A theory on the song "Levon" by Elton John

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mlevon.html

I was reading over this and agree with it. I may be reading further into it than I should, and I know songs should be read any way the listener feels they should, but I assume that Levon is not only the name of the man but also a play on words.

I think the man Levon is a religious man, which is spoken to me through the line:

“He calls his child Jesus
`Cause he likes the name”

You could say he might just like the name Jesus, and it might not have anything to do with Jesus Christ at all, but then the song also makes the reference to God in the following line:

“When the New York Times said God is dead”

You may wonder while I put all that, but it backs up my theory. I think Levon is used as a play on words, because most times it is used during the song it is right after the word: be.

Together the two words are: Be Levon, which sounds a lot like “Believe On”. To me it makes sense, because Levon is clearly a good man in a world of war and blasphemy to the God he chooses to believe in. His son, whom he named Jesus, wants to leave him alone to die away slowly. Yet, he shall be Levon…

Do you see what I mean???

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I’m not sure how it fits in, but I have to agree that every time I hear the song (and I’ve heard it several hundred times so far) I always think the lines “And he will be Levon / And he will be a good man” might be “And he will believe on / And he will be a good man.” In fact, the second interpretation makes a little more sense.

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Yeah, that’s what I’m mainly saying. I was just trying to think of a reason for Believe On to fit in. So I assume he might be a religious man in a world turning away from religion. Yet, he will believe on. Of course I’ll never be certain of the true meaning behind it.