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 Lion King: Be Prepared
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're crude and unspeakably plain
But maybe they've a glimmer of potential
If allied to my vision and brain
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
It's clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions
Even you can't be caught unawares
So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer
And where do we feature?
Just listen to teacher
I know it sounds sordid but you'll be rewarded
When at last I am given my dues!
And in justice deliciously squared
Be prepared!
Yeah! Be prepared, we'll be prepared! For what?
For the death of the king
Is he sick?
No, fool! We're going to kill him and Simba, too
Great idea! Who needs a king? la la la la
No king, no king!
Idiots! There will be a king!
But you said-
I will be king!
Stick with me and you'll never go hungry again!
Yay, all right! Long live the king!
Long live the king!
It's great that we'll soon be connected
With a king who'll be all-time adored
Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected
To take certain duties on board
The future is littered with prizes
And though I'm the main addressee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won't get a sniff without me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
Meticulous planning tenacity spanning
Decades of denial is simply why I'll
Be king undisputed respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared-
Be prepared!
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared-
Be prepared
The song "Be Prepared" from the Lion King is sung by the character Scar, who is the villainous uncle of the main character Simba. In this song, Scar rallies the hyenas to join him in his plan to kill the current king, Mufasa, and Simba, so that he can become king himself. He starts by acknowledging that he never thought hyenas were essential, and that they are "crude and unspeakably plain." However, Scar believes that he can use their potential to help him achieve his goal of becoming king.
Scar then addresses the hyenas' lack of intelligence and understanding, telling them that even they cannot be caught unaware when it comes to talking about successions and kings. He urges them to be prepared for a chance of a lifetime, promising that they will be rewarded when he becomes king. Scar's vision for the future involves a littering of prizes, and he emphasizes that the hyenas will only succeed if they stick with him.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought hyenas essential
I didn't think hyenas were important
They're crude and unspeakably plain
I think they are ugly and crude.
But maybe they've a glimmer of potential
But maybe they have some hidden value.
If allied to my vision and brain
If they join me and follow my ideas
I know that your powers of retention
I know that you have trouble remembering things
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
You have a terrible memory
But thick as you are, pay attention
Even though you're not very smart, listen up
My words are a matter of pride
What I am saying is important to me
It's clear from your vacant expressions
It's obvious that you're not paying attention
The lights are not all on upstairs
You're not very bright
But we're talking kings and successions
But we're discussing who will be the next king
Even you can't be caught unawares
Even you can't be surprised by this news
So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Get ready for the opportunity of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
Be ready for some exciting information
A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer
A bright new future is getting closer
And where do we feature?
And where do we fit in?
Just listen to teacher
Just listen to me
I know it sounds sordid but you'll be rewarded
I know it may not sound good, but you'll benefit in the end
When at last I am given my dues!
When I finally get what I deserve!
And in justice deliciously squared
And things will be made right
Be prepared!
Be ready!
Yeah! Be prepared, we'll be prepared! For what?
Yes, be ready, we'll prepare! For what exactly?
For the death of the king
For when the king dies
Is he sick?
Is the king sick?
No, fool! We're going to kill him and Simba, too
No, idiot! We are going to kill the king and his son, Simba
Great idea! Who needs a king? la la la la
That's a fantastic idea! Who needs a king? La la la la
No king, no king!
No king, no king!
Idiots! There will be a king!
You fools! There will be a king!
But you said-
But you said-
I will be king!
I will be king!
Stick with me and you'll never go hungry again!
Stay with me and you will always be provided for!
Yay, all right! Long live the king!
Yes, that's great! The king shall live forever!
Long live the king!
Long live the king!
It's great that we'll soon be connected
It's wonderful that we will soon be associated with royalty
With a king who'll be all-time adored
With a king that will be loved forever
Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected
Of course, there's a trade-off, you are required
To take certain duties on board
To shoulder certain responsibilities
The future is littered with prizes
The future will have many rewards
And though I'm the main addressee
And even though I am the most important person here
The point that I must emphasize is
What I need to stress is
You won't get a sniff without me!
You won't get anything unless you work with me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Get ready for the greatest takeover in history
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
Be ready for the shadiest plan
Meticulous planning tenacity spanning
I have planned everything with great care and patience
Decades of denial is simply why I'll
Years of being denied is why I am
Be king undisputed respected, saluted
Going to be the respected and undisputed king
And seen for the wonder I am
And everyone will see how amazing I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared-
Yes, I am ready and determined
Be prepared!
Be ready!
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared-
Yes, we are all ready and determined
Be prepared!
Be ready!
Writer(s): elton john, tim rice
Contributed by Oliver G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.....