There is a story to the lyrics of this song that is deeper than the song can convey but I get it. Excellent song request! Please people, don't miss the incredible musicianship for the complicated lyrics! I bought this record when I was a teenager and it stands the test of time! This album brings back some great memories, thanks MM! 👍
I never tried too hard to figure it out but got the sense that poor Jesus was stuck with his money counting father wishing to get away to Venus perhaps flying up to the sky on the balloons he blew up all day. It’s a song of being trapped and using your imagination to escape and make like liveable. It’s a sad song to me.
In Susan Black’s book, Elton John in His Own Words, Elton says of Levon: “It’s about a guy who just gets bored doing the same thing. It’s just somebody who gets bored with blowing up balloons and he just wants to get away from it but he can’t because it’s the family ritual.” (thanks, Alexander - London, England)
Its not confusing, you overthought it, TEEN ANGST that's It. He had Levon and was SO PROUD, but Levon grew up wishing his dad would just die (metaphorically speaking), and wanted to fly away on his Cartoon Balloon to Venus to get the hell away from his dad. So, Dads have sons and are OVERJOYED, sons grow up to be Rebellious, LOL. Trying to hard to understand a song can make it seem bad. I learned to never read lyrics on my first listen to anything, just go with it.
I think it’s about a clash of generations & values-his dad’s older conservative one, influenced by living through the war in Europe, vs Jesus’ Bohemian, artistic nature which rejects capitalism & materialism. My hunch is that Jesus is probably Elton here. I can identify with this song
Elton John exists in two music worlds His pop side and his other side which this is one of them This also had great orchestration by the late Paul Buckmaster I see you did Philadelphia Freedom which was his pop side This album Madman Across The Water Is my favorite Elton album because of the songs arrangements and Bernie Taupins deep lyrics He definitely wasn't rhyming moon and June This albums also has Tiny Dancer on it which I think you reviewed The lyrics are straight forward about a family and how money can sometimes cause issues The line New Yor Times said God is dead I think was from an article they published Obviously you can imagine hoe that was received in the early 70's The name Levon was the name of the dummer from the group The Band which Elton and Bernie idolized at the time I will admitt this sing is complicated but sometimes those are the songs you cheerish more than a song that you immediately like Sometimes you will tite of them because you heard everything it could give with the first listen With more complicated songs you hear something new or inspiring with each listen Ive3heard this song literally hundreds of times and I am still in awe of it
Bernie Taupin can write inscrutably, so you won't be the only one who may have had trouble parsing the lyrics. I tend to listen to music and arrangement, and I'll take the lyrics; really liked the arrangement with the strings.
You should be so happy I’m not one of your friends. I would make you listen to this song a hundred times and explain every word and every nuance until you loved it!!!!!! Thank you for sharing ☮️❤️
He *definitely* used strings after this album. He just never had a fully-orchestrated studio album again. Stand-out songs with orchestral arrangements post-Madman include "Have Mercy on the Criminal", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Harmony", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Tonight", "One Horse Town", "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", "Madness", "Carla/Etude", "Chloe", "Blue Eyes", "One More Arrow", "Belfast", and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore".
Alvin is Levon's father, who i suspect is much like Levon because it says Levon will be a good man in tradition with the family plan. it also talks about the family business thriving. my interpretation is that Levon is probably a pretty neglectful father who only really cares about money. Jesus wishes like the balloons he makes he could float away to Venus, or anywhere really, to get away from his father partly because he's neglectful and partly because he doesn't want to end up on the same family trajectory. the reference to the NY Times saying God is Dead was a popular and controversial issue from the magazine in the 60s so its pretty much just referencing the time period Levon was born in. could be why he chose to name his son Jesus lol i know you did this video a while ago but i just watched it, and thought i'd breakdown what i thought the song was about.
Love to see a reaction to other less known Elton John songs, including this one (The Ballad of Danny Bailey). Here's a link I found to one with lyrics: ruclips.net/video/Qft0LAnsOq8/видео.html
There is a story to the lyrics of this song that is deeper than the song can convey but I get it. Excellent song request! Please people, don't miss the incredible musicianship for the complicated lyrics! I bought this record when I was a teenager and it stands the test of time! This album brings back some great memories, thanks MM! 👍
Man I haven't heard this song in forever! One of my faves by Elton!
I never tried too hard to figure it out but got the sense that poor Jesus was stuck with his money counting father wishing to get away to Venus perhaps flying up to the sky on the balloons he blew up all day. It’s a song of being trapped and using your imagination to escape and make like liveable. It’s a sad song to me.
Very good song. Elton’s a genius.
