Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium (2022) Movie Script

(piano music playing)
Hello, and welcome to Elton John Live,
Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
I'm Kirsten Watson,
and I'm so happy you have joined us
for what will be,
a historic and emotional night
as Elton John plays his last show
of his last ever American tour.
And what better place to end it all
than right here at Dodger Stadium
in Los Angeles.
A venue with such rich history for Elton.
Forty-seven years ago, back in 1975,
he played two sold-out shows here
that are still remembered today
with legendary status.
It was a defining moment for Elton.
And in just under 20 minutes,
Elton John will be back
on that stage right here.
And he has a magical night
planned for us all.
Along with his legendary band,
his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin,
will be making an appearance
and Elton will be joined
by some phenomenal musical guests.
We're going to see performances
by Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile
and Kiki Dee who sang the chart-topping
duet, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."
We caught up
with these incredibly special guests
and Elton himself
in rehearsals earlier today.
(upbeat music playing)
ELTON: When you duet with people,
you get something from it.
When you record with someone
you haven't met before
or worked with before,
you learn something
because it's so much fun.
you bounce off each other.
Don't go breaking my heart
ELTON: Kiki Dee was at Dodger Stadium
the first time
and"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
was a huge hit for us.
I wanted her to be there
for the last show.
I'm so excited to be back here.
KIKI: It was such a magical time.
I was in my mid-20s,
getting to play these amazing places.
And working with one
of the funniest people I've ever met,
Elton John.
Elton John means everything to me.
He's my greatest hero of all time
since I was 11 years old.
He was my gateway drug to rock 'n roll,
my gateway to doing music, writing songs.
He's everything to me.
He's my favorite of all time.
Elton John is my musical hero.
And when I get up on stage
and I get to sing the song that we
we did together, it really is
you know, a massive moment for me.
When are you gonna come down?
Bernie Taupin and Elton John,
I think, are one of the most miraculous
partnerships of all time.
and they're the only ones like them
that ever existed,
and I think they're the only ones
like them that ever will exist.
Bernie's lyrics are so cinematic.
You see them, you taste them,
you feel them.
He's the greatest lyricist of all time.
Singin' the blues
The last time we played
Dodger Stadium in 1975,
it was certainly ground-breaking
because people weren't playing
stadiums back then, you know.
But there's much more
significance to it now, I think.
BERNIE: So it's really
a huge, huge situation
to be back here again.
DUA: I think it's going to be
quite an emotional show.
Elton has left such a mark,
musically, on the world.
And to get to see it come to life
for, you know, the last time
here at Dodger Stadium in LA,
it's going to be emotional.
It's going to be emotional.
I try and record with younger artists
because I'm 76,
and I'm still feeling
I have so much more to learn.
Not just through music,
but through every facet of my life.
And I love that. It keeps me going.
It's just wonderful.
It gives me energy, and it
really, really makes me feel happy.
My dear friend and eternal brother Elton,
as you celebrate
this historic milestone in your life,
I just wanted to give you a huge shout-out
for all that you've achieved
and all the gifts that you've given us
over the past 50 years, man.
There will never be
another one like you, Elton,
and I know the next 50
will be just as impactful as the last.
So keep on keeping on, my brother.
I love you. Forever.
We just wanted to send you a message
because as you head into your last show
in the US,
um, what an incredible, incredible career.
And to have performed at the highest level
like you have for so long
and still have the passion
that you do is really incredible.
We are so proud
that we can call you our friend,
the godfather of our children, as well.
And you have inspired us in so many ways.
We've known you for so many years.
And we love you so, so much.
And so many amazing memories of summers
that we spent together,
shows that we've been to.
Um, I mean, it's quite incredible.
We are so proud of you,
and I'm sure tonight
is gonna be a super emotional night,
but I'm also sure that you are so excited
at the prospect of spending more time
with your incredible husband
and your amazing children.
It's amazing what you've given
to the world and given to us.
I hope you're okay.
I don't really believe
that it's your last concert,
but congratulations, if it is.
And, um, I hope you feel as great
as you make everybody else feel.
Bye.
If anyone can take us to Mars,
it's the rocket man yourself.
Thank you so much for all the magic
you have given to the world,
for all the light and love
that you have spread
through your music,
through your authenticity.
I love you so much.
All right, Elton, congratulations
and good luck
with your final show tonight.
I've made this video a couple of times.
I've known you for many, many decades,
and the first time we met
was in Los Angeles at the Forum.
And you were wearing a Minnie Mouse dress.
And you looked gorgeous, as you still do.
I love you, my friend. Congratulations.
Elton John, you cannot say
farewell to anybody,
but congratulations on your farewell tour.
Oh, my God, I can't believe
this is your farewell tour.
Thank you so much for all you've done
for so many people,
including myself.
Much love. Love you. (smooches)
Do you remember in the early '70s
when you and Cher and I
did her first television special
all by herself
and we played old people in a rest home?
I never thought the day would come.
Sometimes, I do feel like that.
Oh, my goodness, what a career you've had.
Full of laughter,
full of fun, full of music,
full of great costumes. What a
And full of generosity.
In fact, I am wearing a necklace
that you gave me over 50 years ago.
You are the bomb, baby.
(smooches, blows)
So, Elton, tonight,
tonight, of all nights,
sit back, relax, enjoy this ride
because I can't believe
I'm going to say this.
I mean, you say
this is the last show of the touring,
but all I can say to you is,
I love you, man, enjoy this night.
I'm sorry I can't be there with you,
but kill it! (claps)
(audience cheering)
We are getting ready for Elton walking
on that stage in just a few minutes.
And you can feel the excitement in here.
But it's not just a big night for Elton.
We'll be making some television history
of our own.
As you are joining us
for the first-ever global live stream
on Disney Plus.
Well, let me tell you,
this atmosphere has been building
in the stadium all week.
We got a chance to catch up
with some of Elton's most loyal fans.
(piano music playing)
We drove from Utah for 12 hours.
I flew from Switzerland.
All the way from New York tonight.
The fact he loves Elton John so much
really just kind of hypes me up even more.
(speaking Thai)
As somebody that's in the LGBTQ community,
he is everything to me.
