Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Lyrics: Friend or Foe?
As I mentioned in the famous "list" blog, I've recently purchsed Elton John's 2 disc Greatest Hits album, which is, for lack of a better word, amazing. But while Jimmy Buffet has "Songs You Know By Heart" (and I really do), this album is more like "Songs You Think Are The Jam When You Hear Them But Only Know 47% Of The Words To." Emily and I were rocking out all the way home from our road trip to VA last weekend...47% of the time. The rest of the time, we were inclining our ears and asking, "What's he saying there?"
The song brought into question lyrically on Sunday was "Rocket Man." I considered looking up the words. I know I could Google them. I KNOW my mom could Google them (she's the internet research Queen, all hail). But I think I'd rather stay in the dark on this one. It's much more fun to sing it this way, and I believe Sir Elton could actually relate:
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Til touchdown brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at all
Oh no no no
I'm a rocket man
ROCKET MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN
Burning all the shoes I've ever owned
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
I mean, you know that man's got a lot of shoes. It's gonna be a long long time.
Some of my other favorite mis-heard lyrics include:
Gimme the Beach Boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll
After all the fla..fleeflaa
We keep coming back to these 2 hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall
I believe in miracles
Where you from, you Mexican?
It was very clarifying, however, for me to learn that Elton John has never written his own lyrics. This clears up a lot about why such a flaming man sings so many songs about women. I, for one, am relieved to know that "Tiny Dancer" is not some sicko pedophillic lust ballad, referring to a little boy as "she." Although to be completely honest, I think the song is much more entertaining if you sing it like Emily Furr does: "Hold me closer, Tony Danza." Just let that mental image simmer in your brain for about 23 seconds. It's funny.
The song brought into question lyrically on Sunday was "Rocket Man." I considered looking up the words. I know I could Google them. I KNOW my mom could Google them (she's the internet research Queen, all hail). But I think I'd rather stay in the dark on this one. It's much more fun to sing it this way, and I believe Sir Elton could actually relate:
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Til touchdown brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at all
Oh no no no
I'm a rocket man
ROCKET MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN
Burning all the shoes I've ever owned
And I think it's gonna be a long long time
I mean, you know that man's got a lot of shoes. It's gonna be a long long time.
Some of my other favorite mis-heard lyrics include:
Gimme the Beach Boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll
After all the fla..fleeflaa
We keep coming back to these 2 hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall
I believe in miracles
Where you from, you Mexican?
It was very clarifying, however, for me to learn that Elton John has never written his own lyrics. This clears up a lot about why such a flaming man sings so many songs about women. I, for one, am relieved to know that "Tiny Dancer" is not some sicko pedophillic lust ballad, referring to a little boy as "she." Although to be completely honest, I think the song is much more entertaining if you sing it like Emily Furr does: "Hold me closer, Tony Danza." Just let that mental image simmer in your brain for about 23 seconds. It's funny.
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fyi: http://www.eltonography.com/songs/
I have actually Googled the lyrics before, because cutie pie Jason Mraz also covers this song, and one day Brooke and I like HAD to know the words. But I forget them. Something about burning up on his own something alone.
AND, if you recall your Elton John history, he did not come out until the '80s, so some of these songs were towards women. (Someone Saved My Life Tonight is about someone talking him out of a marriage.)
Right now, I am in love with I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues. THE best. I own this CD as well, if you can't tell. I heart Elton.
AND, if you recall your Elton John history, he did not come out until the '80s, so some of these songs were towards women. (Someone Saved My Life Tonight is about someone talking him out of a marriage.)
Right now, I am in love with I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues. THE best. I own this CD as well, if you can't tell. I heart Elton.
Elton, oh Sir Elton, how could you have fooled me for so long? You're not the master lyricist I took you for?!?! My heart still cries over this realization. I curse you, Bernie Taupin! How could you, Elton? How could you?!...
At least I still have Billy Joel... dear sweet Billy with the nightmare hairstyles. Please keep it in that semi-Caesar/buzz cut style so my heart is not broken again. Be true to me, my only Piano Man...
At least I still have Billy Joel... dear sweet Billy with the nightmare hairstyles. Please keep it in that semi-Caesar/buzz cut style so my heart is not broken again. Be true to me, my only Piano Man...
I must say you have highly entertained me while I have eaten my lunch and prepare for the following:
2nd grade, multi-age, third grade, first grade, third grade, then first again. yeah, in that order.
So thanks for the breather beth :)
2nd grade, multi-age, third grade, first grade, third grade, then first again. yeah, in that order.
So thanks for the breather beth :)
www.leoslyrics.com is my favorite site for figuring out those hard to understand lyrics. Unfortunately, I think they're wrong sometimes. For example...
"And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home.
Oh, no, no, no,
I'm a rocket man,
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone."
It's gotta be about the shoes, right?
"And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home.
Oh, no, no, no,
I'm a rocket man,
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone."
It's gotta be about the shoes, right?
You don't wear shoes in space.