Sir Elton John, the legendary musician, recently shared a deeply emotional experience he had while working on a new song. The song, which explores themes of mortality, proved to be so affecting that Sir Elton revealed he needed 45 minutes to compose himself after confronting his own life’s finite nature through the music.
During a candid conversation on BBC’s The Graham Norton Show, alongside collaborator Brandi Carlile, Sir Elton John discussed the poignant journey behind their upcoming release, “Who Believes In Angels?”, scheduled to release on April 4th. He recounted the moment Bernie Taupin, his long-time lyricist, presented him with the lyrics for a track titled “When This Whole World Is Done With Me.”
“Bernie Taupin gave me a lyric for a song called When This Whole World Is Done With Me, and I’m writing the verse (music) quite quickly, and I think this is a really lovely verse,” Sir Elton explained, detailing the initial stages of creating the song. He described how the seemingly beautiful verse quickly led him to a profound realization as he reached the chorus.
It was in the chorus that the weight of the lyrics truly hit Sir Elton. He realized the song was grappling with the heavy themes of his own death and demise. As a 76-year-old man, a father, and a husband, the lyrics forced him to confront his mortality in a way that deeply resonated with him, as reported by the Express.
“And then I get to the chorus, and I find that it’s about my death, my demise. And as a 76-year-old man, which I was at that time, and having children and having a husband, mortality, and you think about, ‘How long have I got? How long? I hope I’ve got much longer than maybe I’ve got [left]’.”
Sir Elton John and Brandi Carlile discuss new music on The Graham Norton Show
Sir Elton John’s Raw Emotion on Graham Norton’s Show
Sir Elton John vividly described the overwhelming emotion that washed over him as he sang the poignant words. “And so by the time I got to the chorus and suddenly realised that I started singing it (and) I lost it for 45 minutes. It was a very, very heavy moment for me,” he confessed, highlighting the intense personal impact of the song.
Despite the emotional upheaval, Sir Elton John demonstrated his professionalism and dedication to his art. He shared that after receiving consolation and support, he was able to return to the studio the very next day to record the song. He acknowledged the inherent challenge of performing a song that directly confronts the concept of life’s end.
“After 45 minutes of being consoled, I was okay, but I recorded the next day…when you’re singing about being washed out to sea and the end of your life, it took me by surprise,” Sir Elton stated, underscoring the unexpected emotional depth of the musical piece.
Reflecting on the creative process, Sir Elton John expressed his admiration for the song’s overall beauty and impact. “It’s a really lovely song. I did it all in one take the next day. I just came in and did its vocal and piano at the same time.” To further enhance the song’s emotional resonance, he incorporated a brass band, drawing inspiration from his long-held appreciation for their melancholic sound.
Sir Elton John reflects on mortality and life journey during interview
A Nostalgic Look Back and Future Reflections
Sir Elton John also touched upon the music video accompanying the single, revealing that it features nostalgic footage that prompted further reflection on his life journey. He admitted to a general aversion to revisiting his past image, stating, “I don’t really like looking at myself and going back in time.”
However, he confessed that watching the video a second time deeply moved him. “But the second time I watched that, I was really moved. It was, it was a journey from unhappiness and fame to epiphany and happiness and family and children.” He described the video as encapsulating the arc of his life, with its highs and lows, ultimately leading to a place of contentment.
“It’s that the arc of my life, which went down a bit, a lot,” he humorously added, “and then came back. It’s, it’s my life, and I was happy with it. Some of the footage I’d never seen.”
Fans eager to watch the full interview can find The Graham Norton Show available on BBC iPlayer. Sir Elton John’s openness about his emotional response to his new music offers a powerful glimpse into the personal depths of his artistry and his ongoing reflections on life and legacy.