This was a momentous occasion for me
but also to close out the place
that made him a legend.
He's such a huge part of our lives.
And that 1975 photograph
of him playing at Dodger Stadium,
I want to revisit that.
ALL: Cheers, Elton!
The bees is back!
(hooting)
Last time I was here at Dodger Stadium
was October 25, 1975,
where I was a backup singer
for Elton John,
when we did the two dates
at Dodger Stadium.
It was absolutely other-worldly.
It was like everybody was in that moment
at the same time.
And, uh, I get chills
just thinking about it,
and I got chills that night.
I was 13 when I came to see Elton John,
my first ever rock concert.
And I just fell in love with him.
And to know that this is the last time
and to be at the place
where I first saw him
is like so special.
It's like, it's a dream. It's a dream.
It's my first concert
and Elton's last concert,
so I'm really excited.
When Elton John takes the stage tonight,
I'm going to be real excited.
I'm going to come up and start singing.
I've been a fan of Elton John
for a couple years,
since I was eight or nine.
My favorite Elton John song
is"Tiny Dancer."
"Rocket Man." I love that song.
I really, really hope
he plays "Crocodile Rock."
B-b-b-Bennie and the jets
(mumbling)
I've learned a lot from Elton
being a piano player myself.
I'm glued to his hands most of the show.
And when they show his hands
on the screen, I'm just glued to that,
'cause I want to see what he's doing.
For me, that's
It's like having a piano
lesson in a stadium full of 55,000 people.
I'm going to cry. I know I'm going to cry.
I got my bubble head T-shirt,
my VIP pass, my glasses.
Cheers to Elton. (smooches)
I love you!
We're both originally from Mexico.
So this is a bucket list. (chuckles)
Like, he's one of those people
that's lasted generations.
We could not miss this concert
for the life of us,
I actually went last week in Phoenix
and saw him in concert.
And saw him back now
because I'm such an Elton John fan.
Love it.
I love Elton John because he is the best.
We're just super excited.
Like the circle of life, right?
This is his final show.
This is a religious experience
in many ways.
And as such, we need to wear Sunday best.
Every one of his hits is a hit.
To be back here tonight is an honor,
a privilege
and I think I'm probably going to cry.
Elton, congratulations
on this very special moment in your life.
We are all so grateful for your music.
Thank you for being
the soundtrack to our lives.
Thank you for doing all the work
you've done to fight AIDS
and to make so many lives better.
We appreciate you.
Your music will be part
of American life for eons to come
and everywhere else in the world,
of course.
May this show be as formidable
as the thousands that preceded it.
I know it will.
Corny sentence alert.
I know you will feel the love tonight.
Sir Elton John, this is H.E.R.
I just want to say thank you so much
for inspiring artists like me
with your fashion and your music,
your playing, your performing.
We love you and we appreciate you so much.
Thank you. (smooches)
Elton, we wanted to say congratulations,
and we love you so, so much.
We feel so lucky to know you
and just like every audience member
at these shows,
what a privilege that you're doing
these live shows for us one last time.
Congrats. (smooches)
Elton, it is your final night
in the United States of America
performing for the American people.
It is a long way from the troubadour.
I can't believe it's true.
I can't believe that I'm here.
I refuse to believe it.
We know it's gonna be magical
because your songs are so good.
You got so many of them.
It's really not fair to the rest of us,
but we do hope that you have
a great show tonight
and we love you so much.
Knock 'em dead.
I cannot believe
that tonight is your final show.
I want to wish you the best of luck.
It's going to be the best one ever.
You have changed the world,
the music industry forever.
You are a legend.
Thank you for sharing your gift
with everyone,
and have the best show.
We all love you.
Thank you so, so, so much
for your beautiful music
and for bringing my family together
through your wonderful songs.
It was my extraordinary privilege
to portray you in the movie of your life.
And for one final time
at Dodger Stadium,
I would like to say to you,
knock 'em dead, rocket man.
Thank you for being on this earth
and blessing us with your gifts
as a musician and as a human being.
You have been there almost
every single stage of my career
and all the ups and downs
of my personal life as well,
and I'm so happy to you know as a person.
You are like a mentor, a friend
and also my musical hero.
And I'm just very, very proud
to be your friend
and, yeah, hope you have a great gig.
And good luck.
I know it's time for you to retire,
so you say,
but I miss you already. I love you.
You are one of the greatest people
I've ever met. (smooches)
Happy retirement.
You going to have some spare
time on your hands?
Maybe you can come join us
and jam at the house here.
(chuckles) That would be fun. Love you!
(audience cheering)
All right. Well, it's not long
until we see Elton
right up there behind me.
But before that, we wanted to tell you
about another Disney-Elton collaboration
coming soon
from Disney Original Documentary
is a new film from directors
RJ Cutler and David Furnish,
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road:
The Final Elton John Performances
and the Years that Made his Legend.
But now, let's hear from the man himself.
After more than 50 years touring
around the world,
tonight we will witness his last ever
US show on his farewell tour.
So of course, we had to ask Elton
why he felt now was the time
for his touring days to come to an end.
(piano music playing)
Well, I started in Los Angeles,
The Troubadour Club.
That's the first place
I played in America.
It was vital I finish in Los Angeles.
Dodger Stadium has history.
And I have history.
And I want to go out inside of a place
that has atmosphere and aura to it.
I'm revisiting the past
in hopefully a glorious kind of way.
We sat down and conceived
this tour so many years ago,
seven years ago we started this journey,
he said, "I want to go out on a high."
(chuckles)
"I want to go out on a high
and I want to go out in a big way."
And, um, this is bigger
and more all-encompassing
than we ever could have imagined.
And to be doing the last three shows
at Dodger Stadium
with all of that history behind us
is a is a truly magical thing.
The first, um, Dodger Stadium show
was in 1975 were hard for me
because I wasn't in a very good place
mentally and physically.
The difference now
is that I have a husband
and someone I've been with for 29 years,
two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
My life is completely different.
I'm sober.
I've been sober and clean for 32 years.
I'm ending
in the happiest time of my life.
I've never been happier.
So compare that to 1975
when I wasn't happy.
It's wonderful.
