Sacrifice ( song ) - wikipedia Sacrifice ( song ) For other songs with the same title, see Sacrifice ( disambiguation ) § Songs. `` Sacrifice '' Single by Elton John from the album Sleeping with the Past A-side `` Healing Hands '' ( second release ) B - side `` Love Is a Cannibal '' ( first release ) Released October 1989 ( first release ) May 1990 ( second release ) Format CD, vinyl record ( 7 '' and 12 `` ), audio cassette Length 5 : 11 Label Rocket, MCA Songwriter ( s ) Elton John, Bernie Taupin Producer ( s ) Chris Thomas Elton John singles chronology `` Healing Hands '' ( 1989 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1989 ) `` Club at the End of the Street '' ( 1990 ) `` Healing Hands '' ( 1989 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1989 ) `` Club at the End of the Street '' ( 1990 ) `` Sacrifice '' is a ballad performed by musician Elton John. The lyrics are by Bernie Taupin and the music by John. The song appears on the 1989 album Sleeping with the Past. It was first released in October 1989, then in 1990, and was the second single from the album. It achieved success, particularly in France and the UK, where it became his first solo chart - topper, spending five weeks at the top. A country music cover of the song was performed by Don Henley and Vince Gill as part of the 2018 tribute album Restoration : Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Background and writing 1.2 Music video 1.3 Chart performance 2 Track listings 3 Charts and sales 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 3.3 Certifications and sales 4 Personnel 5 References 6 External links Overview Background and writing `` Sacrifice '' is inspired both by the Aretha Franklin song `` Do Right Woman, Do Right Man '' and described as a Percy Sledge song by Elton John. The song is beloved by both John and Bernie Taupin and deemed a bookend of sorts to their first hit `` Your Song ''. Taupin has said he is surprised he wrote it, and said in an interview, `` I think ' Sacrifice ' is one of the best songs we 've written. '' The song is not a typical love song, but rather a song about a breakup of a marriage where the loss of the relationship is `` no sacrifice. '' Although the single was successful, Elton John did not tour Europe in both 1989 -- 1990 to support the Sleeping with the Past album ( with the exception of one appearance in Knebworth Park on 30 June 1990 ) touring only in the U.S. and Australia. The 1989 European tour was, instead, in support of the Reg Strikes Back album, with no material representing Sleeping with the Past. In all shows that were done to support Sleeping with the Past in 1989 -- 1990, Elton played this song solo on his Roland RD - 1000 Digital Piano. Music video The video, which follows the song 's lyrics, portrays a man and woman having problems in their relationship after being married and raising a daughter. After they go their separate ways, the man raises his daughter alone. The video was directed by Alek Keshishian and it had Yasmeen Ghauri and Chris Isaak in it. The version used in the promo video is slightly sped up compared to the album version. The result is a higher pitched vocal and shorter length time. The video was filmed in Los Angeles in 1989, and was the second video made after Elton rejected a version from Ken Russell. Chart performance Sacrifice was initially released as a single in 1989, but stalled at # 55 in the UK charts and at # 18 in the US charts in March 1990. In mid-1990 English DJ Steve Wright began playing the song on BBC Radio 1, soon followed by many more radio DJs. The song was then re-released as a double A-side single, along with `` Healing Hands '', and reached # 1 in the UK in June 1990. Thus, it became John 's first solo number - one single in the UK Singles Chart, remaining on the top spot for five weeks. With this re-release, Elton John also got his first number one in France and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks. Track listings First release 12 '' single -- UK `` Sacrifice '' -- 5 : 07 `` Love Is a Cannibal '' ( From the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II ) -- 3 : 53 CD single -- U.S. `` Sacrifice '' -- 5 : 07 `` Love Is a Cannibal '' ( from the Columbia Motion Picture Ghostbusters II ) -- 3 : 53 `` Durban Deep '' Second release UK single `` Sacrifice '' -- 5 : 07 `` Healing Hands '' -- 4 : 22 Charts and sales Weekly charts Chart ( 1989 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart 55 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart ( 1990 ) Peak position Australian ARIA Singles Chart 7 Dutch Mega Top 100 Eurochart Hot 100 French SNEP Singles Chart German Singles Chart 36 Irish Singles Chart New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 7 Norwegian Singles Chart Swiss Singles Chart 23 UK Singles Chart U.S. Billboard