I just read a thread looking for insight on EJ/BT’s song “Levon” and it reminded me of another question - what happened to Daniel? I remember reading an article where Bernie Taupin said that somebody (a record exec? their producer Gus Dudgeon?) thought the song needed to be tighter so they cut off the last stanza and “it was really too bad, because it tied everything together”.
I haven’t checked Google, so am aware of the risk of getting Dope-slapped for not doing my homework, but I did search the SDMB…
So - Why does Daniel have scars and why is he headed to Spain? (or “Spay-ee-ay-ee-ain” for those of you who pronounce things like Mr. Dwight does…)
Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tailed eyes heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
They say Spain is pretty though I’ve never been there
Well Daniel says it’s the best place that he’s ever seen
Oh and he should know, he’s been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much
Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won’t heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you’re a star in the face of the sky
Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tailed eyes heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Well, I guess Elton John just doesn’t want us to know.
Oops, only scanned your question. I wish the Elton John FAQ would say what Rocket Man is about. I was working in Congress when it was released, and we thought it could be about a Congressman. Mars would represent Washington DC, and after that it’d make perfect sense.
I seem to remember hearing it stated categorically that Rocket Man was taken from Ray Bradbury’s sci-fi stories. It does have pretty much the same atmos. See, for example, “No Particular Night Or Morning”.