I couldn’t really blame them for being anxious to leave as the legendary country star Marty Stuart was going to playing on a stage down the street in a little while.
But when I began playing a classic tune that has been in my repertoire for decades two couples at one of the tables noticeably perked up. They enthusiastically applauded at the conclusion and then showed the real measure of approval, they left a tip.
The song? Your Song, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin and music by Elton John.
It’s hard for me to believe, but that hit, which helped launch Elton’s career, turns 50 this year. I’ve played the enduring love song – on guitar not piano – at a few weddings over the years as well as various other venues. It rarely fails to please an audience.
Besides the beautiful melody and brilliantly yearning lyrics the song appealed to me because it’s partly about the art of songwriting and mentions the frustrations of trying to transform feeling into the words.
I sat on the roof
And kicked off the moss
Well a few of these verses
You know they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind today
While I wrote this song
It's for people like you that
Keep it turned on
Oddly enough, I didn’t discover the song by hearing Elton John’s version. I first got hooked by finding it on Three Dog Night’s greatest hits album Golden Biscuits. That 70s pop group did a shorter rendition that only included three of the four verses.
It wasn’t until I bought the sheet music to learn how to play Your Song that I found that it was an Elton and Bernie composition. Of course it’s been covered by many others much more famous and successful than me.
So, I hope you don’t mind that I put down in my words how wonderful this songwriting duo helped make the world by giving us this gift of a great timeless song. And I’m always happy to help share it.