Hot 100 18 Zimbabwe Singles Chart 6 Year - end charts Chart ( 1990 ) Rank Australian Singles Chart 47 Dutch Top 40 11 UK Singles Charts Certifications and sales Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales France Silver 200,000 380,000 UK Platinum 1 September 1990 600,000 Personnel Elton John : vocals, Roland RD - 1000 digital piano Davey Johnstone : electric guitar Romeo Williams : bass Jonathan Moffett : drums Guy Babylon : keyboards Fred Mandel : keyboards Preceded by `` Words '' by The Christians French SNEP number - one single 26 May 1990 -- 9 June 1990 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Bo le lavabo ( WC Kiss ) '' by Lagaf ' Preceded by `` Vogue '' by Madonna Eurochart Hot 100 number - one single 16 June 1990 -- 28 July 1990 ( 7 weeks ) Succeeded by `` U Ca n't Touch This '' by MC Hammer Preceded by `` World In Motion '' by Englandneworder UK number - one single 17 June 1990 -- 21 July 1990 ( 5 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Turtle Power '' by Partners in Kryme References ^ Jump up to : `` Elton John - Full Official Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Elton John singles, Billboard charts ''. allmusic. Retrieved 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice ``, Australian Singles Chart ''. australian - charts. Retrieved 13 December 2007. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice ``, Dutch Mega Top 100 '' ( in Dutch ). dutchcharts. Retrieved 11 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice ``, French Singles Chart '' ( in French ). lescharts. Retrieved 13 December 2007. Jump up ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de Archived 8 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 9 September 2008 ) Jump up ^ `` Irish Single Chart, database ''. irishcharts. Retrieved 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice '' New Zealand Singles Chart ``. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice ``, Norwegian Singles Chart '' ( in Norwegian ). norwegiancharts. Retrieved 13 December 2007. Jump up ^ `` '' Sacrifice ``, Swiss Singles Chart '' ( in German ). hitparade. Retrieved 13 December 2007. Jump up ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe : singles chart book. Harare : C. Kimberley, 2000 Jump up ^ `` 1990 Australian Singles Chart ''. aria. Retrieved 3 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` Single top 100 over 1990 '' ( pdf ) ( in Dutch ). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010. Jump up ^ Music Week Year - end Charts, pub. January 1991 Jump up ^ `` French certifications, database '' ( in French ). infodisc. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` UK certifications, database ''. Bpi. Retrieved 9 September 2008. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Elton John songs 1960s and 1970s `` Skyline Pigeon '' ( 1968 ) `` I 've Been Loving You '' ( 1968 ) `` Lady Samantha '' ( 1969 ) `` It 's Me That You Need '' ( 1969 ) `` Border Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Rock and Roll Madonna '' ( 1970 ) `` From Denver to L.A. '' ( 1970 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1970 ) `` Your Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Friends '' ( 1971 ) `` Levon '' ( 1971 ) `` Tiny Dancer '' ( 1972 ) `` Rocket Man '' ( 1972 ) `` Honky Cat '' ( 1972 ) `` I Think I 'm Going to Kill Myself '' ( 1972 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters '' ( 1972 ) `` Crocodile Rock '' ( 1972 ) `` Elderberry Wine '' ( 1972 ) `` Daniel '' ( 1972 ) `` Teacher I Need You '' ( 1973 ) `` Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding '' ( 1973 ) `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' ( 1973 ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( 1973 ) `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' ( 1974 ) `` Bennie and the Jets '' ( 1974 ) `` Harmony '' ( 1974 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1974 ) `` The Bitch Is Back '' ( 1974 ) `` Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds '' ( 1974 ) `` Philadelphia Freedom '' ( 1975 ) `` I Saw Her Standing There '' ( 1975 ) `` Someone Saved My Life Tonight '' ( 1975 ) `` Island Girl '' ( 1975 ) `` Grow Some Funk of Your Own '' ( 1976 ) `` I Feel Like a Bullet ( In the Gun of Robert Ford ) '' ( 1976 ) `` Pinball Wizard '' ( 1976 ) `` Do n't Go Breaking My Heart '' ( 1976 ) `` Cage the Songbird '' ( 1976 ) `` Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word '' ( 1976 ) `` Bite Your Lip ( Get Up and Dance ! ) '' ( 1977 ) `` Crazy Water '' ( 1977 ) `` The Goaldiggers Song '' ( 1977 ) `` Ego '' ( 1978 ) `` Part - Time Love '' ( 1978 ) `` Song for Guy '' ( 1978 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Mama Ca n't Buy You Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Johnny B. Goode '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` Little Jeannie '' ( 1980 ) `` Sartorial Eloquence ( Do n't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More ? ) '' ( 1980 ) `` Dear God '' ( 1980 ) `` Whatever Gets You thru the Night '' ( 1981 ) `` Nobody Wins '' ( 1981 ) `` Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever '' ( with Kiki Dee, 1981 ) `` Blue Eyes '' ( 1982 ) `` Empty Garden ( Hey Hey Johnny ) '' ( 1982 ) `` Ball and Chain '' ( 1982 ) `` All Quiet on the Western Front '' ( 1982 ) `` I Guess That 's Why They Call It the Blues '' ( 1983 ) `` I 'm Still Standing '' ( 1983 ) `` Sad Songs ( Say So Much ) '' ( 1984 ) `` Passengers '' ( 1984 ) `` Nikita '' ( 1985 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' ( 1985 ) `` Wrap Her Up '' ( 1985 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1988 ) `` I Do n't Wanna Go on with You Like That '' ( 1988 ) `` Town of Plenty '' ( 1988 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters ( Part Two ) '' ( 1988 ) `` Healing Hands '' ( 1989 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` Club at the End of the Street '' ( 1990 ) `` You Gotta Love Someone '' ( 1990 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1991 ) `` The One '' ( 1992 ) `` Runaway Train '' ( 1992 ) `` The Last Song '' ( 1992 ) `` Simple Life '' ( 1993 ) `` True Love '' ( 1993 ) `` Shakey Ground '' ( 1994 ) `` Ai n't Nothing Like the Real Thing '' ( 1994 ) `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' ( 1994 ) `` Circle of Life '' ( 1994 ) `` Believe '' ( 1995 ) `` Made in England '' ( 1995 ) `` When the Money 's Gone '' ( 1995 ) `` You Can Make History ( Young Again ) '' ( 1996 ) `` The Madness of King Scar '' ( 1997 ) `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' ( 1997 ) `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' ( 1997 ) `` Written in the Stars '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` I Want Love '' ( 2001 ) `` This Train Do n't Stop There Anymore '' ( 2002 ) `` Original Sin '' ( 2002 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 2003 ) `` Ghetto Gospel '' ( 2005 ) `` Electricity '' ( 2005 ) `` The Bridge '' ( 2006 ) `` Joseph, Better You than Me '' ( 2008 ) `` Tiny Dancer ( Hold Me Closer ) '' ( 2009 ) Related articles Albums discography Videography Book : Elton John Category : Elton John Ivor Novello Awards -- Best Song Musically and Lyrically 1960s She 's Leaving Home ( 1968 ) 1970s Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) ? ( 1970 ) Something ( 1971 ) Do n't Let It Die ( 1972 ) Without You ( 1973 ) Daniel ( 1974 ) Streets of London * ( 1975 ) Do n't Cry for Me Argentina ( 1978 ) Baker Street ( 1979 ) 1980s The Logical Song ( 1980 ) Woman in Love ( 1981 ) Memory ( 1982 ) Have You Ever Been in Love ( 1983 ) Every Breath You Take ( 1984 ) Against All Odds ( 1985 ) Nikita ( 1986 ) Do n't Give Up ( 1987 ) Something Inside So Strong ( 1988 ) They Dance Alone ( 1989 ) 1990s The Living Years ( 1990 ) Sacrifice ( 1991 ) The Whole of the Moon ( 1992 ) Why ( 1993 ) If I Ever Lose My Faith in You ( 1994 ) Think Twice ( 1995 ) Common People ( 1996 ) Too Much Love Will Kill You ( 1997 ) Paranoid Android ( 1998 ) Believe ( 1999 ) 2000s Strong ( 2000 ) Babylon ( 2001 ) Walk On ( 2002 ) The Other Side ( 2003 ) Leave Right Now ( 2004 ) Dry Your Eyes ( 2005 ) Suddenly I See ( 2006 ) Elusive ( 2007 ) Love Is a Losing Game ( 2008 ) One Day Like This ( 2009 ) 2010s The Fear ( 2010 ) Becoming a Jackal ( 2011 ) The A Team ( 2012 ) Next to Me ( 2013 ) Strong ( 2014 ) Take Me to Church ( 2015 ) Was n't Expecting That ( 2016 ) Black Man in a White World ( 2017 ) * Awarded as The Best Song Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sacrifice_(song)&oldid=833955469 '' Categories : 1989 singles 1990 singles Disney songs Elton John songs European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles SNEP Top Singles number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin Songs with music by Elton John Pop ballads Rock ballads Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas ( record producer ) 1989 songs MCA Records singles The Rocket Record Company singles Music videos directed by Alek Keshishian Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Webarchive template wayback links CS1 Norwegian - language sources ( no ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) Articles with hAudio microformats Use dmy dates from August 2010 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Español Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Edit links This page was last edited on 3 April 2018, at 05 : 22. 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Question: what album is sacrifice by elton john on
Answer: Sleeping with the Past; Sleeping with the Past.; Sleeping with the Past; the 1989 album Sleeping with the Past; Sleeping with the Past