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)
Never Too Old
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't step away
Don't give up that tune
That you never could play
If you're folding your tent
And the gas pipes groan
If every bone rattles
Well you're tougher than leather
No old burlap sack
Not some hard scrabble weeds
Growing up through the cracks
[Chorus]
Don't you know, you're never too old
You're never too old to hold somebody
Don't you know, you're never too old
You're never too old to hold somebody
You're never too old to hold somebody
Don't think you've gone out
Don't flicker and fade
If you're gonna get lemons
Then you do what they say
The wind makes you weary
It knocks you around
Logs on the fire
Beats sun shining down
But you're harder than nails
No skinny old tack
You're still sharp as a razor
And I like you like that
[Chorus]
I could bet on a horse
But I'm betting on you
You still got what it takes
You got nothing, nothing to prove
[Chorus]
The lyrics of "Never Too Old" by Elton John and Leon Russell have a powerful and uplifting message that aims to inspire and encourage people not to give up on their dreams and aspirations, even as they grow older. The song seems to address someone who is going through a tough time and contemplating giving up, but the singer urges them to keep going and not abandon the light or the tune that they had hoped to play. Even if they feel like they are folding their tent or facing tough challenges that may knock them down, the singer insists that they are tougher than leather and harder than nails.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the central message of the lyrics, reminding listeners that they are never too old to hold somebody or pursue their passions. Whether they are feeling weary from the wind or facing an uncertain future, the singer encourages them to keep their spirits up and keep pushing forward. The final verse of the song serves as a testament to the singer's unwavering faith in the person he is addressing, stating that he would bet on them over anything else because they still have what it takes and nothing to prove.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't abandon the light
Don't let go of hope or inspiration
Don't step away
Don't give up or give in to hardship
Don't give up that tune
That you never could play
Don't abandon your dreams, even if they seem impossible
If you're folding your tent
And the gas pipes groan
If you're feeling defeated and alone
If every bone rattles
Through nights all alone
If you feel weak and vulnerable, especially in the face of adversity
Well you're tougher than leather
No old burlap sack
Not some hard scrabble weeds
Growing up through the cracks
You are strong and resilient, like leather, and not worn down like a burlap sack or some stubborn weeds
Don't you know, you're never too old
You're never too old to hold somebody
Don't you know, you're never too old
You're never too old to hold somebody
You're never too old to hold somebody
You are never too old to experience love, affection, or companionship
Don't think you've gone out
Don't flicker and fade
Don't give up on yourself or your potential
If you're gonna get lemons
Then you do what they say
If life gives you challenges, find a way to work with them
The wind makes you weary
It knocks you around
Logs on the fire
Beats sun shining down
Life's difficulties can wear you down, even more than physical labor
But you're harder than nails
No skinny old tack
You're still sharp as a razor
And I like you like that
You are tough and strong, and even though you may be older, you are still just as sharp and admirable
I could bet on a horse
But I'm betting on you
You still got what it takes
You got nothing, nothing to prove
I have faith in you and your abilities, and you don't need to prove anything to anyone
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.....