From: jjmckay@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim McKay)
Subject: Re: Elton John's THE ONE
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 21:11:28 GMT

(One can join the very active Elton John mailgroup by writing to
elton-john@uiuc.edu)

korins@pop.cis.yale.edu (Russ Korins) writes:

>I am suddenly very into Elton John's new album THE ONE.  I'm no expert at
>lyrics analysis, but I have a few questions about them.

>1)  What exactly is "Whitewash County" about?  It seems to be some kind of
>criticism of southern/David Duke style attitudes, but the song seems to
>focus on the at-home, not political, level.  He says "We're just someplace
>that history passed" and "the South's gonna rise again soon," but what is
>the "hollow log" and the "wax face?"  In any case, the musical style is
>obviously American-south, kind of like Bruce Hornsby and the Range.

Song about the south which is a favorite theme of Taupin and the South (Atlanta)
is where Elton lives half the time.

Bruce was very influenced by Elton.  I have an article Bruce wrote 
talking about Elton which I will send you (and one else who requests it.)

>2)  "The North."  The north of what?  England?  Why?

The North is a song about the cold "unsettled" as in the artic side of 
one's perosnality.  Bernie Taupin (EJ's long time lyricist) is not referring 
to a worldly but rather psychic region.

>3)  What is "Sweat It Out" about?  What does he mean when he says "She
>devils were ruling Britain?"  

It's a rap tune about the state of world affairs. Someone said that it's about
Maggie Thatcher but I'm not certain that she's specifically the She-devil.

One thing Taupin says about his lyrics is that they shouldn't be taken 
too literally, although "The One" is one of EJ & BT's most personal albums. 
He says people keep asking him what *some* of his songs mean

"The One"'s lyrical theme is bascially "The State of Elton and Bernie Today
--internally and how they view the external world."

Some other songs (all based on quotes from EJ & BT):

"Simple Life" is about Elton rehabbing his life after drugs and other addictions
and returning to a "Simple Life". 

"The One" could be about falling in love with "The One" -- your perfect
soul mate or "The One" could be about God, higher power or one's finding 
one's calling. The video shouldn't be taken so literally. 
The song reflects the state of Elton today (and me too!)
iI've listened to it daily for the past five months.

"Runaway Train" is about addiction and recovery.

"Emily" is a song about an old woman who is the last of her family to die
and is transformed into the world of the afterlife, of spirits.  A very New Age
song, lyrically.

"On Dark Street" is about the hungry and homeless of America.  Bernie Taupin
wrote the lyric with a negative reference to Reagan but Elton said he couldn't
sing that and editted it out.

"The Last Song" works on a couple of levels.  It's about a gay son who's 
father finally accepts and forgives him as the son is dying of AIDS.  
It's also a song about unconditional love and forgiveness on the part of 
the "Higher Power".  Taupin (in case some are wondering he is a Heterosexual) 
but wrote the lyrics becasue he felt it was something that should be dealt 
with in a song.  The lyrics were not requested by Elton who happens to
be a homosexual.

If you like the album "The One" you should pick up the CD single "The One"
whcih includes two additional songs of great quality which could not 
fit on the 60+ minute album.  They are "Suit of Wolves" and "Fat Boys and Ugly
Girls".

Please write if you have more questions or comments.
JIM McKAY, jjmckay@uiuc.edy