I had a strange medley playing in my head yesterday … the song I posted last night, Reach Out I’ll Be There, by the Four Tops, and this one … Tiny Dancer by Elton John. The two intertwined, almost but not quite making an entirely new song. I purged the first by posting it last night, and so now I am sharing the second in hopes of opening my head for … what??? Who knows? New songs, new experiences, enlightenment or illusion?
The lyrics, written by Bernie Taupin, were inspired by Taupin’s first visit to the US in 1970, and were intended to capture the spirit of California, where he found the women he met highly contrasted with those who he had known in his home country of England. A common misconception is that the song’s lyrics were about Taupin’s first wife, Maxine Feibelman. Taupin has stated that this wasn’t true, and that the belief came about due to the song being dedicated to Feibelman on the original album.
Due to the song’s lengthy run time and lack of a hook, Tiny Dancer was initially a non-starter as a single in the US, reaching only #41 on the U.S. pop chart, and was not even released as a single in the UK. Eventually, the song slowly became one of John’s most popular songs even in the territories that initially failed to embrace it.
Tiny Dancer
Elton John
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you’ll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she’s in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you’ll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she’s in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Songwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton John
Tiny Dancer lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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The words must seem like there is much more stpry behind them…
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As is the case with much music. I am very much a literalist, so interpretation is not my strong suit. I expect a book, poem or song to say what it means and mean what it says, not to leave me to my own devices to figure it out. 😉
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Boy I can’t type worth a crumb late at night! 🙈
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I can’t type late at night either … or early in the morning … or mid-afternoon! 😉
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😂Thanks for the empathy. 😀
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Jill, this song reminds me of the bus scene in the movie “Almost Famous,” where the band and followers ease tension by singing this song to the radio. It was the best scene in the movie. Keith
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I fear I must show my ignorance here, for I’ve never heard of that movie! I’ll have to check out the IMDB on it. Glad you liked the song!
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Jill, it is a nostalgic movie with a family surrounding the band. The key story one is a very youthful writer on assignment for the Rolling Stone and his friendship with one of the groupies. He befriends the lead guitarist who she fancies. Keith
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I LOVED that movie and this is one of my all time favourite songs. It is exquisite.
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Oh THOSE are the words! I love all of classic Elton’s songs, but I can never understand the lyrics. And even when I know what they are, I don’t really understand them!
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I am so happy to know that there is somebody else in this world that never quite hears the lyrics right! I usually just make up whatever comes to mind, and it’s led to some hysterical laughter by my musician daughter! And I’m like you, some I don’t understand anyway, so I just revert back to my own made-up ones that at least made sense to me!
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Eschudel, so true. He is a frequent guest on the misunderstood lyrics website called “Kissthisguy” in tribute to Jimi Hendrix’ misunderstood lyric. This song in particular is represented as “hold me closer Tony Danza,” after the TV actor. I think John Fogarty of CCR is also a frequent guest with my personal favorite – “there’s a bathroom on the right.” Keith
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You’ve only got to play Queen now and you’ve pretty much covered my likes.Well, you’ll be on the way to doing so as there’s still a lot of Motown to go and of course the Stax label with Private Number by William Bell and Judy Clay and not sure what label but what about Kiss and Say Goodbye by the Manhattens?
You’re a star
Cwtch
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Queen, eh? I’ll see what I can do … 😉 Yes, there is still a lot of Motown … thankfully I shouldn’t run out of songs anytime soon! And thank you … I don’t believe I’ve ever been called a star before! 😊
Cwtch
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