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)
Take This Dirty Water
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you take the breaks you're given
You get to make the rules
Take a chance and make it fast
If you break some bones on landing
You know you're built to last
Fight the tide and find the shore
Just learn to ride some more
Common sense is a rule of thumb
If the suckers throw a red flag
Blow 'em all to Kingdom Come
And take this dirty water
Running like a river
In and out of everything
We helped to put together
Take this dirty water
Help to keep it clean
Get back to the wellspring
Purify the stream
Search out days, that never end
If it's only for the chance to feel
Just like a child again
Tell a lie that speaks the truth
If the heart becomes a prisoner
Your soul will turn you loose
And take this dirty water
Running like a river
In and out of everything
We helped to put together
Take this dirty water
Help to keep it clean
Get back to the wellspring
Purify the stream
(Running like a river)
Take this dirty water
Running like a river
In and out of everything
We helped to put together
Take this dirty water
And helped to keep it clean
Get back to the wellspring
Purify the stream
Elton John's song "Take This Dirty Water" is an inspiring and optimistic call to arms that encourages listeners to take ownership of their lives and communities, and to strive to make the world a better place despite its troubles. The song's lyrics convey a message of perseverance, urging listeners to never give up in the face of adversity and to fight for what is right. The opening lines, "Spare the rod, don't spare the fool / If you take the breaks you're given / You get to make the rules," suggest that success comes to those who are willing to take risks and seize opportunities, even if they are faced with setbacks and obstacles along the way.
The song's chorus, "Take this dirty water / Running like a river / In and out of everything / We helped to put together / Take this dirty water / Help to keep it clean / Get back to the wellspring / Purify the stream," is a powerful metaphor for the state of the world and the role that individuals can play in improving it. The "dirty water" represents the problems and challenges that people face on a daily basis, while the "wellspring" symbolizes the source of hope and transformation that exists within each of us. The song encourages listeners to take responsibility for cleaning up the "dirty water" and contributing to the betterment of the world.
In addition to its uplifting message, "Take This Dirty Water" is notable for its catchy melody, infectious rhythm, and intricate instrumentation. The song features Elton John's signature piano playing, as well as a lively horn section and driving percussion. The arrangement is both dynamic and complex, showcasing Elton John's skill as a musician and arranger.
Line by Line Meaning
Spare the rod, don't spare the fool
Don't be lenient with those who need discipline
If you take the breaks you're given
If you take advantage of opportunities presented to you
You get to make the rules
You get to direct your own path
Take a chance and make it fast
Take a risk and seize the moment quickly
If you break some bones on landing
If you endure hardships in the pursuit of your goals
You know you're built to last
You know you have the strength to persevere
Fight the tide and find the shore
Overcome obstacles and achieve your desired destination
If the gift horse isn't smiling
If an opportunity seems too good to be true
Just learn to ride some more
Keep adapting and moving forward
Common sense is a rule of thumb
Following logic and intuition is a basic guide
If the suckers throw a red flag
If others object or criticize your choices
Blow 'em all to Kingdom Come
Ignore their negativity and pursue your own path
And take this dirty water
Acknowledge the problems or issues that exist
Running like a river
Flowing constantly, affecting everything in its path
In and out of everything
Touching all aspects of life, good and bad
We helped to put together
Acknowledging that our own actions contribute to the problem
Take this dirty water
Take responsibility for the current state of affairs
Help to keep it clean
Work towards making improvements and fixing the problems
Get back to the wellspring
Identify the source of the problem and work from the root
Purify the stream
Cleanse and improve the situation for the betterment of all
Search out days, that never end
Seek out experiences that make you feel alive and free
If it's only for the chance to feel
Even if the experience is only fleeting
Just like a child again
Innocent, curious, and free
Tell a lie that speaks the truth
Use metaphor or storytelling to convey a greater truth
If the heart becomes a prisoner
If fear and doubt hold you back from pursuing what you truly want
Your soul will turn you loose
Your innermost self will find a way to break free and pursue your desires
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
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.....