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)
When I Need You
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to look intelligent
In case the teacher looked at me
She was long and she was lean
She's a middle-aged dream
And that lady means the whole world to me
It's a natural achievement
With her image pounding in my brain
She's an inspiration
For my graduation
And she helps to keep the classroom sane
Oh teacher I need you like a little child
You got something in you to drive a schoolboy wild
You give me education in the lovesick blues
Help me get straight, come out and say
Teacher I, teacher I, teacher I, teacher I need you
I have to write a letter
Tell about my feelings
Just to let her know the scene
Focus my attention
On some further education
In connection with the birdies and the bees
So I'm sitting in the classroom
I'm looking like a zombie
I'm waiting for the bell to ring
I've got John Wayne stances
I've got Erroll Flynn advances
And it doesn't mean a doggone thing
Oh teacher I need you like a little child
You got something in you to drive a schoolboy wild
You give me education in the lovesick blues
Help me get straight, come out and say
Teacher I, teacher I, teacher I, teacher I need you
Oh teacher I need you like a little child
You got something in you to drive a schoolboy wild
You give me education in the lovesick blues
Help me get straight, come out and say
Teacher I, teacher I, teacher I, teacher I need you
Elton John's "Teacher I Need You" is a song about a schoolboy crushing on his teacher. In the song, the schoolboy is sitting in the classroom, trying to look intelligent in case his teacher looks at him. He sees her as a "middle-aged dream" and declares that she means the world to him. She is his inspiration for graduation and helps keep the classroom sane. The lyrics describe the boy's crush on the teacher, making a case for how she makes classroom life more bearable as he navigates adolescent love and learning.
The song's lyrics highlight the admiration of a young schoolboy for his teacher, focusing on how his teacher inspires him and how he views her as the impetus for his success in school. The schoolboy reveals his struggle with the lovesick blues, and in this, we see the urgency of his need for his teacher. The chorus, "Oh teacher I need you like a little child / You got something in you to drive a schoolboy wild / You give me education in the lovesick blues / Help me get straight, come out and say / Teacher I, teacher I, teacher I, teacher I need you" summarizes this need.
In sum, Teacher I Need You is a song about longing and admiration that explores the dynamics between teachers and students. It is a tongue-in-cheek kind of track that captures the youthful romanticism of crushes, and the power dynamics associated with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sitting in the classroom
The singer was physically present in a classroom.
Trying to look intelligent
The singer was attempting to appear smart and knowledgeable.
In case the teacher looked at me
The singer was trying to impress the teacher by appearing attentive and engaged.
She was long and she was lean
The teacher was tall and slender in appearance.
She's a middle-aged dream
The teacher is the ideal person the artist aspires to be when they reach middle age.
And that lady means the whole world to me
The singer values and perceives the teacher as someone who has a major positive influence on their life.
It's a natural achievement
The singer feels accomplished for completing their school assignments.
Conquering my homework
The artist succeeded in completing their school work.
With her image pounding in my brain
The artist cannot stop thinking about the teacher, even as they complete schoolwork.
She's an inspiration
The teacher motivates the artist.
For my graduation
The teacher serves as a source of motivation for the singer to graduate from school.
And she helps to keep the classroom sane
The teacher's presence helps to create a calm and organized classroom environment.
Oh teacher I need you like a little child
The singer needs the teacher's support and guidance in the same way a child needs nurturing.
You got something in you to drive a schoolboy wild
The teacher possesses qualities that inspire and excite the singer.
You give me education in the lovesick blues
The teacher offers the singer guidance and support in navigating romantic relationships.
Help me get straight, come out and say
The artist needs the teacher's guidance and advice in order to stay focused and succeed in school.
I have to write a letter
The artist needs to communicate their feelings by writing a letter.
Tell about my feelings
The singer is compelled to share their emotions.
Just to let her know the scene
The singer wants to inform the teacher about their current situation.
Focus my attention
The artist needs to redirect their attention to something specific.
On some further education
The artist is interested in pursuing additional knowledge and learning opportunities.
In connection with the birdies and the bees
The artist needs guidance and information related to sexual education.
So I'm sitting in the classroom
The singer is currently present in a classroom setting once again.
I'm looking like a zombie
The artist appears drained and unengaged in their current classroom setting.
I'm waiting for the bell to ring
The singer is eagerly anticipating the end of their current class period.
I've got John Wayne stances
The singer is striking a pose reminiscent of cowboy actor John Wayne.
I've got Erroll Flynn advances
The singer is engaging in exaggerated movements and poses like those of actor Errol Flynn.
And it doesn't mean a doggone thing
The artist's actions and behavior have no real significance or relevance in the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beatnicksodyssey
Always one of my favorite Elton John songs. My first time seeing a live version. I love the faster pace here and the added guitar solo by Davey Johnstone is awesome.
@ericbaker1098
Sped up but awesome!! Best voice of the 80’s so clear ...actually best voice ever!
@tammylathrop6223
His voice has changed dramatically since the 70s and 80s
@jamesb8305
The whole shoot me album is underrated.
@yifancao2352
This album is always considered to be one of the greatest of Elton
It seems underrated because we were born after 70s
@davidthomas-in3jf
awaiting yours
@paulrevelli
I've been listening to "Don't Shoot Me..." a lot lately. Granted, I never gave it its due either coming after "Madman" and "Honky Chateau" but it really is brilliant. I mean, "Have Mercy On The Criminal" is amazing! Ditto "High Flying Bird". Some of Bernie Taupin's best lyrics too. That said, I also think it's one of Elton's worst sounding recordings unfortunately. I've never heard a decent vinyl copy. Thin, sibilant...I guess the mastering on this record fell by the wayside.
@tammylathrop6223
Blues for Baby and Me.
Have Mercy on the Criminal.
@gregoryambres1897
"Don''t Shoot Me! I'm only the Piano Player" is one of the greatest Elton John albums, and the story behind the title is very interesting, if you should care to research it.
@dinizklein950
Magnífico, sublime, um verdadeiro show de genialidade de Sir Elton John.