Today’s classic song of the day is “Your Song” by Elton John. Released in October of 1970, this one went to #8 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.
Like most of Elton’s big songs (and all of that era), “Your Song” had music by Mr. John and words by his compatriot, Bernie Taupin. The song was originally recorded, as an album track, by Three Dog Night, for whom Elton was opening for at the time. They let Elton release it as a single, however, although his label initially slotted it as the B-side of “Take Me to the Pilot.” To all our benefit, DJs across the country and around the world flipped the single, making “Your Song” the de facto A-side and turning it into Mr. John’s first major hit. The song also propelled Elton’s self-titled second album (after 1969’s Empty Sky) up the charts, peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
“Your Song” is a sweet and sincere little song about the protagonist trying to find the right words to express his love. It’s self-deprecating charm is evident in its somewhat-awkward lyrics:
It’s a little bit funny
This feelin’ 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 travellin’ show, oh
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
Here’s what Bernie Taupin remembers about writing the lyrics:
“On Monday morning, October 27, 1969, Sheila [Elton’s mother] fried up a couple of eggs, slotted in some toast, and brewed three cups of tea while I wrote something called ‘Your Song.’ I don’t think it took me more than 10 minutes, but its eventual melodic accompaniment and release would traverse decades, becoming our signature song and, in the minds of many, our first bona fide classic.”
“Your Song” is one of Elton’s most popular tunes, which is saying something, given how many hits he’s had over the decades. It was the perfect way to introduce the world to a guy who would became a huge and hugely influential artist—along with his extremely talented lyric-writing partner.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the original 1970 promo video for “Your Song.” It’s a bit amateurish, but that just makes it more endearing.
