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)
The Day Is Done
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down to Earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done
When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
When the day is done when the night is cold
Some get by but some get old
Just to show life's not made of gold
When the night is cold
When the bird has flown
Got no one to call your own
Got no place to call your home
Now the bird has flown
When the game's been fought
Newspaper blowing across the court
Lost much sooner than you would have thought
Now the game's been fought
When the party's through
Seems so very sad for you
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Now there's no time to to start anew
Now the party's through
When the day is done
Down to Earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done day is done
When the day is done
The lyrics of Elton John's "The Day Is Done" depict a poignant reflection on life's transient nature and the inevitable passage of time. The repetition of the phrase "When the day is done" sets a contemplative tone, suggesting a moment of introspection as the day draws to a close. The sinking sun symbolizes the end of a cycle, capturing the sentiment of closure and finality.
The lyrics delve into themes of hope, regret, and the complexities of human existence. The aspiration for one's "race" to be run signifies a desire for completion and fulfillment, yet the realization of "jumping the gun" highlights the pitfalls of impatience and haste. The notion of going back to where one began underscores the cyclical nature of life, with echoes of the adage "what goes around, comes around."
As the lyrics shift to the night and the cold, there is a contrast between those who "get by" and those who "get old." This juxtaposition hints at the harsh realities of aging and the ephemeral nature of material wealth. The acknowledgment that life is not "made of gold" serves as a reminder of the impermanence and fragility of earthly pursuits.
The imagery of the bird flying away conveys a sense of loss and loneliness, as one is left with no one to call their own or a place to call home. The metaphorical implications reflect feelings of abandonment and displacement, evoking a deep sense of melancholy and isolation. The lyrics evoke a sense of resignation and acceptance of life's unpredictability, capturing the bittersweet essence of fleeting moments and missed opportunities.
In the final verses, the lyrics touch upon themes of disappointment, missed chances, and the finality of time. The imagery of a game being fought and lost prematurely underscores the unpredictability of life's outcomes and the inevitability of defeat. The closing lines poignantly convey a sense of regret for unfulfilled dreams and unrealized aspirations, culminating in a somber acknowledgment that once the party is over, there is no turning back. "The Day Is Done" encapsulates a profound meditation on the passage of time, the complexities of human experience, and the emotions that accompany life's inevitable transitions.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day is done
At the end of the day
Down to Earth then sinks the sun
The sun sets and reality sets in
Along with everything that was lost and won
Bringing closure to both successes and failures
When the day is done
As the day comes to a close
Hope so much your race will be all run
Hoping you have completed your journey
Then you find you jumped the gun
Realizing you acted prematurely
Have to go back where you begun
Returning to the start
When the day is done when the night is cold
As night falls and it gets colder
Some get by but some get old
Certain individuals prosper while others age
Just to show life's not made of gold
To remind us life is not always glamorous
When the bird has flown
When you are left without companionship
Got no one to call your own
Lacking someone to call your own
Got no place to call your home
Feeling displaced and without a home
Now the bird has flown
Now you are alone
When the game's been fought
After the battle has been fought
Newspaper blowing across the court
Symbolizing defeat as the newspaper blows across the court
Lost much sooner than you would have thought
Experiencing loss sooner than expected
Now the game's been fought
The game has ended
When the party's through
After the party has ended
Seems so very sad for you
Leaving you feeling melancholy
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Regretting not fulfilling your intentions
Now there's no time to to start anew
Realizing there is no more time to begin again
Now the party's through
Now that the party has concluded
When the day is done
At the end of the day
Down to Earth then sinks the sun
The sun sets and reality sets in
Along with everything that was lost and won
Reflecting on both losses and victories
When the day is done day is done
Bringing closure to the day
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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.....