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)
Where It's At
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where it's at
Dada dum-da dadada dum-da
Where it's at
He's a man who knows most everything
Of anything at all
Tells a story of psychology
He's a man who wears a portobello yellow bill-bob hat
He's a man who knows exactly where it's at
He's a man who draws illusions
And he carves them on a tree
Including all the love he found
He gives to you and me
And I don't even know his name
But I surely promise that
He's a man who knows exactly where it's at
Roaming around from place to place
He takes in all that he sees
He notices the good things that please him
He watches all the bad things that grieve him
But he loves everybody and he knows just where it's at
He was born of Gypsy parenthood
And he's always lived the land
And if people who would talk to him
Just cannot understand
But no matter what they say of him
They'll always tell you that
"Where It's At" is a song by Elton John that describes a man who seems to know everything and understands the world better than anyone else. The song starts with a catchy riff that is repeated throughout the song, then Elton John sings about this man and what he knows. The man wears a unique hat, and he tells stories of psychology that never fail to amaze, and he even carves illusions on trees that represent his love for all.
The song seems to highlight the importance of understanding the world around us and how we can find joy in both the good and bad things that happen. The man described in the song is a wanderer who moves from place to place, taking in everything he sees, and he never passes judgment on anyone. He is a symbol of kindness, love, and acceptance, and he shows us how we can find beauty in everything if we open our hearts.
In summary, the song is a tribute to a man who seems to have all the answers and knows where it's at. He is a symbol of hope in a world that can be cruel and cold, and he reminds us that we can find joy in everything if we look for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Dada dum-da dadada dum-da
Instrumental intro
Where it's at
The theme of the song - where to find the man who knows his way around life
Dada dum-da dadada dum-da
Instrumental break
He's a man who knows most everything
Introducing the man who is highly knowledgeable about many things
Of anything at all
Emphasizing the extent of the man's knowledge
Tells a story of psychology
Describing the man's ability to explain complex concepts like psychology
And his story never falls
Highlighting the man's reliability as a source of information
He's a man who wears a portobello yellow bill-bob hat
A quirky detail that characterizes the man visually
He's a man who knows exactly where it's at
Reiterating the man's expertise in navigating life
He's a man who draws illusions
Switching gears to describe the man's artistic talent
And he carves them on a tree
Visual imagery of the man's creative process
Including all the love he found
Suggesting that the man's art is inspired by his experiences of love
He gives to you and me
The man's art, and the love it represents, is available to all
And I don't even know his name
The singer is not personally acquainted with the man
But I surely promise that
Despite not having personal knowledge, the singer is confident in the man's reputation
He's a man who knows exactly where it's at
Repeating the idea that the man has special insight into life
Roaming around from place to place
Describing the man's nomadic lifestyle
He takes in all that he sees
The man is observant and curious about the world around him
He notices the good things that please him
The man has a positive outlook and pays attention to what brings him joy
He watches all the bad things that grieve him
The man is also attuned to suffering and pain in the world
But he loves everybody and he knows just where it's at
Despite the ups and downs of life, the man has a deep love for all people and a sense of purpose and direction
He was born of Gypsy parenthood
Revealing another aspect of the man's background
And he's always lived the land
The man has a close connection to the natural world
And if people who would talk to him
Acknowledging that some people might be skeptical of the man's unusual lifestyle or beliefs
Just cannot understand
Some people may not be able to relate to the man's perspective
But no matter what they say of him
The singer pushes back against any negative criticism of the man
They'll always tell you that
Despite any disagreements, it's widely recognized that the man is special in some way
He's a man who knows exactly where it's at
Reinforcing the central message of the song - the man has unique insight into life
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bananaguard454
I love how Elton John has no ego when it comes to supporting modern artists. What a legend.
@standingelton6375
banana guard, My boy is very humble!!! 🙏✌❤
@nicholaskitto7819
Not only that, but he gives the other artist the first lines. Classy.
@brandondewitt670
Exactly
@bernicegaze3354
He hardly has anything to prove, why should he?
@mav9985
Elton always supporting new / up and coming artists . Legend
@sophiabirch
Olly is going to smash it at Eurovision 2024 🇬🇧❤️
@hayleydee9146
He so will
@meg5323
I'm so happy that Olly's representing us in Eurovision!!! Such a talented performer ❤🇬🇧
@hayleydee9146
Same he's going to do so great get us that win we need