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 Power
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have walked in the darkness too
Felt a red sun, the living proof
Washed my hands in the honest truth
I have carried this weight time after time
I have bettered the dumb and the blind
I've seen dignity fail and colors run
And we walk, yes we walk
And we walk with the power every day
Never letting the light slip away
Reaching out, reaching in
Touching truth and touching skin
Never letting the light slip away
And we walk with the power every day
If my faith is a fire then burn baby burn
We've held fire long enough to learn
Heat beneath hope is a healing light
Kept alive by the flames of night
Walk tall in the power day after day
Never, never, never lose sight of the way
See the dawn come and the dusk hang
See the power rise from an open hand
The first verse of Elton John's song "The Power" deals with the idea of self-examination and introspection. The singer of the song admits to having "sold" himself "through and through" and having "walked in the darkness too." He acknowledges that he has experienced difficult times and has faced challenges, symbolized by the "red sun" he has encountered. He has also tried to be truthful with himself and "washed [his] hands in the honest truth."
The second verse of the song seems to touch on larger themes, particularly those of justice and the struggle against oppression. The singer has "carried this weight time after time" and has tried to help others, particularly those who are "dumb and blind." Despite this, he has also seen examples of injustice and oppression, particularly when those in power use violence to silence voices of dissent.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of walking with "power" every day and never letting the "light" slip away. This can be interpreted in a number of ways; it may refer to a personal sense of strength and resilience, or to a collective sense of community or purpose. The bridge of the song emphasizes the idea of having faith in oneself and in the future, even in the face of difficulties. Overall, "The Power" seems to be a song about resilience, optimism, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
I have sold myself through and through
I have fully committed to my actions
I have walked in the darkness too
I have made mistakes and experienced difficult times
Felt a red sun, the living proof
Experienced the harshness and reality of life
Washed my hands in the honest truth
Acknowledged my actions and learned from them
I have carried this weight time after time
I have dealt with burdens and difficult situations repeatedly
I have bettered the dumb and the blind
I have helped those who are struggling or unaware
I've seen dignity fail and colors run
I have witnessed people losing their pride and originality
Seen justice denied by the voice of a gun
I have experienced oppression and unfairness
And we walk, yes we walk
We continue to move forward and progress
And we walk with the power every day
We approach each day with strength and determination
Never letting the light slip away
We strive to maintain positivity and hope
Reaching out, reaching in
We connect with both ourselves and others
Touching truth and touching skin
We engage in honest and meaningful experiences
If my faith is a fire then burn baby burn
I am passionate and committed to my beliefs
We've held fire long enough to learn
We have taken time to understand and grow
Heat beneath hope is a healing light
Hope can help us heal and overcome challenges
Kept alive by the flames of night
We can find strength in difficult times
Walk tall in the power day after day
We carry ourselves with confidence and resilience
Never, never, never lose sight of the way
We remain focused on our goals
See the dawn come and the dusk hang
We witness the beauty and changes of nature
See the power rise from an open hand
We can find strength and influence in our own actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT JOHN, WARREN KING, NORM NARDINI, FRANK ZURI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Army Melton
on Daniel
"Daniel" is about a soldier who has returned from the Vietnam war, he is unable to return to everyday life, due to the psychological damage war inflicts to the mind. Daniels younger sibling is telling the story, this sibling misses Daniel. Everything about Daniel has changed so much, he can no longer stay there with his family.
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.....