This Song Has No Title

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Bernie Taupin

Farfisa organ, electric piano, mellotron, piano and vocals: Elton John


Tune me in to the wild side of life

I'm an innocent young child sharp as a knife

Take me to the garretts where the artists have died

Show me the courtrooms where the judges have lied


Let me drink deeply from the water and the wine

Light coloured candles in dark dreary mines

Look in the mirror and stare at myself

And wonder if that's really me on the shelf


chorus:


And each day I learn just a little bit more

I don't know why but I do know what for

If we're all going somewhere let's get there soon

Oh this song's got no title just words and a tune


Take me down alleys where the murders are done

In a vast high powered rocket to the core of the sun

Want to read books in the studies of men

Born on the breeze and die on the wind


If I was an artist who paints with his eyes

I'd study my subject and silently cry

Cry for the darkness to come down on me

For confusion to carry on turning the wheel


(repeat chorus)

[BiteUrLip]

An excellent song from the GYBR album. I love the verses (so beautiful), but not that much about the chorus. That doesn't spoil the song though.

5 stars.

[dougs]

"This Song Has No Title" from GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD:

Here is a song that few people ever seem to talk about yet it somehow holds up well and it is engaging.  "This Song Has No Title" has lyrics from Bernie which seem to identify the meaningless of life.  Musically, it is a bit of a unique effort from Elton; he performs all instruments including 4 different keyboards.  Apparently Elton's parts include  two separate Farfisa organ parts, three acoustic pianos, an electric piano, and a mellotron.  Elton also doubles his own vocals during the song.  Apparently, Elton looked back at the keyboard versatility of "This Song Has No Title" with pride. It is also one of the shorter tunes of his with vocals coming in at less than 2 1/2 minutes duration. Davey said of the song "It was great because he'd know instinctively what he wanted." 

Elton did play "This Song Has No Title" live a few times in the autumn of 1973 and then a few more times on the Japan tour in early 1974.  He has not played it live since.  Incidentally, Ben Folds, who has a mutual admiration society with Elton, has played it live as well; as recently as June 2020 at a private function.  Elton's live versions are around on old bootlegs and YouTube but a live version finally made its way onto GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - Super Deluxe Edition in 2014.

This is a hard song to rate.  Is it a classic?  Did it get lost in the midst of all the other greatness on GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD?  It is definitely in the area of 4 1/2 stars or better, I think.  It is a good one.

Rating:  4 1/2 stars

Doug

[nix]

4
Very good one, but on this album there are so many other brilliant songs... this one is unique on its own.

[newloneranger]

Nice song from this album of gems.

4 1/2 stars

[Commodore Orpington]

5+. Top 10. I didn't know he played it all himself!

[BiteUrLip]

Jun 29, 2020 3:56:22 GMT Commodore Orpington said:

5+. Top 10. I didn't know he played it all himself!

Me neither. Speaks about talent.

[rocketman]

4.5 stars...A song that has grown on me over the years, with a nice pep for a solo song featuring only keyboards. I like the sprite pacing - it's an pretty much an uptempo song without drums.

[Commodore Orpington]

Might be uptempo, but extremely downcast...