This is Your Song. (And Also the Couple's Before You)
By Aaron Wulff
Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to “Your Song” over breakfast. He was 19, staying at Elton’s parents’ house, scribbled some words on a napkin (coffee stains and all), and Elton wrote the melody in twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes! I spend longer doing password resets.
It wasn’t even supposed to be Elton’s song. It was written for Three Dog Night. They recorded it, didn’t release it as a single, and gave it back. Which, in retrospect, might be the worst creative decision of the 1970s. Next to the chart topping “Disco Duck.” (Song Guide Coming Soon!)
Elton put it out as a B-side. A B-side! Thankfully, the DJs flipped it over and played “Your Song” instead.
I love the lyrics. They’re completely unguarded. “I don’t have much money, but boy if I did, I’d buy a big house where we both could live.” That’s not a rock star talking. That’s a broke 19-year-old kid being honest.
And the melody doesn’t try to be clever. It just sits there being beautiful. Paul Buckmaster’s strings come in eventually, but they know their place. The whole thing feels like someone playing piano in their living room, which is essentially what happened.
Everyone’s covered it. Ellie Goulding, Ewan McGregor warbling in Moulin Rouge, Lady Gaga, Taron Egerton playing Elton in Rocketman (meta). Nobody’s beaten the original. There’s a sincerity to 23-year-old Elton singing his friend’s words that you can’t fake.
So. Dancing.
“Your Song” is about 128 BPM in 4/4. This is quicker than I like. It’s not impossible, but for a Rumba I’d keep it small and the figures contained. That said, you might want to go half time and do Nightclub Two-Step.
The piano is your metronome here. Steady. It starts with just Elton and the piano, then the band sneaks in like they don’t want to wake anybody. You don’t have much intro to work with before the singing starts.
The dynamic range gives you something to work with. Starts quiet, swells a little, settles back down. Work with your instructor to match those changes. Or don’t. It’s up to you.
4 Minutes will need a cut or a fade. Especially if you go with a Rumba. Do yourself a favor and keep it brief.
Everyone knows this song. Every single guest. Which could make it not so special if you’re going for unique.
At the same time, this is a classic for a reason. It’s sincere without being sappy. It may be quite simple…because Elton already did the hard part in twenty minutes.
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