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)
Better Off Dead
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And just enough time for the night to pass by without warning
Away in the distance there's a blue flashing light
Someone's in trouble somewhere tonight
As the flickering neon stands ready to fuse
The wind blows away all of yesterday's news
Well they've locked up their daughters and they battened the hatches
Through the grease streaked window of an all night cafe
We watched the arrested get taken away
And that cigarette haze has ecology beat
As the whores and the drunks file in from the street
'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire
If you ask how I am, then I'll just say inspired
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
Then you're better off dead, if you haven't yet died
'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire
If you ask how I am, then I'll just say inspired
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
Then you're better off dead, if you haven't yet died
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
Better off dead, better of dead
The lyrics of Elton John's song "Better Off Dead" depict a night of rebellion and risk-taking in an urban environment. The first verse describes a drawing on a billboard, perhaps a symbol of the temporary nature of modern life, and the blue flashing light of unknown danger in the distance. The second verse describes the thrill of breaking rules and evading authority figures, as seen from the perspective of a cafe with a window smeared with grease. The third verse contains the repeated refrain, in which the singer firmly asserts their vitality and willingness to take risks, even if it means facing danger or uncertainty. The phrase "better off dead" is repeated several times, suggesting that living a safe and predictable life is not desirable.
One interpretation of these lyrics is that they reflect the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when young people embraced experimentation, rebellion, and nonconformity. The images of neon lights, cigarettes, and all-night cafes suggest a world outside of conventional society, where people can express themselves freely and take risks. The repeated refrain underscores the sense of defiance and willingness to face danger that define this world.
Another interpretation of these lyrics is that they express a more general human desire for adventure and excitement. The repetition of the phrase "better off dead" could be seen as a comment on the ennui and boredom that can arise from a life without challenge or risk. By contrast, the night of rebellion and risk-taking depicted in the song represents a way of life that is rich with meaning and vitality, even if it is not always safe or predictable.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a face on a hoarding that someone had drawn on
A graffiti caught my attention on an advertising billboard.
And just enough time for the night to pass by without warning
The night was uneventful and went by quickly.
Away in the distance there's a blue flashing light
A police car with its flashing lights can be seen far away.
Someone's in trouble somewhere tonight
There's someone who is experiencing trouble somewhere out there.
As the flickering neon stands ready to fuse
The neon lights are flickering and may soon burn out.
The wind blows away all of yesterday's news
The wind is blowing, and yesterday's news is quickly becoming irrelevant.
Well they've locked up their daughters and they battened the hatches
People are taking precautions and locking themselves inside their homes.
They always could find us but they never could catch us
Despite attempts to locate us, we always manage to evade being caught.
Through the grease streaked window of an all night cafe
From inside a cafe with dirty windows that's open all night,
We watched the arrested get taken away
We observed the arrest of someone being taken into custody.
And that cigarette haze has ecology beat
Cigarette smoke is so thick that it overshadows the environment's pollution.
As the whores and the drunks file in from the street
Prostitutes and inebriated people are flocking in from the street.
'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire
Referring to being ready for action and on top of things.
If you ask how I am, then I'll just say inspired
I'm feeling inspired and motivated.
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
If a minor problem is causing you aggravation,
Then you're better off dead, if you haven't yet died
You're better off quitting than enduring the aggravation.
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
It's better to put an end to unpleasant situations before they become unbearable.
Better off dead, better off dead, better off dead
It is better to quit when things become too challenging.
Better off dead, better off dead
It's better to be dead than to have to persist through enduring hardship.
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.....