# Interpretation of Elton John's song Levon??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretation-of-elton-johns-song-levon/76199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 14, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretation-of-elton-johns-song-levon/76199 "2001-08-14T15:21:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tammy3306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@Tammy3306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tammy3306)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretation-of-elton-johns-song-levon/76199/1 "2001-08-14T15:21:13Z")

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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

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**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretation-of-elton-johns-song-levon/76199/2 "2001-08-14T15:26:58Z")

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[BAM!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=13993)

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**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpretation-of-elton-johns-song-levon/76199/3 "2001-08-14T20:48:38Z")

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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.