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)

Susie
Elton John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got frostbitten in the winter
Ice skating on the river
With my pretty little black-eyed girl
She'd make your darn toes curl just to see her yeah

I got a fringe front on my buggy
I got a frisky little colt in a hurry
And a pretty little black-eyed Suzie by, by, by my side

Well she sure knows how to use me
Pretty little black-eyed Suzie
Playing hooky with my heart all the time
Living with her funky family
In a derelict old alley
Down by the river where we share a little loving in the moonshine

I'm an old hayseed harp player
I'm the hit of the county fair
With my pretty little black-eyed girl
Living proof as she swirls
She's a dancer, oh yeah

I got a fringe front on my buggy
I got a frisky little colt in a hurry
And a pretty little black-eyed Suzie by, by, my side

Well she sure knows how to use me
Pretty little black-eyed Suzie
Playing hooky with my heart all the time
Living with her funky family
In a derelict old alley
Down by the river where we share a little loving in the moonshine

Well she sure knows how to use me
Pretty little black-eyed Suzie
Playing hooky with my heart all the time, yeah
Living with her funky family
In a derelict old alley
Down by the river where we share a little loving in the moonshine

Well she sure knows how to use me
Pretty little black-eyed Suzie
Playing hooky with my heart all the time
Living with her funky family

In a derelict old alley
Down by the river where we share a little loving in the moonshine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elton John's song "Susie" tell the story of a hayseed harp player who falls for a pretty young woman named Suzie. They spend their time together ice skating on the river and sharing a little loving in the moonshine down by the derelict old alley. Despite being used by Suzie, the singer is happy to have her by his side and is willing to overlook her faults in order to be with her.

The lyrics paint a picture of a carefree, somewhat reckless relationship between the singer and Suzie. They live in the moment, sharing simple pleasures like ice skating and enjoying each other's company. Suzie may not be the most reliable partner, but the singer is willing to overlook her foibles in order to be with her. The words "playing hooky" suggest a sense of irresponsibility, but for the singer, being with Suzie is worth it.

Ultimately, the song suggests that love can sometimes be a little bit messy and imperfect, but that it can still be worth pursuing. Despite the roughness of the singer's surroundings, the love between him and Suzie shines through and brings them both joy.

Line by Line Meaning

I got frostbitten in the winter
I suffered from frostbite while ice skating on the river in the winter

With my pretty little black-eyed girl
I was with a beautiful girl who had captivating black eyes

She'd make your darn toes curl just to see her yeah
She was so attractive that she could make anyone feel weak in the knees

I got a fringe front on my buggy
My buggy had a decorative fringe in the front

I got a frisky little colt in a hurry
I had a young, energetic horse that was always in a rush

And a pretty little black-eyed Suzie by, by, by my side
I was accompanied by the lovely black-eyed Suzie

Well she sure knows how to use me
Suzie was skilled at getting what she wanted from me

Playing hooky with my heart all the time
Suzie was constantly toying with my emotions

Living with her funky family
Suzie resided with her unconventional family

In a derelict old alley
The alley where Suzie lived was abandoned and in disrepair

Down by the river where we share a little loving in the moonshine
We engaged in romantic activities by the river under the cover of night