♫ Your Song ♫ (Redux)

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I’m in the mood for some Elton tonight, so I hope you are too!

This was one of the first songs Elton John wrote with Bernie Taupin. They met after a record company gave Elton some of Taupin’s lyrics to work with. Eventually, they both moved into John’s parents’ house, where they started working together.

The song was written in 1967, when Bernie Taupin was 17 and Elton was 20. Both Elton John and Bernie Taupin agree that this is one of their best efforts. Said Taupin:

“I think ‘Your Song’ is a gem. Our classic, I’m not sure. I’ll let others decide that. But it’s like an old friend, it means so many things on equally as many levels. It’s certainly proved its worth, and I’ve heard it sung a million times. It’s like a good dog, it’s always there.”

Elton performs this at all his concerts. He once said of this song: “I don’t think I’ve written a love song as good since.” He has called it “A perfect song,” and says that the older he gets, the more the lyrics resonate with him.

In 1998, Your Song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2004, the song was placed at number 137 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, as well as in its 2010 list. The song is listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. A demo version was included in John’s 1990 box set album To Be Continued.

The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Ellie Goulding, whose version reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in late 2010, and Lady Gaga. The song was also covered by Ewan McGregor in the 2001 musical film Moulin Rouge! and by Taron Egerton in the 2019 film Rocketman. The song was eventually certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.

Your Song hit #8 in the U.S., #3 in Canada, and #7 in the UK.

Your Song
Elton John

It’s a little bit funny, this feeling inside
I’m not one of those who can easily hide
I don’t have much money, but, boy, if I did
I’d buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, heh, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song, and this one’s for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well, a few of the verses, well, they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do
You see, I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

So excuse me forgetting
But these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten
If they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Elton John / Bernie Taupin
Your Song lyrics © Dick James Music Ltd.

 

22 thoughts on “♫ Your Song ♫ (Redux)”

  2. One of the most beautiful, heartfelt songs ever written, from a fantastic album. I played it to death at the time. Did you know he re-recorded it in 2002 and it got to #4 here? On behalf of the British record buying public, may I apologise for the fact that we elevated the pathetic, insipid abomination of a cover by Ellie Goulding to #2 in our charts? Sadly, that’s the power of the John Lewis Christmas tv advertising at work, though it was a nice touch when they made Reg and his version the focal point of a subsequent campaign.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Ahhhhh … I can breathe easier now. After I promised you’d like today’s song better than “Yummy Yummy Yummy”, I was holding my breath, hoping I didn’t lie! No, I don’t think I knew he re-recorded it in 2002, or if I did I’ve forgotten (my mind seems to leak a lot these days).

      Hmmmm … I recall another UK reader/friend a few years ago mentioning the John Lewis Christmas ad … I remember it because here in the U.S., John Lewis was a Civil Rights hero who, incidentally, just died last year … and I thought surely your John Lewis wasn’t the same … he isn’t.

      Liked by 1 person

      • You were always on a winner for me with this one! The re-record wasn’t as good, to my taste, so you haven’t missed much. Yes, our John Lewis is a department store chain, who make spectacular Christmas tv ads. I think your John Lewis has made a greater mark on humanity, though.

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  5. Jill, great, great song. Per the movie “Rocket Man,” Elton wrote the tune while others were bantering about his parent’s house in just a few minutes. I don’t know if that is true, but it made for a good story. I used to sing it to my kids when putting them to sleep. It even made my terrible voice sound pretty good. Keith

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