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)
Street Kids
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There must have been a hundred
If we make a stand
I think we'll be outnumbered
If I'd had the chance
Then I could understand
Why I'm a juvenile delinquent
In an East End gang
And if you think you've seen gasoline burning in my eyes
Don't be alarmed, tell yourself it's good to be, it's good to be alive
It's just another street kid on your tail
Running on the wrong side of the rails
With my boot lace tie and my hand-me-downs
You know I run the toughest bunch this side of town
Those street kids making news just being around
I've been bottled and been brained
Squealers can't be trusted
If we fight tonight
You can bet we'll all be busted
I'd like to break away
From the rut I'm in
But beggars can't be choosers
And I was born to sin
Let's hear it for the street kids
Making news just being around
The lyrics to Elton John's song Street Kids speak to the experience of being a juvenile delinquent and part of a gang in the East End of a city. The opening lines suggest that the gang's actions are calculated and planned, possibly suggesting that there is more going on beneath the surface than what is immediately apparent. The singer admits that if he had the opportunity, he might understand why he has become a part of this life.
The lyrics go on to describe the experiences of being a street kid, including being outnumbered by others, always being on the run, and being dressed in hand-me-downs. Even still, the singer seems to take pride in being part of the "toughest bunch this side of town" and suggests that just being present is enough to make the news. However, the lyrics also acknowledge the dangers of this lifestyle, as the singer notes having been "bottled and been brained" and that squealers cannot be trusted.
Line by Line Meaning
They must have had the whole thing planned
The group of people he is referring to had a well thought out plan.
There must have been a hundred
The number of people in the group was staggering, most likely overwhelming.
If we make a stand
If they stood up for themselves and fought back.
I think we'll be outnumbered
They were certain they would be outnumbered in any altercation.
If I'd had the chance
If he had an opportunity.
Then I could understand
Understanding his current situation would be possible, and he would have clarity.
Why I'm a juvenile delinquent
Why he has been labeled as a young criminal by society.
In an East End gang
He is a member of a gang located in the East End of London.
And if you think you've seen gasoline burning in my eyes
If it seems like his eyes are lighting up with gasoline.
Don't be alarmed, tell yourself it's good to be, it's good to be alive
Do not be concerned, it is better to be alive than not.
It's just another street kid on your tail
Another street kid is following them.
Running on the wrong side of the rails
He is running where he is not supposed to be running.
With my boot lace tie and my hand-me-downs
Wearing a boot lace tie and hand-me-down clothing.
You know I run the toughest bunch this side of town
He leads a tough group of people in that area.
Those street kids making news just being around
The mere presence of street kids garners attention and news coverage.
I've been bottled and been brained
He has been hit in the head with a bottle or other object.
Squealers can't be trusted
People who snitch or provide information to authorities cannot be relied upon.
If we fight tonight
If they had a fight that night.
You can bet we'll all be busted
They could all potentially get in trouble with the law.
I'd like to break away
He wants to leave the gang and his current lifestyle behind.
From the rut I'm in
He is stuck in a repetitive, negative cycle and wants to get out of it.
But beggars can't be choosers
He has limited options, and must take what he can get.
And I was born to sin
He believes he has a natural inclination towards sinful behavior.
Let's hear it for the street kids
He is emphasizing the importance and respect of street kids in his area.
Making news just being around
Street kids are a constant source of attention and controversy, even when they're doing nothing at all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORGE BROWN, JAMES TAYLOR, ROBERT MICKENS, CLAYDES SMITH, MICHAEL ARTHUR RAY, ROBERT BELL, CLIFFORD ALANZA ADAMS, CURTIS FITZGERALD WILLIAMS, RONALD BELL, EUMIR DEODATO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
not like todays crap
Peter Harthen
on Sacrifice
Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....