According to a reply about the origin of Alvin Tostig in Elton John’s song “Levon”, lyricist Bernie Taupin’s family origin was incorrectly attributed to Wessex. Two things: The general area known as Wessex (roughly encompassing modern-day Wiltshire, Somerset, Hampshire, and Dorset)was a kingdom of ancient Britain and now exists in memory only. (Occasionally, the term is used as a catch-all, but geopolitically speaking Wessex is defunct.) Secondly, and more importantly, Taupin was raised in Lincolnshire, a county on the eastern side of England, quite some distance away. The Tostig name may well have been entrenched in the young Bernie’s mind from his readings in history, but not because he shared a common ancestral home with any earls, dukes, or lords bearing the name of Wessex.
What? Is this answering a question?
The mailbag item being referenced is “In the Elton John song “Levon,” who is Alvin Tostig? (24-Mar-2000)”.
You might also be interested in these two threads in this forum:
Thanks AW, you always come through.
one of the links Arnold posted doesn’t seem to work - here’s my attempt: He was born a pauper to a pawn
jti, swords and daggers at dawn!
My link works for me. Maybe your mouse clicker is being temperamental?
swords & daggers? I prefer pikes and spears, but does it have to come to that?
last night, when I was using Explorer, I kept getting a “404 error message - not found” everytime I clicked on your link (and, I clicked on it several times, muttering “Arnold always makes good links.”)
Tonight, on Netscape, your link works fine. We’ll just have to blame Bill.
Links work OK this morning. I can’t believe the Teeming Millions would expend this much psychological energy on correcting the historical details in a pop song.
But then, I guess that’s what makes a Teemster, a Teemster. And look at me, here I am, posting.
May we assume that Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, is still dead? Or should we wait for a Weekend Update?
Apology accepted. Let me point out however that d’Artagnan, the hero of the Three Musketeers, would have died rather than issue an apology.
yeah, and look what it got him: a duel with Athos at 11 a.m., a duel with Porthos at noon, a duel with Aramis at 1 p.m…
Besides, I opted for pikes and spears because they were so effective the last time against Herr von Winkelreid. 
Do we really want to go there again?
jti: NOW I get it. LMAO! That was a good one. It makes the golden scroll of “best rejoinders to one of my posts.”