Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a … Read Full Bio ↴Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967, John is one of the most successful artists of all time, having sold over 300 million records worldwide in a seven-decade career in music. He is acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his work during the 1970s, and his lasting impact on the music industry. John's music and showmanship have had a significant impact on popular music. His songwriting partnership with Taupin is one of the most successful in history.

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)

Salvation
Elton John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have to say my friends
This road goes a long, long way
And if we're going to find the end
We're gonna need a helping hand

I have to say my friends
We're looking for a light ahead
In the distance a candle burns

Salvation keeps the hungry children fed

It's gotta take a lot of salvation
What we need are willing hands
You must feel the sweat in your eyes
You must understand salvation

A chance to put the devil down
Without the fear of hell
Salvation spreads the gospel round
And free you from yourself, oh oh

It's gotta take a lot of salvation
What we need are willing hands
You must feel the sweat in your eyes
You must understand salvation

I have to say my friends
This road goes a long, long way
And if we're going to find the end
We're gonna need a helping hand

I have to say my friends
We're looking for a light ahead
In the distance a candle burns
Salvation keeps the hungry children fed

It's gotta take a lot of salvation
What we need are willing hands
You must feel the sweat in your eyes
You must understand salvation

Oh it's gotta take a lot of salvation
What we need are willing hands

You must feel the sweat in your eyes
You must understand salvation

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elton John's "Salvation" portray the message of hope, kindness, and support for those in need. The singer admits that the road towards the end is a long and tough journey, requiring continuous assistance to fulfill the mission. The song emphasizes that we require not only willingness but also action to help those in need. The singer acknowledges that the light at the end of the tunnel is visible, but it's still far away. The refrain "It's gotta take a lot of salvation" represents the ongoing effort and support required to help people in a tough spot.

The second verse of the song highlights the importance of faith and how it keeps the soul alive. The idea of a candle burning in the distance is like hope that keeps people going, even in the darkest of times. The lyrics suggest that a helping hand extended in faith can go a long way toward making a real difference in the world. The final line of the verse, "Salvation keeps the hungry children fed," shows the importance of social welfare programs and efforts that help to address hunger around the world.

Overall, "Salvation" is a call to action to provide support and care for the needy. The lyrics carry a message about the power of collective action, faith, and hope to make a positive impact in the world. This song is not just about finding salvation; it's also about extending the hand of salvation to others who may be struggling on their journey towards the end.

Line by Line Meaning

I have to say my friends
I need to proclaim to you all

This road goes a long, long way
Our journey is lengthy

And if we're going to find the end
And if we're going to achieve our goal

We're gonna need a helping hand
We'll require assistance

We're looking for a light ahead
We seek a source of hope

In the distance a candle burns
A small source of light can be seen

Salvation keeps the hungry children fed
Salvation provides food for starving children

It's gotta take a lot of salvation
Our effort necessitates immense, enduring help

What we need are willing hands
We require eager, cooperative helpers

You must feel the sweat in your eyes
You must experience the physical toil of this work

You must understand salvation
You must grasp the concept of saving others