Elton John : “Daniel”

Elton John’s “Daniel” was released in 1973. The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, Elton’s writing partner. He explained the inspiration on his web site: “I’d seen this article in Time magazine on the Tet Offensive. There was a sidebar next to it with a story about how many of the soldiers that were coming back from ‘Nam.

These simple sort of down home country guys who were generally embarrassed by both the adulation and, depending on what part of the country you came from, the animosity that they were greeted by. For the most part, they just wanted to get back to a normal life, but found it hard, what with all the looky loos and the monkeys of war that they carried on their backs. I just took it from there and wrote it from a younger brother’s perspective; made him disabled and wanting to get away. I made it Spain, basically, because it rhymes with plane.”

Elton John’s “Daniel”

(source)

Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane

I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain

And I can see Daniel waving goodbye

Oh it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

They say Spain is pretty though I’ve never been

And Daniel says it’s the best place that he’s ever seen

He should know, he’s been there enough

Oh I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much, oh

Daniel my brother you are older than me

Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won’t heal?

Your eyes have died but you see more than I

Daniel you’re a star in the face of the sky

Oh Daniel my brother you are older than me

Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won’t heal?

Your eyes have died but you see more than I

Daniel you’re a star in the face of the sky

Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane

And I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain

And I can see Daniel waving goodbye

Oh it looks like Daniel, it must be the clouds in my eyes

Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

Daniel

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