He's back on top of the charts,
uh, with, you know, hit singles
with Dua Lipa and Britney Spears
which is where he was in '75,
but I think, most importantly,
he's really happy
as a father and as a family person
because our relationship is wonderful
and we have two
of the most beautiful sons.
I always explain to the audience
why I'm stopping.
And so I may bring the kids on.
I haven't decided yet
because I want them
to see why I'm stopping,
see how much I love them.
That is what Elton is most excited about
and we're most excited about as a family
is the opportunity to spend time together,
um, off the road
because Elton is always touring.
INTERVIEWER:
What are you going to miss about touring?
Nothing.
Nothing.
I've done it since I was 17
in the back of a van with my first band.
I can't imagine
how many miles I've covered in that time
between then and now.
I love music. I like playing live,
but I've played enough concerts,
and I can't really do a better concert
than I'm doing now
with a better stage
or a better production.
I'll certainly miss the joy
that doing live shows brings Elton.
Selfishly, I'll miss seeing him
perform live myself.
I love going to an Elton show.
He's a brilliant entertainer
and playing and singing better than ever.
But
As he says on stage, he says,
"I've had more than enough applause
and more than enough love
from an audience in my life."
And he's really looking forward
to the stage where he can, you know,
put that beautiful chapter
of his life behind him
and move on to the next one.
The audiences on this tour
have been so loving and so kind
they're dressed up and they're wearing
glittery glasses and outfits
from so many different albums,
uh, Dodger Stadium outfits.
It's just astonishing holding up placards
to say how many shows they've been to.
It's like, "Wow."
It's like, "You are spending
all your money just to see me."
And it makes me feel good.
There was a time in my life
when I didn't think about that so much,
but I certainly do now.
And especially on this tour.
It's the most gratifying thing.
You want your music to be heard
by every generation.
They are as old as me
and seven or eight kids in the front rows
little boys, little girls singing
all the words to all the songs.
I'll be going,
"How the hell do you know the words?"
When you see an eight-year-old kid singing
your song, you are just like, yeah.
He's created music that he hopes
will survive and stand the test of time.
And I know, for him, personally,
he can't think of a better compliment
than the fact his music still resonates
as strongly today
as it did in the day that it was created.
It's really hit home how lucky I've been,
how great my fans are.
It's a lovefest between me
and them and them and me,
and it's just so exciting.
Thank you, everyone.
Elton, we love you.
-Hi, Elton.
-Hi, Elton.
-We just want to say congratulations.
-Congratulations.
And that we are just so proud of you.
We're so grateful that we were able
to see you on your farewell tour also.
Um, and thank you for
Thank you for entertaining everybody
for so many decades.
Thank you for being the friend
that you were for my mom.
Thank you for being our friend,
thank you for being friends with our kids,
and thank you for entertaining people
right around the world.
Um, even though this is officially
your retirement,
uh, this will not be your last gig,
we know that.
Um, but we love you.
And congratulations
on an incredible career.
You are simply
one of the greatest of all times.
Not because your iconic song
but because your absolute courage.
You turn pain into purpose
and your advocacy
has literally saved millions of lives.
Elton, as you close this chapter
of our story,
I hope you know
that your legacy has no end.
From the timeless songs
that have given voice
to our joys and sorrows,
to how you've inspired countless people
to stand up and speak out,
you will always be here on our playlists
and in our hearts.
On behalf of the American people,
thank you for moving the soul
of our nation.
Thank you. Thank you.
(audience cheering)
Honestly,
I don't know how I can follow that,
so let's get on with it.
The time has come
for Elton John's last ever American show
on his farewell tour.
On the stage that made him a legend.
Live from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles,
please welcome Elton John.
(audience cheering)
(muffled upbeat music playing)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
("Bennie And The Jets" playing)
(cheering continues)
Hey, kids, shake it loose together
The spotlight's hitting something
That's been known
to change the weather
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight
so stick around
You're gonna hear electric music
solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie
have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're so spaced out
B-B-B-Bennie and the jets
Oh, but they're weird
and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
I read it in a magazine, oh-oh
Bennie and the jets
(audience cheering)
Hey, kids
why don't you plug into the faithless?
Maybe they're blinded
but Bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive
let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out
in the streets
To find who's right and who's wrong
Candy and Ronnie
have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're so spaced out
B-B-B-Bennie and the jets
Oh, but they're weird
and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie, she's really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
I read it in a magazine, oh
Bennie and the jets
(instrumental)
Say, Candy and Ronnie
have you seen them yet?
Oh, but they're so spaced out
Bennie and the jets
Oh, but they're weird
and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie, she's a really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
I read it in a magazine, oh
Bennie and the jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie and the jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie and the jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie
Bennie and the jets
(instrumental)
Ooh, yeah
Bennie and the jets
(audience cheering)
(cheering continues)
("Philadelphia Freedom" playing)
I used to be a rolling stone, you know
If the cause was right
I'd leave to find the answers
on the road
I used to be a heartbeat for somebody
Oh, but the times have changed
The less I say
the more my work gets done
I live and breathe
this Philadelphia freedom, yeah
From the day that I was born
I've waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom
took me knee-high to a man
Oh, yeah
Gave me peace of mind
my daddy never had
Philadelphia freedom, shine on me
I love you, shine a light
Through the eyes
of the ones left behind
Shine a light, shine that light
Oh, yeah, shine a light shine a light
Philadelphia freedom
I love you
Yes, I do
Yeah
If you choose to
you can live your life alone
-Some people choose the city
-Some people choose the city
Some others choose
the good old family home
Some others choose
the good old family home
I like living easy without family ties
'Til the whippoorwill of freedom
zapped me
Right between the eyes
I live and breathe
this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born
I've waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom
took me knee-high to a man
Oh, yeah
Gave me piece of mind
my daddy never had
Philadelphia freedom, shine on me
I love you, shine a light
Through the eyes
of the ones left behind
Shine a light, shine that light
Oh, yeah, shine a light
shine the light
Philadelphia freedom
I love you
Yes, I do
Oh, yes, I do, yeah
Philadelphia freedom, shine on me
I love you, yeah
Shine a light
Through the eyes
of the ones left behind
Shine a light, shine that light
Oh, yeah, shine a light
shine the light
Philadelphia freedom
I love, love you, yeah
Don't you know I love you?
