities and moments of beauty and resilience. The lyrics invite listeners to reflect on their own experiences with urban environments, highlighting the complexities and transformative potential that can be found within them.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to think that New York City
In the past, I held the belief that New York City
Fell from grace with God
Lost favor or approval from a divine being
And innocence abroad
The purity and naivety present in foreign lands
Waged a war for the underdog
Engaged in a battle on behalf of the disadvantaged
When the snow falls
During the occurrence of snowfall
And Central Park looks like a Christmas card
And the sight of Central Park resembles a festive holiday image
I just looked beyond the bagman
I simply overlooked the corrupt or influential figure
And the madness that makes this city hard
As well as the insanity that contributes to the challenging nature of this city
I heard a basketball
The sound of a basketball reached my ears
Somewhere out beyond a chain-link fence
In a location extending past a barrier made of interconnected metal links
Inner city prisoners
Individuals detained within the boundaries of the city
Argue for the right of self-defense
Engage in debates advocating for the entitlement to protect oneself
But there's a fast break
However, there is an opportunity for swift advancement or progress
And every work of art wakes something in the soul
And each artistic creation stirs something within the essence of one's being
Just focus on the brush strokes
Simply direct attention to the individual marks made by the brush in a painting
And the bouquets that the dancers hold
As well as the floral arrangements held by the dancers
Spanish Harlem still sounds good to me
The neighborhood known as Spanish Harlem still evokes positive emotions within me
Yeah Mona Lisa's getting older
Indeed, the famous portrait of Mona Lisa is aging
Standing in the shadow of Miss Liberty
Positioned in the darkness caused by the presence of the Statue of Liberty
While I walk along the west side
During my stroll along the western part of the city
Down through Little Italy
Descending into the neighborhood called Little Italy
Searching for the city that
In search of the metropolis that
That took away the kid in me
That deprived me of my youthful innocence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
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.....