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)
Sing Me No Sad Songs
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're trying to do all you can for me
I appreciate your help
But it's best just to leave me be
There's many things that I have done
And I'm sorry for them now
So darling please don't you comfort me
So sing me no sad songs, tell me no lies
Please don't you make me blue
Sing me no sad songs, tell me no lies
Girl I can do without you
Don't go breaking my heart
It would tear me apart
'Cause then I'd be finished for good
So sing me no sad songs, tell me no lies
Please don't you make me blue
I don't want you to think I'm mean
Refusing all your help
The time has come, but my need is none
And I want to be alone with myself
There's many things that I have done
And I'm sorry for them now
So darling please don't you comfort me
The song is a plea to stop trying to comfort someone who is going through a tough time. Elton John is telling the person singing to him to stop trying to cheer him up with sad songs or lies. Although he appreciates their help, it's not what he needs. He wants to be alone with his thoughts and emotions, even if it means facing the consequences of his actions on his own. The line "I don't want you to think I'm mean / Refusing all your help" shows that he understands how his behavior might be perceived, but it's not about rejecting the person, it's about finding the strength to face reality and deal with it.
The chorus repeats the plea to not make him feel worse, to not "make me blue" with sad songs or lies. He has already been through enough and doesn't need any more added pain. He also warns that he can't take any more heartbreak because he is already at his breaking point. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the message and creates a sense of urgency.
Overall, the song is a reminder that sometimes people need space to deal with their problems. It's easy to follow the instinct to comfort others, but sometimes, it's better to let them be and allow them to find the strength to face their issues. The song taps into the vulnerability and loneliness that can come with dealing with difficult situations, and urges the listener to be mindful of how they approach someone in need.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you
I acknowledge your presence
You're trying to do all you can for me
You are doing everything possible to help me
I appreciate your help
I am grateful for your assistance
But it's best just to leave me be
However, I prefer to be alone
There's many things that I have done
I have committed many mistakes in the past
And I'm sorry for them now
I regret my actions
So darling please don't you comfort me
Please don't offer me sympathy
I'll sort it out somehow
I will find a way to manage the situation
So sing me no sad songs, tell me no lies
Don't play melancholic music or deceive me
Please don't you make me blue
I don't want to feel sad
Girl I can do without you
I don't need your presence
Don't go breaking my heart
Don't do anything to hurt me
It would tear me apart
It would cause me immense pain
'Cause then I'd be finished for good
It could permanently damage me
I don't want you to think I'm mean
I'm not trying to be rude
Refusing all your help
I'm declining your assistance
The time has come, but my need is none
I don't require any help at the moment
And I want to be alone with myself
I desire solitude
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elton John
Sing Me No Sad Songs is taken from the upcoming Elton: Jewel Box which includes buried treasures, precious gems and sparkling collectibles from the world’s favourite singer-songwriter. The 8 disc box set includes 60 previously unreleased tracks and is available on 8CD, 4LP, 3LP and 2LP on November 13th. Pre-order here: https://EltonJohn.lnk.to/JewelBox
Adegiania Vieira de Andrade
Al
Jaqueline Mascitti
Elton John THE Best
Piano Man
elton i’ts my passion since 1980 Who says better? 🤗
Joanne Zbikowski
@Jaqueline Mascitti y
H O
Awesome. Finally Conquer The Sun and Hey Papa Legba on CD!
Shazza
I may have only listened to 50 seconds but I think this is my new favourite song
Laura Jayne Breed
I love it! It’s super sing along able
Levi Ramos
Ditto.
SMACK68
It makes no sense that you would only listen to 1/3 of your so-called "favorite new song". Just saying.....