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)

Thunder In The Night
Elton John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't no loving tonight
My woman says she ain't my woman
I sure put up a fight
To keep it right

I used a whole lot of pride to get her
I used a whole pack of lies and begged her
She just threw me the key

And said she's free

Thunder in the night
Thunder in the night again
Thunder in the night again
Thunder in the night
Thunder in the night again
Thunder in the night again

Frightening lightning hit me again
It's burning much deeper this time
I got them storm clouds hanging right over my head
And it's gonna rain harder this time

Thunder, thunder
Thunder, thunder

Out here searching the streets
I gotta find my woman and tell her
I never wanted to cheat
But she cheated me

I never knew just how much I loved her
I never knew till I went and lost her

Now it's all too late
She's gone away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elton John's song Thunder In The Night are about heartbreak and the end of a relationship. The singer laments that he and his woman are no longer together, and that he tried everything he could to keep their love alive. He used "a whole lot of pride" and "a whole pack of lies" to try and win her back, but she ultimately rejected him and broke things off. The use of thunder and lightning imagery throughout the song emphasizes the intense emotions of the singer, with the elements wreaking havoc on his heart and soul.

The use of the phrase "thunder in the night" is metaphorical for the singer's emotional turmoil and pain. Thunder and lightning can be frightening and overwhelming, much like the pain of heartbreak. The singer is experiencing this pain again and again, as he says "thunder in the night again" multiple times throughout the song. He is haunted by the memory of his lost love and the pain of rejection.

The final verse reveals that the singer is out searching for his woman, hoping to make amends and win back her heart. He realizes too late just how much he loved her, and how his own choices and behavior led to their breakup. The song ends on a sad and mournful note, with the singer left alone and heartbroken.

Overall, Thunder In The Night is a powerful and emotional song that explores the themes of love, loss, and regret. Its use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language creates a sense of intensity and urgency, making it a standout track on Elton John's 1982 album, Jump Up!.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no loving tonight
My partner has refused to show me any affection tonight.

My woman says she ain't my woman
My partner has explicitly stated that she does not belong to me anymore.

I sure put up a fight To keep it right
I tried my best to maintain our relationship, but it wasn't enough to change her mind.

I used a whole lot of pride to get her
I relied on my ego and confidence to win her love.

I used a whole pack of lies and begged her
I was dishonest and resorted to pleading to convince her to stay with me.

She just threw me the key And said she's free
She left me and made it clear that she wanted to be free from our relationship.

Thunder in the night Thunder in the night again Thunder in the night again Thunder in the night Thunder in the night again Thunder in the night again
There is a sense of danger and vulnerability as I feel the deep emotional pain and turmoil in the night, knowing that I have lost my partner.

Frightening lightning hit me again It's burning much deeper this time I got them storm clouds hanging right over my head And it's gonna rain harder this time
The pain of losing my partner is more intense this time, and it feels like a storm is brewing inside of me. The lightning and storm clouds symbolize an impending emotional outburst or breakdown.

Out here searching the streets I gotta find my woman and tell her I never wanted to cheat But she cheated me
I am desperately searching for my partner, hoping to make amends and tell her that I never intended to betray her. Unfortunately, she has already cheated on me and made it clear that our relationship is over.

I never knew just how much I loved her I never knew till I went and lost her Now it's all too late She's gone away
I did not realize the depth of my love for my partner until I lost her. Unfortunately, my realization came too late, as she has already left me and moved on.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL HOFFMANN, PETE BELLOTTE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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