I read your remarks regarding who is Alvin Tostig in the song Levon by Elton John. My question is a bit deeper. Is there not some religious implications to this song??? Not only the name Jesus… but “being born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day and the Wars begun”…“and he shall be a good man” … and the verse where “Jesus, he wants to go to Venus… leaving Levon far behind”… “while Levon slowly dies”.
I would like the interpretation of this song. I have always thought it had to do with the Anti-Christ. Maybe I’m reading a bit too much into it, and if so what was Elton’s story/inspiration for this song?
Tam
Here are the lyrics as posted by dp:
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the album Madman Across The Water
Levon wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus
`Cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spend his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas day
When the New York Times said God is dead
And the war’s begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
© 1971 Dick James Music Limited
Libertarian gives an interesting interpretation, but one that doesn’t really work for me. In fact, as much as I love the song, the lyrics don’t work for me. If Taupin* was actually trying to say something, he obviouly failed since no one knows what the heck he’s talking about. Finally, unlike stuff by, say, Dylan or Leonard Cohen, the lyrics aren’t strong enough to stand on their own all meaning aside.
Still, I love that song!
*Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics and Elton John wrote the music for almost all of John’s recordings. They were two completely separate creative efforts done in different places at different times, hence the significance of the title “Two Rooms” for the cover album. Taupin had no idea what John was going to do with his words and John had almost no discussions with Taupin about the meaning of his lyrics while he ws working on the music.