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Post by BiteUrLip on May 9, 2020 18:38:31 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
Turn me loose from your hands
Let me fly to distant lands
Over green fields, trees and mountains
Flowers and forest fountains
Home along the lanes of the skyway
For this dark and lonely room
Projects a shadow cast in gloom
And my eyes are mirrors
Of the world outside
Thinking of the way
That the wind can turn the tide
And these shadows turn
From purple into grey
For just a Skyline Pigeon
Dreaming of the open
Waiting for the day
He can spread his wings
And fly away again
Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the dreams
You've left so very far behind
Just let me wake up in the morning
To the smell of new mown hay
To laugh and cry, to live and die
In the brightness of my day
I want to hear the pealing bells
Of distant churches sing
But most of all please free me
From this aching metal ring
And open out this cage towards the sun
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Post by BiteUrLip on May 9, 2020 18:38:56 GMT
One of my very favorite Elton songs. It is sooooo beautiful...
5+ stars.
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Post by newloneranger on May 9, 2020 21:00:35 GMT
Which version is this?
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Post by nix on May 10, 2020 19:46:03 GMT
Yes, I also can't vote before I found out which one of hundred versions this is.
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Post by BiteUrLip on May 12, 2020 2:31:23 GMT
The original one, of course!
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Post by nix on May 12, 2020 9:31:30 GMT
The original one, of course! 5+ stars then best version... the second best is version from Ryan White's funeral.
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Post by dougs on May 14, 2020 3:24:22 GMT
"Skyline Pigeon" from EMPTY SKY:
Elton & Bernie's debut album EMPTY SKY had a couple of standout tracks for a young songwriting team; "Empty Sky" and "Skyline Pigeon." Both give a fair indication of what was to come later. One rocked and the other was a ballad - something Elton would come to master in short order. "Skyline Pigeon" is hymn-like and was a song that both songwriters were, understandably, proud of. It is clearly a beautiful song. A very interesting aspect to note about "Skyline Pigeon" is how Elton's vocals were recorded. In an attempt to get a deep sense of loneliness into the song Clive Franks (now a long-time sound-man, co-producer, and friend of EJ's) suggested to EJ that he sing the vocal outside on the fire escape at DJ Music Studios in the cold winter starlight with his voice echoing off the steel and bricks. He did and it worked. Elton plays, not piano, but organ and harpsichord on this original 1968-69 recorded version.
Interestingly, "Skyline Pigeon" had already garnered attention before it first appeared on EMPTY SKY in 1969; it had been released by Roger Cooke and also by Guy Darrell in the UK in 1968. Elton re-did the song while recording DON'T SHOOT ME I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER in 1972 at Strawberry Studios at the Château in France. In the 1972 version Elton chose to play piano and was accompanied by Nigel, Dee, Davey, and arranger Paul Buckmaster. The 1972 version appeared as a B-side to the single "Daniel." Elton also included it on his 1976 live album HERE AND THERE; it opened the "Here" side in London recorded in 1974. The song was also performed by Elton in 1990 at the Ryan White funeral. Elton had befriended Ryan and his mother, Jeanne, during Ryan's fight against AIDS discrimination. Elton has frequently played this song on tours or parts of tours over the years; 1968, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1993-95, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2009-11, and 2013-17. On several occasions, EJ would play "Skyline Pigeon" just for specific concerts or events and not throughout entire tours. For example, EJ apparently played the song only once in 2015 and it was at the "Rock in Rio" concert. His fans in Brazil have a love affair with the song so it usually gets included in the setlist in that country. Elton has almost exclusively played it solo in a live setting. In recent years in Brazil he performed it with the band as well. "Skyline Pigeon" is one of those songs which "should" be in the FAREWELL tour setlist...
Rating: 5 stars
Doug
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Post by newloneranger on May 16, 2020 18:22:45 GMT
I prefer the piano version.
3 1/2 stars
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Post by rocketman on May 24, 2020 17:48:55 GMT
4.5 stars...While I seem to prefer the 1972 version included on the Don't Shoot Me...remastered CD, the original is still the definitive version and carries its own weight quite well.
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