My favorite Elton song...
a fantastic song with a bittersweet story about a father and son.
A song about a father(Alvin Tostig), a son (Levon Tostig), and a grandson (Jesus Tostig).
Elton was my Prince in the 70s. This song is his Purple Rain; a song like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road being his Beautiful Ones. lol
In Susan Black’s book, Elton John in His Own Words, Elton says of Levon: “It’s about a guy who just gets bored doing the same thing. It’s just somebody who gets bored with blowing up balloons and he just wants to get away from it but he can’t because it’s the family ritual.” (thanks, Alexander - London, England)
One of my old time favorites by Elton. His music will never get old and tiresome, just better.
Great album front to back.
Its not confusing, you overthought it, TEEN ANGST that's It. He had Levon and was SO PROUD, but Levon grew up wishing his dad would just die (metaphorically speaking), and wanted to fly away on his Cartoon Balloon to Venus to get the hell away from his dad. So, Dads have sons and are OVERJOYED, sons grow up to be Rebellious, LOL.
Trying to hard to understand a song can make it seem bad. I learned to never read lyrics on my first listen to anything, just go with it.
Bernie Taupin's lyrics, as usual, are just fantastic! Elton's music, of course, weave with the lyrics perfectly!
The lyrics don't always matter !! It's the vibe .....
I think it’s about a clash of generations & values-his dad’s older conservative one, influenced by living through the war in Europe, vs Jesus’ Bohemian, artistic nature which rejects capitalism & materialism. My hunch is that Jesus is probably Elton here. I can identify with this song
Elton John exists in two music worlds His pop side and his other side which this is one of them This also had great orchestration by the late Paul Buckmaster I see you did Philadelphia Freedom which was his pop side
This album Madman Across The Water Is my favorite Elton album because of the songs arrangements and Bernie Taupins deep lyrics He definitely wasn't rhyming moon and June This albums also has Tiny Dancer on it which I think you reviewed
The lyrics are straight forward about a family and how money can sometimes cause issues The line New Yor Times said God is dead I think was from an article they published Obviously you can imagine hoe that was received in the early 70's The name Levon was the name of the dummer from the group The Band which Elton and Bernie idolized at the time
I will admitt this sing is complicated but sometimes those are the songs you cheerish more than a song that you immediately like Sometimes you will tite of them because you heard everything it could give with the first listen With more complicated songs you hear something new or inspiring with each listen Ive3heard this song literally hundreds of times and I am still in awe of it
I used to hate this song when I was young, but over time grew to appreciate it as epic
Bernie Taupin can write inscrutably, so you won't be the only one who may have had trouble parsing the lyrics. I tend to listen to music and arrangement, and I'll take the lyrics; really liked the arrangement with the strings.
You should be so happy I’m not one of your friends. I would make you listen to this song a hundred times and explain every word and every nuance until you loved it!!!!!! Thank you for sharing ☮️❤️
More Elton John, please!
Elton John/Come Down In Time from the album called Tumbleweed Connection
Elton is 🔥
💖💖💖
One of the things I like about this song is the strings. I don't believe Elton used them again after this album.
He *definitely* used strings after this album. He just never had a fully-orchestrated studio album again.
Stand-out songs with orchestral arrangements post-Madman include "Have Mercy on the Criminal", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Harmony", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Tonight", "One Horse Town", "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", "Madness", "Carla/Etude", "Chloe", "Blue Eyes", "One More Arrow", "Belfast", and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore".
Me not too concerned with meaning of lyrics... thank you for this reaction video.
Alvin is Levon's father, who i suspect is much like Levon because it says Levon will be a good man in tradition with the family plan. it also talks about the family business thriving. my interpretation is that Levon is probably a pretty neglectful father who only really cares about money. Jesus wishes like the balloons he makes he could float away to Venus, or anywhere really, to get away from his father partly because he's neglectful and partly because he doesn't want to end up on the same family trajectory. the reference to the NY Times saying God is Dead was a popular and controversial issue from the magazine in the 60s so its pretty much just referencing the time period Levon was born in. could be why he chose to name his son Jesus lol i know you did this video a while ago but i just watched it, and thought i'd breakdown what i thought the song was about.
Love to see a reaction to other less known Elton John songs, including this one (The Ballad of Danny Bailey). Here's a link I found to one with lyrics: ruclips.net/video/Qft0LAnsOq8/видео.html
This song soars, just like Jesus with his balloons.
Elton named his son Levon! Middle name maybe?
That Elton John song was javon I'm sure
Not every song has to have a specific meaning or make sense, and a lot don’t. And that’s ok 🙂
Over your head
It's about an abused child. Come on.