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)
captain fantastic
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just someone his mother might know
Very clearly a case for Corn Flakes and classics
"Two teas both with sugar please"
In the back of an alley
While little dirt cowboys turned brown in their saddles
Sweet chocolate biscuits and red rosy apples in summer
Are there chances in life for little dirt cowboys
Should I make my way out of my home in the woods"
Brown Dirt Cowboy, still green and growing
City slick Captain
Fantastic the feedback
The honey, the hive could be holding
For there's weak winged young sparrows that starve in the winter
Broken young children on the wheels of the winners
And the sixty-eight summer festival wallflowers are thinning
For cheap easy meals, hardly a home on the range
Too hot for the band with a desperate desire for change
We've thrown in the towel too many times
Out for the count and when we're down
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
From the end of the world to your town
And all this talk of Jesus coming back to see us
Mmm mmm couldn't fool us
For we were spinning out our lines walking on the wire
Hand in hand went music and the rhyme
The Captain and the Kid stepping in the ring
From here on sonny sonny sonny, it's a long and lonely climb
For cheap easy meals, hardly a home on the range
Too hot for the band with a desperate desire for change
We've thrown in the towel too many times
Out for the count and when we're down
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
From the end of the world to your town
We've thrown in the towel too many times
Out for the count and when we're down
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
From the end of the world to your town
The song "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" by Elton John is a tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter's early career struggles. Captain Fantastic refers to Elton John himself while Brown Dirt Cowboy represents his long-time collaborator and lyricist Bernie Taupin. In the first verse, Elton sings about their humble beginnings when they were living in London and trying to make a name for themselves in the music industry. As Taupin once said, "We lived on the Corn Flake end of the spectrum," indicating their poverty and struggles to get by.
The second verse portrays the message of the song - the difficult journey to become successful and achieve their dreams. The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Taupin) is still young and inexperienced whereas Captain Fantastic (John) is more experienced but still struggling to make ends meet. They dream of breaking free from their mundane lives of cheap meals and small gigs in the back alleys of London. The last verse brings up the social issues of poverty and neglect. The song speaks to the modern themes of resilience and striving against the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Captain Fantastic, raised and regimented, hardly a hero
The main character is Captain Fantastic, who was brought up in an organized and disciplined way but doesn't see himself as a hero.
Just someone his mother might know
Captain Fantastic is not a famous person, only recognizable to his own mother.
Very clearly a case for Corn Flakes and classics
Captain Fantastic is a normal person who typically eats bland breakfast cereal and listens to traditional music.
"Two teas both with sugar please"
Captain Fantastic orders his preferred hot beverages at a cafe or restaurant.
In the back of an alley
Captain Fantastic and friends gather covertly in a secluded spot.
While little dirt cowboys turned brown in their saddles
Other kids ride horses and spend time outside, becoming well-tanned from the sun.
Sweet chocolate biscuits and red rosy apples in summer
Captain Fantastic recalls nostalgic childhood foods that are associated with warm weather and happiness.
For it's hay make and "Hey mom, do the papers say anything good
Captain Fantastic asks his mother if the local news contains any favorable opportunities for him.
Are there chances in life for little dirt cowboys
Captain Fantastic wonders if there are any promising paths for ordinary people to improve their lives.
Should I make my way out of my home in the woods"
Captain Fantastic considers leaving his rural upbringing behind to pursue a different lifestyle.
Brown Dirt Cowboy, still green and growing
The Brown Dirt Cowboy is another character who is young, inexperienced, and evolving.
City slick Captain
Captain Fantastic has adapted to urban life and culture.
Fantastic the feedback
Captain Fantastic is receiving constructive criticism about his work or performances.
The honey, the hive could be holding
There may be valuable resources or opportunities available, waiting to be discovered.
For there's weak winged young sparrows that starve in the winter
There are vulnerable individuals who struggle to survive during harsh times.
Broken young children on the wheels of the winners
Some young people are mistreated or exploited by the more powerful people in society.
And the sixty-eight summer festival wallflowers are thinning
The generation of hippies and social outcasts who flourished in the late 60s are aging and dwindling in number.
For cheap easy meals, hardly a home on the range
People live in low-quality housing and only eat basic, affordable food.
Too hot for the band with a desperate desire for change
The band members are uncomfortable with the current situation and want to make a difference, but it seems difficult or impossible.
We've thrown in the towel too many times
The characters have given up on their dreams and goals too easily in the past.
Out for the count and when we're down
In difficult situations, the characters are defeated and stay down, rather than fighting back.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
The two main characters are united and working together towards a shared goal.
From the end of the world to your town
Their mission is important and will have an impact from the global scale to the local level.
And all this talk of Jesus coming back to see us
Proliferating discussions of the Second Coming of Christ don't have any meaningful impact on the characters' lives.
Mmm mmm couldn't fool us
The characters can't be misled or swayed by religious hype, staying grounded in their own beliefs and experiences.
For we were spinning out our lines walking on the wire
The singers are taking risks and espousing unconventional ideas, like tightrope walkers.
Hand in hand went music and the rhyme
The combination of sound and lyrics is an essential part of the characters' art and message.
The Captain and the Kid stepping in the ring
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy are ready for a challenge or confrontation, like boxers entering a match.
From here on sonny sonny sonny, it's a long and lonely climb
The road ahead will be arduous and solitary, but the characters are up for the journey.
We've thrown in the towel too many times
The characters have a history of defeatism and resignation.
Out for the count and when we're down
Even when they are knocked out, the characters are determined to get back up and keep fighting.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
These two characters are an unstoppable team with an important mission to fulfill.
From the end of the world to your town
Their actions and impact will be felt globally as well as in their own community.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.....