Don't you know I love, love, love you?
Yes, I do
I love you, love you, love you
yes, I do
Philadelphia freedom
I love you, love you, love you
yes I do
Philadelphia freedom
I love you, love you, love you
yes, I do
Philadelphia freedom
(audience cheering)
ELTON: Tonight is a very special night.
We are creating history tonight.
This is the first ever global stream
on Disney Plus.
And I'm so glad to see you,
Dodger Stadium!
(audience cheering)
ELTON: All right. Let's get on with it.
("I Guess That's Why
They Call It The Blues" playing)
Don't wish it away
Don't look at it like it's forever
Between you and me
I could honestly say
things can only get better
And while I'm away
Dust out the demons inside
And it won't be long
before you and me run
To the place in our hearts
where we hide
And I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Time on my hands
could be time spent with you
Laughing like children
living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Just stare into space
Picture my face in your hands
Pray for each second
without hesitation
And never forget I'm your man
Wait on me, girl
Cry in the night if it helps
But more than ever I simply love you
More than I love life itself
And I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Time on my hands
could be time spent with you
Laughing like children
living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
I guess that's why
they call it the blues
(instrumental)
Wait on me, girl
Cry in the night if it helps
But more than ever I simply love you
More than I love life itself
And I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Time on my hands
could be time spent with you
Laughing like children
living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Laughing like children
living like lovers
I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Laughing like children
living like lovers
I guess that's why
they call it the blues
Guess that's why they call it
That's why they call it the blues
Oh, yeah
(audience cheering)
(cheering continues)
All right.
This is a very special night for me.
A very emotional night for me.
And, uh (clears throat)
it's been a long journey and, uh
(audience cheering)
I first came here to America in 1970
to the City of Angels, Los Angeles.
And I played at a club called
The Troubadour Club,
which thankfully is still there.
And it helped me.
It accelerated my career in America
with a review I got
from Robert Hilburn from the LA Times.
And I'm so I'll never forget that.
And I had an album out at the time
called Elton John.
My first single from that album
was called "Border Song."
When we put our single out,
Aretha Franklin covered the song
and put her version out.
And so, Bernie and I,
being young English kids
and young songwriters,
we're so knocked out,
so flabbergasted that the Queen of Soul
had recorded one of our songs,
that it was probably one
of the most exciting things
that had happened to us
up to that point in our career.
And in the years that followed,
I got to meet her and thank her for it.
And I sang with her and I recorded
with her and I played with her.
And I hung with her.
And it was just a surreal experience
to be in the company of such genius.
And her last ever show
was in New York City,
at St. John the Divine Cathedral
for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
And she was really, really sick.
It was six months before she passed away.
She was this thin.
And before the show began,
I went backstage and said,
"Aretha, let me do it. You're so frail.
I'll do it, it's not a problem."
And she said, "Honey, two years ago,
I was supposed to be here,
and I let you down.
I'm not letting you down again."
And she came out and sat at a piano
like this one with an incredible band.
And for an hour and 20 minutes
she blew the roof off the cathedral.
And those of us that were lucky
enough to be there, 1500 people,
were in tears
because it was an incredible performance
under the circumstances.
And I think she was inspired
by her surroundings,
but it was phenomenal.
And so I want to dedicate this song
to the lasting genius
and legacy of Aretha Franklin.
("Border Song" playing)
Holy Moses, I've been removed
I've seen the specter
he has been here, too
Distant calling from down the line
Ran with people who ain't my kind
Holy Moses, I've been removed
Holy Moses, I have been deceived
Now the wind has changed direction
I think I have to leave
Won't you please excuse my frankness
but it's not my cup of tea
Holy Moses, I have been deceived
I'm going back to the border
where my affairs
My affairs ain't abused
I can't take any more bad water
Been poisoned from my head
down to my shoes
Oh
(instrumental)
Holy Moses, I have been deceived
Holy Moses, let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way
To make our hatred cease
Never mind over there
What's his color, I don't care
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother, I said let us
Let us live in peace
(audience cheering)
("Tiny Dancer" playing)
Blue jean baby, LA lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile
You'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her
Dancing in the sand
And now she's in me always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out on the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back, she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man, he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on, she sings the songs
The words, she knows
the tune, she hums
But oh, how real it feels
lying here, with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
And count the headlights
on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
And count the headlights
on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, LA Lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, a pirate smile
You'll marry a music man
Ballerina, oh, you must have seen her
She was dancing in the sand
And now she's in me always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
But, oh, how real it feels
lying here, with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
And count the headlights
on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
And count the headlights
on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Oh, yeah
(audience cheering)
All right. We're going to do a song now
that we haven't done live
for quite some time
from the album Don't Shoot Me,
I'm on the piano
for the half of the early '70s.
This features our guitarist, David Johnson
and it's called,
"Have Mercy on the Criminal."
("Have Mercy on the Criminal" playing)
Have you heard in the darks of night
Somewhere on the hill
Chasing some poor criminal
And I guess they're out to kill
Oh, there must be shackles on his feet
And mother in his eyes
Stumbling through the devil-dark
With the hound pack in full cry
Have mercy on the criminal
Who is running from the law
Are you blind to the winds of change?
Don't you hear him anymore?
Saying, "Lord, you got to help me
I am never gonna sin again
Just take these chains
from around my legs
Sweet Jesus, I'll be your friend"
Now have you ever seen
all the white teeth gleam
While you lie on a cold, damp ground
You're taking in the face
of a rifle butt
While the wardens hold you down
And you've never seen
a friend in years
Oh, it turns your heart to stone
You jump the walls
and the dogs run free
And the grave's gonna be your home
Have mercy on the criminal
Who is running from the law
Are you blind to the winds of change?
Don't you hear him anymore?
Saying, "Lord, You got to help me"
I am never gonna sin again
Just take these chains
from around my legs
Sweet Jesus, I'll be your friend"
(instrumental)
Oh, have mercy on the criminal
Who is running from the law
Are you blind to the winds of change?
Don't you hear him anymore?
