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)
Old
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well thanks a lot that's kind of you, it's nice to know you care
These days there's so much going on
No one seems to want to know
I may be just an old soldier to some
But I know how it feels to grow old
Yeah that's right, you can see me here most every night
Funny I remember oh it's years ago I'd say
I'd stand at that bar with my friends who've passed away
And drink three times the beer that I can drink today
Yes I know how it feels to grow old
I know what they're saying son
There goes old man Joe again
Well I may be mad at that I've seen enough
To make a man go out his brains
Well do they know what it's like
To have a graveyard as a friend
'Cause that's where they are boy, all of them
Don't seem likely I'll get friends like that again
Well it's time I moved off
But it's been great just listening to you
And I might even see you next time I'm passing through
You're right there's so much going on
No one seems to want to know
So keep well, keep well old friend
And have another drink on me
Just ignore all the others you got your memories
You got your memories
In Elton John's song "Old '67", he reflects on the past and the innocence that was found during that time. The song starts with Elton suggesting a small conversation with his companion, thinking back to the struggles they both faced while trying to find their place in the world. The two sit on a balcony in the South of France, thinking about their past and how it led them to this moment.
They talk well into the evening, reminiscing about their younger years, and how much society and themselves have changed since "Old '67". They laugh and raise a glass to the memories they have made and the struggles they have overcome. Through their conversation, they express a gratitude for being able to get together at all and acknowledge the clear signs that the future holds.
The chorus reflects on the time that has passed since "Old '67" and sums up the theme of the song. The innocence they once had is lost, and they can't help but feel a little nostalgic for that time. The song takes on a sentimental tone, with a touch of melancholy as they recognize the separation of the past and the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey how about this
Starting the conversation by asking for the other person's attention
A little conversation tonight
Expressing the desire to talk and share thoughts
Thinking aloud how we struggled to find
Remembering past difficulties and challenges
Our place in the dizzy heights
Reflecting on the ups and downs of life and where we belong
Don't often do this
Acknowledging the rarity of having a deep conversation
We never really get the chance
Expressing the limitation of opportunities to connect
Nearly froze to death on Oxford Street
Recalling a specific experience of hardship and struggle
Now we're sitting in the South of France
Contrasting the past with the present, highlighting a positive change in circumstances
Talking through the evening
Continuing the conversation and enjoying the moment
It's good to shoot the breeze
Appreciating the casual and relaxed nature of conversation
Just you and me on a balcony
Emphasizing the intimacy and privacy of the conversation
And cicadas singing in the trees
Describing the peaceful and serene surroundings
Old '67 what a time it was
Nostalgically reminiscing about the past
What a time of innocence, what a time we've lost
Regretting the passing of time and the loss of simplicity
Raise a glass and have a laugh, have a laugh or two
Celebrating the moment and enjoying each other's company
Here's to old '67 and an older me and you
Toast to the past and the present, and the journey we have been on together
Sentimental twilight
Describing the emotional atmosphere of the conversation
Conversing on those virgin days
Talking about the early days of the relationship or friendship
Laughing about how the two of us sound
Finding humor and amusement in the way they interact
Like a Tennessee Williams play
Drawing a comparison to a well-written, dramatic story
Honest, it's amazing
Expressing surprise and gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect
That we can get together at all
Recognizing the obstacles and distance that could have prevented the meeting
For in between the saddle and the grand piano
Referring to the distance and contrast between their lives
We can read the writing on the wall
Understanding the reality of their situation, despite the differences
Sitting here side by side
Noting the physical proximity and closeness of the moment
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
Recognizing the mix of emotions and nostalgia in the air
Old '67 what a time it was
Repeating the nostalgia and sentimentality of the past
What a time of innocence, what a time we've lost
Echoing the regret for the passing of time and the loss of innocence
Raise a glass and have a laugh, have a laugh or two
Reinviting the celebration and enjoyment of the moment
Here's to old '67 and an older me and you
Repeating the toast to the past and the present, as well as the enduring friendship or love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laurenjcoates
I can't believe this is live - the vocals are stunning
@willritter4076
I'd be honored if some Elton John fans would give a quick listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of LEVON and ROCKET MAN on my YT channel in tribute to the masters of 20th century composition and lyrics (Elton and Bernie Taupin). Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Thanks and peace.
@gmajorspresents
Hear, hear !
@mikemcf33
he has always been an underrated vocalist. Elton is an incredible, effortless singer
@marcuswalker3670
Hi Lauren
@fenderbender2197
@Marcus Walker have a glass of water
@jeroendam7880
Best live performance I've ever heard. What a masterpiece.
@HubbaSparxx
Dude it is absolutely unreal how good Elton was during this period. What a voice!!
@tonycostanzo4276
his piano playing was special
@spiritofseventysix1155
Yep!