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)
Sad Songs )
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And ironing out the rough spots
Is the hardest part when memories remain
And it's times like these when we all need to hear the radio
'Cause from the lips of some old singer
We can share the troubles we already know
Turn 'em on, turn 'em on
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on
They reach into your room, oh oh oh
Just feel their gentle touch (gentle touch)
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
If someone else is suffering enough oh to write it down
When every single word makes sense
Then it's easier to have those songs around
The kick inside is in the line that finally gets to you
And it feels so good to hurt so bad
And suffer just enough to sing the blues
So turn 'em on, turn 'em on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on
They reach into your room, oh oh oh
Just feel their gentle touch (gentle touch)
When all hope is gone
You know sad songs say so much
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say so much
So, turn 'em on, (turn 'em on), turn 'em on, (turn 'em on)
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on
They reach into your room, oh oh oh
Just feel their gentle touch (gentle touch)
When all hope is gone
You know sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
You know sad songs say so much
When ever little bit of hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When ever little bit of hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say
Elton John's Sad Songs is a reflective ballad that speaks to the value of choosing to listen to melancholy music when we are feeling down. In the first verse, the lyrics suggest that painful memories can be difficult to let go of, and that hearing the sorrows of others through music can be comforting in times of struggle. The chorus urges the listener to "turn on those sad songs" when all hope is gone and to feel the soothing effect of their "gentle touch." The lyrics acknowledge that there is something cathartic about the sadness expressed through music, and that sometimes it can be helpful to lean into that feeling in order to move through it.
The second verse of the song builds on the idea that hearing the emotions of others can be validating and cathartic. The lyrics speak to the power of finding a song that speaks to you so deeply that it feels like it was written just for you. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the idea that there is something special about the way sad songs can touch our hearts and offer comfort when we are feeling lost.
Overall, Sad Songs is a poignant and empathetic song that acknowledges the value of connecting with others through music. It suggests that there is something important about allowing ourselves to feel sad, and that music can be a way to honor and process those emotions. Through his deep vocals and the elegant piano accompaniment, Elton creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity that makes the song feel like a warm embrace.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess there are times when we all need to share a little pain
Sometimes we need to express our pain and troubles to others.
And ironing out the rough spots
Working through difficult or challenging situations is the toughest part.
Is the hardest part when memories remain
Memories can make it harder to move on from painful experiences.
And it's times like these when we all need to hear the radio
During difficult times, music can provide comfort and consolation.
'Cause from the lips of some old singer
A singer's voice can have a powerful emotional impact.
We can share the troubles we already know
Hearing songs that express our struggles can be comforting and relatable.
They reach into your room, oh oh oh
Sad songs have a way of deeply affecting our emotions.
Just feel their gentle touch (gentle touch)
The emotional connection to these songs can be subtle but strong.
When all hope is gone
During times of despair, sad songs can offer solace.
Sad songs say so much
Through music, we can express and understand the depth of our emotions.
If someone else is suffering enough oh to write it down
Knowing that others have gone through similar struggles can be comforting.
When every single word makes sense
Finding lyrics that resonate with our personal experiences can be powerful.
Then it's easier to have those songs around
Having access to meaningful music can make difficult times more bearable.
The kick inside is in the line that finally gets to you
The emotional impact of sad songs can be powerful and cathartic.
And it feels so good to hurt so bad
Sometimes it can be helpful to embrace and express our pain.
And suffer just enough to sing the blues
The blues genre has long been associated with expressing life's hardships.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amelia Warfield
One of Elton John's greatest hits of all time! The message was true back in the 1980's, and even more true now.
Barry Burrows
Love the way he sings this song his vocals are so strong
Ronnie Wilkerson
People can say what they want about Elton John. I still love his songs. I always will. This one is one of my favorites.
Space Cat
What are they saying? I only hear good things about him.
Hermionepaws
He’s a lovely guy aswell as being an incredible talent ❤
Jordan Cryans
It's quite ironic that It's called sad songs and yet it's not sad It's catchy and cheerful
Elton John is such a legend
Mustang Terrry
He's maybe trying to be heart-lifting with the lyrics... just a thought...
Caltops78
Bernie had one vision of the song and Elton had his. I love how it’s conflicting. They definitely made a good team making all this good music
Ryan Taylor
It's an upbeat cheerful song about the excellence of sad songs
MenOfMayhem
I thought he's just making fun of sad songs?