Saying, "Lord, you got to help me
I am never gonna sin again
Just take these chains
from around my legs
Sweet Jesus, I'll be your friend"
(audience cheering)
(cheering continues)
(inaudible)
(man speaking indistinctly on radio)
Five, four, three, two, one.
(rumbling sounds)
She packed my bags
last night, preflight
Zero hour, 9:00 AM
And I'm gonna be high
as a kite by then
I miss the Earth so much
I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Til touch down brings me
'round again to find
I'm not the man
they think I am at home
Oh, I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me
'round again to find
I'm not the man
they think I am at home
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse up here alone
Mars ain't the kind of place
To raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them
If you did
And all this science
I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man
A rocket man
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me
'round again to find
I'm not the man they think
I am at home
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be
along, long time
'Til touchdown brings me
'round again to find
I'm not the man they think
I am at home
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man
Burning out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
It's gonna be a long, long time
It's gonna be a long, long time
Ooh
(audience cheering)
(instrumental)
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(audience whistling)
(instrumental continues)
Rocket man
Ooh
Oh
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
Rocket man
Rocket man
Rocket man
Rocket man
Rocket man
Rocket man
Yeah
Yeah
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(audience cheering)
Ooh
Oh
Oh
I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
(instrumental continues)
(instrumental continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
(cheering continues)
("Take Me to the Pilot" playing)
If you feel that it's real
I'm on trial
And I'm here in your prison
Like a coin in your mint
I am dented
And I'm spent with high treason
Through a glass eye, your throne
Is the one danger zone
Take me to the pilot for control
Take me to the pilot of your soul
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Well, I know he's not old
And I'm told
And I'm told he's a virgin
Oh, he may be she
What I'm told
Is never, never for certain
Through a glass eye, your throne
Is the one danger zone
Take me to the pilot for control
Take me to the pilot of your soul
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na, yeah
Yeah
Trough a glass eye, your throne
Is the one danger zone
Take me to the pilot for control
Take me to the pilot of your soul
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Take me to the pilot
Lead me through the chamber
Take me to the pilot
I am but a stranger
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Yeah, take me
Take me
Take me to the pilot
Take me
Take me
Take me to the pilot
(instrumental)
Yeah
(audience continues)
One of my favorite albums that we recorded
was called Captain Fantastic
and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.
(audience cheering)
And one of my favorite songs
I ever wrote came from that album.
It's called
"Someone Saved My Life Tonight".
("Someone Saved My Life Tonight" playing)
When I think of those East End lights
Muggy nights
The curtains drawn
in the little room downstairs
Prima Donna, Lord
you really should've been there
Sittin' like a princess perched
in her electric chair
And it's one more beer
And I don't hear you anymore
We've all gone crazy lately
My friend's out there
rollin' 'round the basement floor
Ooh
And someone saved my life tonight
-Sugar bear
-Sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
didn't you, dear?
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away
High away
Bye-bye
Ooh
I never realized the passin' hours
of evening showers
A slip noose hanging
in my darkest dreams
I'm strangled
by your haunted social scene
Just a pawn out-played
by a dominating queen
It's four o'clock in the morning
Damn it, listen to me good
I'm sleeping with myself tonight
Saved in time
thank God my music's still alive
Oh
And someone saved my life tonight
-Sugar bear
-Sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
didn't you, dear?
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away
High away
Bye-bye
Ooh
And I would've walked head on
Into the deep end of the river
Clinging to your stocks and bonds
Paying your HP demands forever
They're coming in the morning
With a truck to take me home
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
So save your strength
And run the field you play alone
Someone saved my life tonight
-Sugar bear
-Sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
didn't you, dear?
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
Butterflies are free to fly
Fly away
High away
Bye-bye
Oh, yeah
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved, someone saved
Someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
Hey
(audience cheers, applause)
(inaudible)
("Levon" playing)
Levon wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus
'Cause he likes the name
And he sends him
to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot, they say
Spends his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn
on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said
"God is dead and the war's begun"
Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus, he blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing
watching them fly
Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leave Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
He was born a pauper to a pawn
on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said
"God is dead and the war's begun"
Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today, yeah
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
He shall be Levon, yeah
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon, yeah
Okay, okay
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, he shall be
He shall be Levon
He shall, He shall be
He shall be Levon, yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
(inaudible)
("Candle in the Wind" playing)
Goodbye, Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would've liked to know you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh, the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would've liked to know you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Goodbye, Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye, Norma Jeane
From the young man
in the twenty second row
Who sees you
as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
It seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would've liked to know you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
And I would've liked to know you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
ELTON: Oh, yeah.
(audience cheers, applause)
(indistinct chattering, cheering)
(wind whooshing)
(thunder rumbling)
(audience cheering)
(thunder rumbling)
(audience cheering)
(thunder rumbling)
(audience cheering)
(instrumentals playing)
(audience cheering)
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
("Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"
playing)
The roses in the window box
have tilted to one side
Everything about this house
is gonna grow and die
Oh, it doesn't seem
a year ago to this very day
You said I'm sorry honey
if I don't change the pace
I can't last another day
And love lies bleeding in my hand
Oh, it kills me to think of you
with another man
I was playing rock and roll
and you were just a fan
But my guitar couldn't hold you
so, I split the band
Love lies bleeding in my hands
I wonder if those changes
have left a scar on you
(vocalizing)
All the burning hoops of fire
that you and I passed through
You're a bluebird on a telegraph line
I hope you're happy now
If the wind of change
comes down your way girl
You'll make it back somehow
And love lies bleeding in my hand
Oh, it kills me to think of you
with another man
I was playing rock and roll
and you were just a fan
But my guitar couldn't hold you
so, I split the band
Love lies bleeding in my hands
(cheering)
Oh, yeah
Yeah
And love lies bleeding in my hand
Oh, it kills me to think of you
with another man
I was playing rock and roll
and you were just a fan
But my guitar couldn't hold you
so, I split the band
Love lies bleeding in my hands
Oh, yeah
Ho-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ho-oh-oh-oh-oh-ho-oh
Ho-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Love lies bleeding in my hands
Ho-oh-oh
Ho-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ho-oh-oh-oh-oh
Yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
(inaudible)
That was
"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"
from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
And now, here's a song from the album
Tumbleweed Connection
called"Burn Down the Mission"
("Burn Down the Mission" playing)
(audience cheers, applause)
You tell me there's an angel
in your tree
Did he say he'd come to call on me
For things are getting desperate
in our home
Living in the parish
of the restless folks I know
Everybody now bring your family down
to the riverside
Look to the east to see
where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone
the rich man sleeps
It's time we put the flame torch
to their keep
Yeah
Burn down the mission
Oh, if we're gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
See the red flame light the sky
Burn down the mission
Burn it down to stay alive
It's our only chance of living
Take all you need
To live inside
(audience cheers, applause)
(audience cheering)
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Deep in the woods
the squirrels are out today
My wife cried when they came
to take me away
What more could I do
just to keep her warm
Than burn, burn, burn, burn down
the mission walls
Everybody now bring your family down
to the riverside
Look to the east to see
Where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone
the rich man sleeps
It's time we put the flame torch
to their keep
Burn down the mission
Oh, if we're gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
The red flame light the sky
Burn down the mission
Burn it down to stay alive
It's our only chance of living
Take all you need
To live inside
(audience cheers, applause)
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn it down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn it down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn it down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn it down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn it down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn it down
-(audience cheers, applause)
-(inaudible)
(audience cheers, applause)
ELTON: Okay, it's time to dance.
