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)
Your Sister Can't Twist
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to be stone sold on rhythm and blues
A heard of a place at the back of town
Where you really kick the shit when the sun goes down
I really got buzzed when your sister said
"Throw away them records 'cause the blues is dead
Let me take you honey, where the scene's on fire"
Oh your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Out bucks the broncos in the rodeo-do
She's only sixteen but it's plain to see
She can pull the wool over little old me
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she got more soul than me
Somebody help me 'cause the bug bit me
Now I'm in heaven with the aching feet
But I'll be back tonight where the music plays
And your sister rocks all my blues away
I really got buzzed when your sister said
"Throw away them records 'cause the blues is dead
Let me take you honey, where the scene's on fire"
And tonight I learned for certain that the blues expired
Oh your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Out bucks the broncos in the rodeo-do
She's only sixteen but it's plain to see
She can pull the wool over little old me
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she got more soul than me
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Out bucks the broncos in the rodeo-do
She's only sixteen but it's plain to see
She can pull the wool over little old me
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she got more soul than me
In the song "Your Sister Can't Twist," Elton John sings about his experiences in a gritty blues nightclub with a girl and her sister. The lyrics describe his fascination with the scene and his attraction to the sister who can't dance the twist but can rock and roll. Elton's passion for rhythm and blues is evident, as he references his past love for the genre, which is now "dead." Instead, he's found a new energy in the rock and roll scene at this particular nightclub.
The song is a nostalgic look back at a bygone era when blues and rock and roll music were the dominant sound of the times. The lyrics are filled with references to the culture of that era, such as the rodeo-do and the scene being "on fire." Elton describes his excitement at being in this new environment and getting lost in the music. He even admits to being bitten by the bug and having aching feet, showing just how much he was into the experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I could really get off being in your shoes
I envy your life and experiences
I used to be stone sold on rhythm and blues
I used to solely enjoy rhythm and blues music
A heard of a place at the back of town
I heard about a hidden location in town
Where you really kick the shit when the sun goes down
Where you can really have a good time when it's dark outside
I really got buzzed when your sister said
I got excited when your sister exclaimed
"Throw away them records 'cause the blues is dead
"Stop listening to old music because it's no longer relevant"
Let me take you honey, where the scene's on fire"
"Let me take you to an exciting place with great music"
And tonight I learned for certain that the blues expired
Tonight I realized that blues music is no longer popular
Oh your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister is not a good dancer, but she enjoys rock and roll music
Out bucks the broncos in the rodeo-do
She dances energetically like the bucking bulls in a rodeo
She's only sixteen but it's plain to see
Although she is young, it's clear that she has talent and joy for dancing
She can pull the wool over little old me
She can easily deceive and trick me with her dancing skill
Your sister can't twist but she got more soul than me
Even though I'm a music expert, your sister has more passion and talent
Somebody help me 'cause the bug bit me
I need someone's help because I've become addicted to this new music
Now I'm in heaven with the aching feet
Even though my feet hurt, I'm enjoying myself so much that I feel like I'm in heaven
But I'll be back tonight where the music plays
I plan to return to the place with great music tonight
And your sister rocks all my blues away
Your sister's dancing makes me forget all of my blues and worries
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tony Saunders
"Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock n Roll)"
I could really get off being in your shoes
I used to be stone sold on rhythm and blues
A heard of a place at the back of town
Where you really kick the shit when the sun goes down
I really got buzzed when your sister said
"Throw away them records `cause the blues is dead
Let me take you honey where the scene's on fire"
And tonight I learned for certain that the blues expired
Oh your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Out bucks the broncos in the rodeo-do
She's only sixteen but it's plain to see
She can pull the wool over little old me
Your sister can't twist but she can rock and roll
Your sister can't twist but she got more soul than me
Somebody help me `cause the bug bit me
Now I'm in heaven with the aching feet
But I'll be back tonight where the music plays
And your sister rocks all my blues away
I really got buzzed when your sister said
"Throw away them records `cause the blues is dead
Let me take you honey where the scene's on fire"
And tonight I learned for certain that the blues expired
Dr. Siladitya Ray. SUBSCRIBE. JOIN
This is arguably the best album ever to come out from the Western World ! It's unbeatable and priceless !
Cindy Van Camp
Absolutely...!
Michael Cusumano
some real great songs..they were all in a groove...cheers !!!
Todd Paddack
AGREED. Hard to compete with Elton John and Bernie Taupin at the apex of their collaboration... just a stellar album across so many different sounds...
maestro h
Back in college a friend of mine was bored. So he broke into my locker and sat on the floor listening to my Walkman. This song was on the tape and it blew him away.
william Dufrain
I've listened to this entire vinyl album so many times I get ready for Saturday Nights' Alright For Fighting. There's only a quick pause between songs. I think they go together.
Pibb99
When Elton performed this on tour a few years ago (saw him play it in 2014), it went right into Saturday Night's Alright...just like on the record!
musictattoo7
elton john !! unreal talent....still to this day puts of a fantastic live show !!
Tim McKeown
This song makes Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (which immediately follows on the album) seem like a waltz.
Bob The Bear
This is true. This song is at 1.5x the speed of that one.