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)

Seid bereit
Elton John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Scar gesprochen:
Ich halte nicht viel von Hyänen... Sie sind vulgär, so unerhört ordinär... Doch sie für meine Bedürfnisse zu zähmen, ist so schlau... Sowas stammt nur von mir...

Ich weiß, die Beschränktheit der Hyänen
Ist bestimmt alles and're als klein
Ich will nebenbei nur erwähnen
Ich red' nicht nur Löwenlatein
Die stumpfen Visagen betonen

Die ob'ren Etagen sind leer

Ich rede von Königen, von Thronen
Und auch Unwissen schützt euch nicht mehr.

Seid bereit für die Zeit eures Lebens
Seid bereit für den größten der Coups
Die goldene Ära
Schleicht näher und näher

Und was springt für uns raus?

Ich lass euch schon nicht aus!

Ihr dämlichen Viecher
Der Lohn ist euch sicher
An dem Tag, wenn das Recht triumphiert
Und mich endlich von Knechtschaft befreit
Seid bereit!

Hyänen gesprochen:
Jaahaa, seid bereit, wir sind immer bereit, für was?
Scar: Für den Tod des Königs!
Hyänen: Wieso, ist er krank?
Scar: Nein du Null, wir bringen ihn um und Simba auch...
Hyänen: Tolle Idee, wer braucht schon 'nen König? Niemand, niemand, lalalalalalaaaaa!
Scar: Idioten, es wird einen König geben!
Hyäne: Aber du hast doch?!
Scar: ICH werde König sein; haltet zu mir und ihr werdet nie wieder Hunger leiden!
Hyänen: Jaaahaa, klasse! Lang lebe der König!
Lang lebe der König!
Lang lebe der König!

Ja wir sind bald Untertanen, eines Königs den jedermann liebt!

Ich muss jedoch ernsthaft ermahnen
Dass es für euch Pflichten noch gibt

In Zukunft gibt's soviel zu plündern
Das Meiste kriegt sowieso ich
Ich darf trotzdem höflichst erinnern
Kein Krümelchen gibt's ohne mich!

Seid bereit für den Coup des Jahrhunderts

Seid bereit für den teuflischsten Pakt

Oooh... La! La! La!

Ich plane seit Jahren

Jetzt gibt's Fraß!

Trotz aller Gefahren

So ein Spaß

Gerissen verbissen

So ein Spaß

Ganz ohne Gewissen

Soviel Fraß!

Als König geboren

Aah.

Zum Herrscher erkoren.
Erglänz' ich in all meiner Pracht
Meine Zähne sind blank wie mein Neid.

Seid bereit!

Uns're Zähne sind blank wie sein Neid!

Seid bereit!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elton John's song "Seid bereit" (German for "Be prepared") are spoken by the character Scar in the Disney movie "The Lion King." The song is about Scar's plot to overthrow his brother, Mufasa, and become king of the Pride Lands. Scar refers to the hyenas as vulgar and ordinary but acknowledges that they are useful to him in his mission to become king. He warns them that ignorance will not protect them and that they need to be ready for the coup of the century. He promises them that there will be plenty of plunder to go around but reminds them that they need to follow his lead.

The song highlights Scar's cunning nature and his willingness to betray his brother and cause pain and suffering to others for his own gain. Scar's use of the hyenas as his henchmen also represents the negative impact that greed and corruption can have on society. Overall, the song reflects the theme of power and ambition and the consequences of taking selfish actions.

Line by Line Meaning

Scar gesprochen:
Scar speaks:

Ich halte nicht viel von Hyänen... Sie sind vulgär, so unerhört ordinär... Doch sie für meine Bedürfnisse zu zähmen, ist so schlau... Sowas stammt nur von mir...
I don't think highly of hyenas ... They are crass, so incredibly vulgar ... But taming them for my needs is clever ... Only I could come up with it ...

Ich weiß, die Beschränktheit der Hyänen Ist bestimmt alles and're als klein Ich will nebenbei nur erwähnen Ich red' nicht nur Löwenlatein Die stumpfen Visagen betonen Die ob'ren Etagen sind leer Ich rede von Königen, von Thronen Und auch Unwissen schützt euch nicht mehr.
I know the limitations of hyenas Are certainly anything but small I just want to mention I'm not just talking lion language The dull faces emphasize The upper floors are empty I'm talking about kings, thrones And ignorance won't protect you anymore.

Seid bereit für die Zeit eures Lebens Seid bereit für den größten der Coups Die goldene Ära Schleicht näher und näher Und was springt für uns raus? Ich lass euch schon nicht aus!
Be ready for the time of your life Be ready for the greatest coup The golden era Is creeping ever closer And what do we get out of it? I won't let you miss out!

Ihr dämlichen Viecher Der Lohn ist euch sicher An dem Tag, wenn das Recht triumphiert Und mich endlich von Knechtschaft befreit Seid bereit!
You silly creatures Your reward is certain On the day when justice triumphs And finally frees me from slavery Be ready!

Hyänen gesprochen:
Hyenas speak:

Jaahaa, seid bereit, wir sind immer bereit, für was? Scar: Für den Tod des Königs! Hyänen: Wieso, ist er krank? Scar: Nein du Null, wir bringen ihn um und Simba auch... Hyänen: Tolle Idee, wer braucht schon 'nen König? Niemand, niemand, lalalalalalaaaaa! Scar: Idioten, es wird einen König geben! Hyäne: Aber du hast doch?! Scar: ICH werde König sein; haltet zu mir und ihr werdet nie wieder Hunger leiden! Hyänen: Jaaahaa, klasse! Lang lebe der König! Lang lebe der König! Lang lebe der König!
Yeah, be ready, we're always ready, for what? Scar: For the death of the king! Hyena: Why, is he sick? Scar: No, you fool, we're going to kill him and Simba too... Hyena: Great idea, who needs a king anyway? Nobody, nobody, lalalalalalaaaaa! Scar: Idiots, there will be a king! Hyena: But don't you already have one?! Scar: I WILL be the king; stand by me and you will never suffer hunger again! Hyenas: Yeah, great! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!

Ja wir sind bald Untertanen, eines Königs den jedermann liebt! Ich muss jedoch ernsthaft ermahnen Dass es für euch Pflichten noch gibt In Zukunft gibt's soviel zu plündern Das Meiste kriegt sowieso ich Ich darf trotzdem höflichst erinnern Kein Krümelchen gibt's ohne mich!
Yes, soon we will be subjects of a king whom everyone loves! However, I must seriously warn you That there are still duties for you There will be so much to plunder in the future Anyway, I get most of it I may politely remind you There will be no crumbs without me!

Seid bereit für den Coup des Jahrhunderts Seid bereit für den teuflischsten Pakt Oooh... La! La! La! Ich plane seit Jahren Jetzt gibt's Fraß! Trotz aller Gefahren So ein Spaß Gerissen verbissen So ein Spaß Ganz ohne Gewissen Soviel Fraß!
Be ready for the coup of the century Be ready for the most devilish pact Ooh... La! La! La! I've been planning for years Now there's food! Despite all the dangers What fun Cunningly tenacious What fun Completely without conscience So much food!

Als König geboren Aah. Zum Herrscher erkoren. Erglänz' ich in all meiner Pracht Meine Zähne sind blank wie mein Neid. Seid bereit! Uns're Zähne sind blank wie sein Neid! Seid bereit!
Born as a king Ah. Chosen to rule. I shine in all my glory My teeth are as shiny as my envy. Be ready! Our teeth are as shiny as his envy! Be ready!

Writer(s): Tim Rice, Elton John, Frank Lenart

Contributed by Tyler C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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