Here we go.
("Sad Songs (Say So Much)" playing)
(audience cheers, applause)
Guess there are times
when we all need to share a little pain
And ironing out the rough spots
Is the hardest part
when memories remain
And it's times like these
When we all need to hear the radio
'Cause from the lips
of some old singer
We can share the troubles
we already know
Turn 'em on, turn 'em on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Tune in and turn them on
They reach into your room, oh, oh, oh
Feel their gentle touch
Gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
If someone else is suffering enough
Oh, to write it down
When every single word makes sense
Then it's easier
to have those songs around
The kick inside is in the line
That finally gets to you
Feels so good to hurt so bad
Suffer just enough to sing the blues
Yeah
Turn 'em on, turn 'em on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Tune in and turn them on
You know they reach into your room
oh, oh, oh
Feel their gentle touch
Gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say, yeah
Sad songs, they say so much, yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
Turn 'em on, turn 'em on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Tune in and turn them on
You know they reach into your room
oh, oh, oh
Feel their gentle touch
Gentle touch
All hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
You know all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much, yeah
Sad songs say so much, yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
ELTON: Okay. We're going to change
the mood a little bit here,
and do a song
for all you lovers out there.
(audience hooting)
("Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
playing)
What have I got to do
to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find
that you're not there
What have I got to do
to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad so sad
it's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad so sad
why can't we talk it over
Oh, it seems to me
Sorry, it seems to me the hardest word
It's sad so sad
it's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad so sad
why can't we talk it over
Oh, it seems to me
That sorry seems to be
the hardest word
What have I got to do
to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
what have I got to do
When sorry seems to be
The hardest word
Oh, oh
When sorry seems to be
the hardest word
(cheers, applause)
All right.
Okay.
Thank you.
ELTON: Okay.
This is the time of the evening where
I introduce the musicians and singers.
That is the band.
Now, I've had a lot of bands
in my time starting off in 1969
with the late, great Dee Murray
on bass guitar and vocals,
and Nigel also in drums and vocals.
And since then,
many musicians and many singers
have played with me on stage.
And I can honestly say
they've all been great,
and I've learned a lot
from each and every one of them.
So I've been inspired
all through my career by great musicians.
But this band I have now, I say,
is probably the best one.
Save for the first one.
Because every night
I come on stage, they play so well,
and they inspire me to play well.
And they are just fantastic,
fantastic musicians and people.
So I'm going to introduce them one by one.
And you're going to give them
a final Dodger Stadium roar, okay?
I want to hear you.
On the right-hand side of the stage,
on percussion and vocals, John Mayhorn.
(audience cheers, applause)
On keyboards,
our keyboard wizard Kim Ballard.
(audience cheering, applauding)
And bass guitar and vocals,
Matt Bissonette.
(audience cheering, applauding)
One of the greatest musicians
I've ever played with,
and one of the most interesting people
I've ever met,
who has been in and out
of the band since 1973.
I'm so grateful that he's
on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
Because he adds so much to this musically.
In 1979, he and I went around the world
and played 120 shows just the two of us.
And it was an extraordinary
musical experience for me.
So I'm grateful to him for that.
He's played with everybody there is
to play with,
basically, on stage and record.
On percussion, Ray Cooper!
(audience cheering, applauding)
He was playing drums in 1969,
and he was singing in 1969
and he still is, 53 years later,
Nigel Olson.
(audience cheering and applauding)
(inaudible)
Of the madman across the board,
I wanted to add another texture
to the band and I wanted to add
a guitar to the bass
and the drums and the piano.
And Davey Johnstone have played
acoustic guitar on the Madman Record.
So I asked him to join
the band for Honky Chteau.
And we all went to France, to the hotel,
to the Chteau,
the Real, and Paris,
and Davey walked into the studio,
and picked up an electric guitar
for the very first time.
And as you can hear,
he has never looked back.
He's my band leader that gets
everybody together here in Los Angeles,
and rehearses them,
so that when I come over,
I have very little work to do.
So thank you, Davey.
Um, and he's from Edinburgh in Scotland.
And he's fantastic.
On guitars and vocals, Davey Johnstone!
(audience cheering, applauding)
During my lifetime on stage,
I've lost four great musicians.
First of all,
Dee Murray on bass and vocals.
Roger Pope on drums,
Guy Babylon on keyboards,
and Bob Birch on bass guitar and vocals,
and they were such great members
of the band on stage and on record.
So I would like to dedicate this song
to the memory of those great guys.
("Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
playing)
I can't light
No more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade
To black and white
I'm growing tired
And time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
Ladies and gentlemen, Brandi Carlile!
