Legal Boys

On Jump Up! Tim Rice, who co-wrote Jesus Christ Superstar, contributed the lyrics. Elton composed a melody -- even recorded a harpsichord instrumental version of the song -- and then received Rice's lyrics in the mail. Fittingly, the words have a theatrical feel. (A-Z)
Another strong cut was "Legal Boys," Elton's first collaboration with one of the world's most successful lyricists, Tim Rice. "It was originally written for something I was going to do with Andrew [Lloyd Webber] for Tell Me On A Sunday," says Sir Tim, "but then Andrew decided to do it with the lyricist Don Black and the singer Marti Webb. I was left with this lyric and I knew that Elton liked lyrics first, so I sent it to him. To my amazement, he did it." The song was a sad story of a divorce, with legal language inserted into a salutary tale of what happens when love lost turns into financial gain for the legal profession: "It says something for the legal boys / But nothing much for us / That all we had together / Is so quickly ended thus." (Buckley)
== Lyrics (Tim Rice): ==
Your accountant called this morning /
There was springtime in his heart /
He couldn't wait to tell me /
How he'd pulled our lives apart /
And the letter from your lawyer /
Lies unopened on the tray /
I may get around to reading it later today
Walking round the lonely rooms /
I see everything the same /
But suddenly it matters /
What was purchased in my name /
Whether this or that was paid for /
Belongs to me or you /
Can the seven years together be divided by two
It says something for the legal boys /
But nothing much for us /
That all we had together /
Is so quickly ended thus /
The legal boys have won again /
And you and I have lost /
They can't tell us how it happened /
But they'll let us know the cost /
Oh they'll let us know the cost, oh yeah''
There's a lot I'd like to tell you /
But I can't get past your guards /
I do not speak their language /
And they hold all the cards /
I would rather call you darling /
Than defendant in the case /
But lovers left here long ago /
And clients took their place
©1982 Big Pig Music Limited
== Musicians ==
* Music: Elton John
* Lyrics: Tim Rice
* Vocals: Elton John
* Piano: Elton John
* Bass: Dee Murray
* String Arrangements: James Newton Howard
* Synthesizers: James Newton Howard
* Drums: Jeffrey Porcaro
* Guitars: Richie Zito
* Backing Vocals: Gary Osbourne
* Backing Vocals: Dee Murray
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Category:Elton John
Category:Tim Rice
Category:Dee Murray
Category:James Newton Howard
Category:Jeffrey Porcaro
Category:Richie Zito
Category:Gary Osbourne