Your Song – Elton John | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#8) & Adult Contemporary (#9); 1970

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

The former Reginald Dwight honed his performing skills playing piano for Bluesology (eventually hired by Long John Baldry as his backing band) and soloing at a London hotel bar.

By the time Reginald met lyricist Bernie Taupin, he’d morphed into Elton John, from Bluesology sax man Elton Dean and Baldry himself.

Elton had moonlighted by recording cover versions of current hits, and he now moved more toward originals penned by Bernie and himself. Elton also did session work, singing backup for Tom Jones on Delilah and Daughter Of Darkness, and playing piano on the Hollies‘ He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.

Then on August 25, 1970 Elton turned in an incendiary performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles before the cream of the rock press, who helped spread the word about the new sensation.

Soon Elton was on the radio with his own hit, Your Song, which Bernie wrote from the standpoint of someone who, unlike himself, has never expressed himself lyrically before.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Gus Dudgeon

Lyrics Written by:

• Elton John
• Bernie Taupin