It's much too late to save myself
From falling
I took a chance
and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning
When I met you
Closed the door
And left me blinded by the light
Oh
BOTH: Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself
It's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life
To wander free
But losing everything is like the sun
Going down on me
(audience cheering)
I can't find
Oh, the right romantic line
-But see me once
-See my once
BOTH: And see the way I feel
-Don't discard me
-Baby, no
Just because you think I mean you harm
Just because you think I mean you harm
-But these cuts I have
-Oh, these cuts I have
-They need love
-They need love
-They need love
-To help them heal
Oh
BOTH: Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself
It's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life
-To wander free
-Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
But losing everything
BOTH: Is like the sun going down on me
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself
It's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life
To wander free
Baby, oh, oh
BOTH: Oh, but losing everything
is like the sun
Going down on me
ELTON: Yeah!
(audience cheers, applause)
(cheers and applause continue)
("The Bitch Is Back" plays)
I was justified when I was five
Raisin' cane I spit in your eye
Times are changin'
now, the poor get fat
But the fever's gonna catch you
when the bitch gets back
Eat meat on a Friday, that's all right
I even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best
at the social do's
I get high in the evening
sniffing pots of glue
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
'cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
The things that I do, oh
I entertain by picking brains
Sell my soul by dropping names
I don't like those my god, what's that
Oh, it's full of nasty habits
when the bitch gets back
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
'cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
the things that I do, oh
All right. Bless you.
Oh, yeah!
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
oh, the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
'cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
The things that I do, oh
Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
(vocalizing)
Yeah, bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
I tell you bitch, bitch
the bitch is back
Oh, yeah, bitch, bitch
you know the bitch is back
Hell, yeah, boy!
I say bitch, bitch, the bitch is back
No, tell somebody bitch, bitch
the bitch is back
(audience cheers, applause)
("I'm Still Standing" John plays)
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter
freezes just like ice
And there's a cold and lonely light
that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide
Behind that mask you use
Did you think
this fool could never win
Well, look at me
I'm a coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And don't you know I'm still standing
you just fade away
And don't you know I'm still standing
better than I ever did
Like a true survivor
feelin' like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Pickin' up the pieces of my life
without you on my mind
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
Once I never could hope to win
You're starting down the road
leavin' me again
The threats you made
were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus
you'd be a clown by now
And don't you know I'm still standing
better than I ever did
Lookin' like a true survivor
feelin' like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Pickin' up the pieces of my life
without you on my mind
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah!
And don't you know I'm still standing
better than I ever did
Oh, oh, lookin' like a true survivor
Yeah, feelin' like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Pickin' up the pieces of my life
without you on my mind
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
-(cheers and applause continue)
-Yeah!
In 1975, my next guest was here
and sang with me, and we sang this song.
So I thought it would be great
to re-enact this incredible moment,
or that incredible moment.
So I asked her to come over, and she did.
Here is Kiki Dee!
(audience cheers, applause)
("Don't Go Breaking My Heart" plays)
Don't go breaking my heart
I couldn't if I tried
Oh, honey, if I get restless
Baby, you're not that kind
Oh, don't go breaking my heart
You take the weight off of me
Oh, honey, when you knock on my door
Oh, I gave you my key
BOTH: Woo-ooh
Nobody knows it
-But when I was down
-I was your clown
Woo-ooh
Nobody knows it
Nobody knows it
-Right from the start
-I gave you my heart
Oh, I gave you my heart
Oh, breaking now
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Oh, yeah
Don't go breaking my heart
And nobody told us
'Cause nobody showed us
And now, it's up to us, baby
Woah, I think we can make it
Oh, yeah, so don't misunderstand me
You put the light in my life
Oh, you put the sparks to the flame
I've got your heart in my sights
You have been.
BOTH: Woo-ooh
Nobody knows it
-But when I was down
-I was your clown
Woo-ooh
Nobody knows it
Nobody knows it
-Right from the start
-I gave you my heart
Woah-oh
I gave you my heart
So, Kiki, don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
BOTH: Don't go breaking my heart
ELTON: All right. Come on, everybody.
KIKI: Come on now.
BOTH: Woo-ooh
Nobody knows it
-But when I was down
-I was your clown
-Right from the start
-I gave you my heart
Oh, oh
I gave you my heart
Kiki, now.
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
-Don't go breaking my heart
-I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
-Don't go breaking my heart
-I won't go breaking your heart
Don't go breaking my
Don't go breaking my
-Don't go breaking my heart
-I won't go breaking your heart
Oh, oh
(audience cheering, applauding)
("Crocodile Rock" plays)
ELTON: Oh, yeah!
I remember when rock was young
Me and Susie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimmin' stones
Had an old gold Chevy
and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called
the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were rockin'
round the clock
We were hoppin' and boppin'
to the Crocodile Rock
Well, Crocodile Rockin'
is something shockin'
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time
and I guess I never will
Oh, lawdy mama, those Friday nights
When Susie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rockin'
was out of sight
All right!
AUDIENCE: La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
But the years went by
and rock just died
Susie went and left me
for some foreign guy
Long nights cryin'
by the record machine
Dreamin' of my Chevy
and my old blue jeans
But they'll never kill
the thrills we've got
Burning up to the Crocodile Rock
Learning fast
'till the weeks went past
We really thought
The Crocodile Rock would last
Well, Crocodile Rockin'
is something shockin'
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time
and I guess I never will
Oh, lawdy mama, those Friday nights
When Susie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rockin'
Was out of sight
Ah-ah, all right!
AUDIENCE (clapping):
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
I remember when rock was young
Me and Susie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimmin' stones
Had an old gold Chevy
and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called
the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were rockin'
round the clock
We were hoppin' and boppin'
to the Crocodile Rock
Well, Crocodile Rockin'
is something shockin'
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time
And I guess I never will
Oh, lawdy mama, those Friday nights
When Susie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rockin'
was out of sight
Ah-ah, all right!
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, la, la
Oh, yeah
(audience cheers, applause)
ELTON: All right!
