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)
Oscar Wild Gets Out
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rheumy eyes just pierced his heart like crucifixion nails
Shaking fists and razors gleamed, you never stood a chance
When the ink ran red on Fleet Street
You turned your eyes to France
Humbled far from Dublin, chased across the waves
Your biting wit still sharp enough
Destitute and beaten by the system of the crown
The bitter pill you swallowed
Tasted sweeter going down
And looking back on the great indifference
Looking back at the limestone wall
Thinking how beauty deceives you
Knowing how love fools us all
A golden boy in velveteen landed in New York
The past was so seductive
When they paid to hear you talk
Baccarat and champagne flutes
Tobacco from Virginia
Long before the lords and law
Branded Oscar Wilde a sinner
And looking back on the cold bleak winter
Looking back on those long dark days
Felt like the head of John the Baptist
In the arms of Salome
Don't turn around it's a white gull screaming
Don't cry out loud you never know who's listening
You've seen it all the exiled Unforgiven
From the stately homes of England to her prisons
And looking back at the hardened lifers
Looking back on the wretched poor
Thinking maybe they were my saviors
Strange to think I'll miss them all
Strange to think I'll miss them all
And looking back on the great indifference
Looking back at the limestone wall
Thinking how beauty deceives you
Knowing how love fools us all
The lyrics of Elton John's song "Oscar Wilde Gets Out" tell the story of the famous writer's life in a poetic yet poignant manner. The first verse deals with how Wilde had to serve his sentence at the Reading jail, which became the inspiration for one of his most famous works, "Ballad of Reading Gaol." The second verse talks about how he was forced to leave his homeland and seek refuge in France, where he lived in poverty and despair. The third verse describes his arrival in America, where he was once again celebrated for his wit and charm. The final verse is a reflection on his life, on how he was both a victim and a sinner, and how he ultimately found beauty in even the harshest of circumstances.
The lines "Freedom for the scapegoat leaving Reading Jail" and "When the ink ran red on Fleet Street / You turned your eyes to France" are references to Oscar Wilde's trial and imprisonment for homosexuality. Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor for the crime of sodomy, and he wrote the "Ballad of Reading Gaol" after his release. The line "Looking back at the limestone wall" refers to the wall Wilde saw every day during his time in jail, and "Knowing how love fools us all" is a nod to his relationships with younger men, which ultimately led to his arrest.
The lines "A golden boy in velveteen landed in New York" and "Long before the lords and law / Branded Oscar Wilde a sinner" refer to Wilde's life before he was arrested. He was a celebrated playwright and author, known for his wit and charm, and he was beloved by many in the upper class. However, his relationships with men were scandalous, and eventually led to his downfall.
Overall, the lyrics of "Oscar Wilde Gets Out" paint a vivid picture of a complicated and fascinating man, who lived a life of both joy and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom for the scapegoat leaving Reading Jail
Oscar Wilde is free from prison
Rheumy eyes just pierced his heart like crucifixion nails
He feels hurt by the people giving him judgmental looks
Shaking fists and razors gleamed, you never stood a chance
There was no hope for him against his attackers
When the ink ran red on Fleet Street
The press was cruel towards him and painted him in a bad light
You turned your eyes to France
He fled to France to escape his reputation in England
Humbled far from Dublin, chased across the waves
He was chased out of his home country and forced to leave by sea
Your biting wit still sharp enough
He remained clever despite his hardships
To slice through every page
He was able to write great works despite his situation
Destitute and beaten by the system of the crown
The monarchy's laws had taken everything from him and he was left with nothing
The bitter pill you swallowed
He had to accept his fate, even though it was unpleasant
Tasted sweeter going down
It was easier to deal with after he finally accepted his reality
And looking back on the great indifference
Reflecting on how little people cared about his wellbeing
Looking back at the limestone wall
Remembering his time in prison
Thinking how beauty deceives you
Realizing how deceptive superficial things can be
Knowing how love fools us all
Understand how love can be misleading and harmful
A golden boy in velveteen landed in New York
He arrived in New York as a glamorous celebrity
The past was so seductive
He longed for his past life before his downfall
When they paid to hear you talk
People were interested in his stories and wanted to hear him speak
Baccarat and champagne flutes
A luxurious lifestyle he once enjoyed
Tobacco from Virginia
A nostalgic item from his past life
Long before the lords and law
He was famous before the authorities punished him
Branded Oscar Wilde a sinner
Labelling him as a bad person and outcast
And looking back on the cold bleak winter
Reflecting on a depressing time in his life
Looking back on those long dark days
Revisiting a time of sadness
Felt like the head of John the Baptist
He felt like a martyr, punished for being himself
In the arms of Salome
His downfall was caused by a love interest, like the story of Salome
Don't turn around it's a white gull screaming
There are warning signs around that he is not safe
Don't cry out loud you never know who's listening
He should keep his thoughts to himself to avoid getting into more trouble
You've seen it all the exiled Unforgiven
He has faced many challenges and has not been forgiven for his past mistakes
From the stately homes of England to her prisons
He has experienced the highest and lowest points of English society
And looking back at the hardened lifers
He reflects on the people he met in prison
Looking back on the wretched poor
Remembering the suffering of impoverished people
Thinking maybe they were my saviors
He considers that these people helped him in some way
Strange to think I'll miss them all
It's odd that he will actually miss the people and experiences he had in prison
And looking back on the great indifference
Again, reflecting on how little people cared for him
Looking back at the limestone wall
Remembering his time in prison
Thinking how beauty deceives you
Realizing how deceptive superficial things can be
Knowing how love fools us all
Understanding how love can be misleading and harmful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Schmitz
Another gem in Elton's crowded diadem. Working with a great rock poet like Bernie Taupin doesn't hurt, but Elton's passionate delivery at 68yo and his immaculate playing are a big part of what made this performance excellent. And another memorable melody! How many are inside this man??
Classic Hits
I can't believe he still has great songs inside him! Forty-seven years since his first album release (Empty Sky). He is the Franz Schubert of our time.
Shana Lewis
That is simply the greatest piano melody of any Elton John song ever.
Michael Jackson
One of my favourite Elton John songs Ever !
Brian Drury
I JUST NOW HEARD THIS SONG LIVE, IT IS ANOTHER CLASSIC SONG BY ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN, DOESN'T GET NO BETTER
Jonathan Constanta
nice job on this he really captured the perfect sound matching the lyrics, love you Sir Elton John.
TonyTube407
What in the world did I do in my life before YouTube? Man this song is amazing, and even better live. Bliss!!
Susan Stanley
Love it!
Naomi
I'm listening to this song all the time, it's actually the first song of Elton John I've listened to, found it because I'm quite interested in Oscar Wilde atm.
Kenneth Frey
Genius, absolute genius