("Saturday Night's Alright"
by Elton John plays)
It's getting late
have you seen my mates
Ma, tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I wanna rock
Wanna get a belly full of beer
My old man's drunker
than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady, she don't care
My sister looks cute
in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
So don't give us none
of your aggravation
We've had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fightin'
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
'Cause Saturday night's
the night I like
Saturday night's
alright, alright, alright
Oh, oh, oh
Well, they're packed pretty tight
in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly
to see me right
I may use a little muscle
to get what I need
I may sink a little drink
and shout out she's with me
A couple of the sounds
that I really like
Are the sound of a switchblade
and a motor bike
I'm a juvenile product
of the working class
Whose best friend floats
in the bottom of a glass
Yeah!
Oh, so don't give us none
of your aggravation
We've had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fightin'
get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
'Cause Saturday night's
the night I like
Saturday night's
alright, alright, alright
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah!
Oh, so don't give us none
of your aggravation
We've had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fightin'
get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
'Cause Saturday night's
the night I like
Saturday night's
alright, alright, alright
Oh, oh
Sing it. Come on, sing it.
-Saturday
-Saturday, Saturday
-Saturday
-Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday
Saturday night's all right
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday night's all right
Here we go!
(explosions)
Yeah, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday
Saturday
Oh, yeah!
(audience cheers, applause)
(explosions)
(explosions)
(cheers and applause continue)
(cheers and applause continue)
ELTON: Thank you so much!
Yeah! Oh!
(cheers and applause continue)
Here we go.
("Cold Heart" plays)
Oh, yeah
Here we go!
-Dua Lipa!
-(audience cheers)
It's a human sign when things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
and temptations strong
Cold, cold heart, hardened by you
Some things lookin' better, baby
just passin' through
Dua Lipa.
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Till touchdown brings me
round again to find
I'm not the man they think
I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
And this is what I should have said
Well, I thought it but I kept it hid
BOTH:
Cold, cold heart, hardened by you
Oh, some things lookin' better, baby
just passing through
Sing it, baby.
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Till touchdown brings me
round again to find
I'm not the man
they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no
-And this is what I should have said
-Have said
Well, I thought it but I kept it hid
Cold, cold heart, hardened by you
Some things lookin' better, baby
just passing through
-Come on, everybody. Sing it!
-Come on. Sing it with us.
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Till touchdown brings me
round again to find
I'm not the man
they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I think it's gonna be
a long, long time
'Till touchdown brings me
round again to find
I'm not the man
they think I am at home
-Oh, no, no, no
-Oh, shoorah
Shoorah, oh, shoorah
Shoorah-ah-ah
(audience cheering, applauding)
I can't tell you how great it is
that at 75 years of age,
I have the number one record
around the world.
Thanks to PNAU and to Dua Lipa
for making that possible.
And now, Britney Spears is breaking out,
so, I'm really, really happy.
But I'll tell you what.
This is my very first hit 52 years ago.
("Your Song" plays)
(cheers, applause)
It's a little bit funny
this feeling inside
I'm not one of those
who can easily hide
I don't have much money, boy, if I did
I'd buy a big house
where we both could live
If I was a sculptor but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions
in a traveling show
I know it's not much
but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song
and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody
this is your song
It may be quite simple
but, now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you're in the world
I sat on the roof
and kicked off the moss
Well, a few of these verses
oh, they've got me quite cross
But this sun's been quite kind
while I wrote this song
It's for people like you
that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting
but these things I do
You see I've forgotten
if they're green or they're blue
Anyway, the thing is
what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes
I've ever seen
And you can tell everybody
this is your song
It may be quite simple
but, now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you're in the world
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
While you're in the world
(audience cheering, applauding)
That's your song, Los Angeles!
(cheers, applause)
(cheers and applause continue)
Okay.
It's been 50 years of touring
in the United States,
across all 50 states,
and this is my seventh concert here
in Dodger Stadium.
Uh, my first concert here
on October 25th and 26th in 1975.
And tonight, is the 271st show
of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
And my 103rd concert
in the Los Angeles area.
So, before we continue,
I would like to thank all our crew,
all the musicians,
everybody involved in this show since, uh,
we were in, uh, New Orleans in January.
We've been in a Covid bubble,
all of us, since then,
and I only see the band
when I come on stage.
Everyone has been magnificent, um
Oh, I hope they have the best Thanksgiving
and the best Christmas.
Um, and I'd also like
to introduce somebody
who, if it wasn't for him,
I wouldn't be sitting here right now.
Come here. Come on, Mr. Bernie Taupin!
(cheers, applause)
We've been writing together now
since 1967,
and we still are, we still love each other
more than we've ever done before.
He's an amazing guy. I love you.
Thanks for all the gifts.
Hey, is this the greatest band
on the planet?
-Right?
-(cheers)
And as you know, I am stopping touring,
and this will mean my last concert
in America and Canada.
And the reason why I'm touring,
I think you know,
is because I want
to spend time with my family
because I'll be 76
by the time I stop next year.
So, I want to bring them out,
and show you why I am retiring.
David, Zachary and Elijah.
(cheers, applause)
(cheers, applause)
ELTON: Thank you all for dressing up.
It makes me so happy to see you
when you wear the most fantastic costumes,
and you've been to so many shows.
Eighty-seventh.
Hundred and something over there.
Hundred and ninety-fifth show.
Their first show over there.
Um, yeah, baby, '67, '62, uh, 42nd,
and I can't see over there.
A hundred just 185th? Wow.
Blimey.
Well, you know what,
I became successful first in America,
and you bought the singles
and the albums and the eight tracks,
the cassettes, the CDs,
and, uh, more importantly,
you bought the tickets to the shows
which I love more than anything
is to play live.
Um, so I want to thank you for that
because you made me.
Without America, I wouldn't be here.
So thank you for all the years
of love and generosity and loyalty.
(cheers, applause)
I wish you health and love, prosperity.
Prosperity. Be kind to each other, okay?
And farewell.
("Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" plays)
When are you gonna come down
when are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man
You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present
for your friends to open
This boy's too young
to be singing the blues
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough
Back to the howling old owl
in the streets
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh, I've finally decided
my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
What do you think you'll do then
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple
of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again
Or maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits
like you on the ground
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough
Back to the howling old owl
in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh, I've finally decided
my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
(audience cheering, applauding)
(inaudible)
(inaudible)
(audience cheering
and applauding continue)
("Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
instrumental plays)
(magical sound plays)
(instrumental continues)