 Madman Across The Water (1971) [ larger cover art ] |
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As I awoke this evening with the smell of woodsmoke clinging.
Like a gentle cobweb hanging upon a painted teepee.
Oh I went to see my chieftain with my war lance and my woman.
For he told us that the yellow moon would very soon be leaving.
This I can't believe I said, I can't believe our Warlord's dead.
Oh, he would not leave the chose ones to the buzzards and the soldiers guns.
Oh, great father of the Iroquois ever since I was young,
I've read the writing of the smoke and breast-fed on the sound of drums.
I've learned to hurl the tomahawk and ride a painted pony wild.
To run the gauntlet of the Sioux, to make a chieftain's daughter mine.
And now you ask that I should watch the red man's race be slowly crushed!
What kind of words are these to hear from Yellow Dog, whom the white man fears?
I take only what is mine Lord, my pony, my squaw, and my child.
I can't stay to see you die along with my tribe's pride.
I go to search for the yellow moon and the Fathers of our sons,
Where the red sun sinks in the hills of gold, and the healing waters run.
Trampling down the prairie rose, leaving hoof tracks in the sand.
Those who wish to follow me, I welcome with my hands.
I heard from passing renegades Geronimo was dead,
He'd been laying down his weapons when they filled him full of lead.
Now there seems no reason why I should carry on,
In this land that once was my land, I can't find a home.
It's lonely and it's quiet and the horse soldiers are coming,
And I think it's time I strung my bow and ceased my senseless running.
For soon I'll find the yellow moon, along with my loved ones.
Where the buffaloes graze in clover fields without the sound of guns.
And the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold
And peace to this young warrior comes with a bullet hole.
| xkolibuul (Chuckanut sandstone) | Posted: Apr 17, 2013 - 23:31 Dalebarely wrote: Every musician, singer and songwriter ever did their best work early. There are no exceptions to this rule. Nonsense. There are always exceptions. Look at Bruce Cockburn. He produced a simply stunning run of albums from mid 90s to about 2005, and has been around for years, since the early 70s. Or Paul Simon. Graceland is every bit as good as S&G's early work. No exceptions, eh? Utter tosh. |
| Dalebarely | Posted: Mar 06, 2012 - 08:58 ozzie1313 wrote: I loved this album and although everything Elton did was musically sound none of it appealed to me after this. Steve Miller, Rod Stewart, Cheryl Crow and many others did their best work early. Every musician, singer and songwriter ever did their best work early. There are no exceptions to this rule. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Mar 06, 2012 - 08:54 linden wrote: I like early Elton/Bernie as much as the next person, but man is this song silly. I know people who aren't from the U.S. can't be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of American history, but would Elton and Bernie mix together the Irish, English and Welsh in the same song like they're all the same? Sheesh. Sure, it's a mess, fact-wise. Have you listened to 'Tumbleweed Connection'? Same mish-mash of historical nonsense. Bernie writes lyrics, not historical treatises. Bernie writes from his emotions, and facts often get lost in the shuffle. Worse, Elton has been known to throw out lyrics that don't fit, muddying the water further still. Just enjoy it (or not) for what it is, don't try to analyze too much. |
| iTuner | Posted: Mar 06, 2012 - 08:51 imnotpc wrote: Worst Elton John song I've ever heard. Had to turn it off... Agreed, what a stinking pile this one is. |
| linden (Santa Cruz, CA) | Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 16:37 I like early Elton/Bernie as much as the next person, but man is this song silly. I know people who aren't from the U.S. can't be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of American history, but would Elton and Bernie mix together the Irish, English and Welsh in the same song like they're all the same? Sheesh. |
| linzie | Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 16:30 ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh just upped my rating....  |
| BobbyCat (Beyond) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 03:23 cc_rider wrote: I caught myself singing this in my head this weekend. And Bill plays it on Monday. Coincidence? Nope. |
| lodian (Marquette, MI) | Posted: Oct 31, 2011 - 13:06 Madman Across the Water is one of the albums I got when it first came out but never replaced on CD. I always forget there is more to this album than Tiny Dancer and Levon. |
| ozzie1313 | Posted: Oct 31, 2011 - 12:43 I loved this album and although everything Elton did was musically sound none of it appealed to me after this. Steve Miller, Rod Stewart, Cheryl Crow and many others did their best work early. |
| HMS_Beagle (Vancouver, Canada) | Posted: Oct 31, 2011 - 12:39 Yikes. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Oct 31, 2011 - 12:39 I caught myself singing this in my head this weekend. And Bill plays it on Monday. Coincidence? |
| unclehud (300 feet above the planet) | Posted: Sep 29, 2011 - 19:25 cc_rider wrote: ... what do us Yanks know about Agincourt or Hastings, for example. A subtle difference: the culture and history of the US is often "learned" through television and movies, which often leads to fantastically incorrect interpretations of actual events. It's like learning about English history from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Braveheart, and any movie with "Knight" in the title. |
| linzie | Posted: Sep 29, 2011 - 19:24 "...and peace to this young warrior comes with a bullet hole" One of my favorite lines from a tune, so sue me... |
| linzie | Posted: Sep 29, 2011 - 19:19 sieversfam wrote: Really! I am having trouble determining which white, non-US artist's song on Native American plight is worse.. This song, or Europe's "Trail of Tears." Europe had better hair. ....pinhead |
| linzie | Posted: Sep 29, 2011 - 19:17 One of his best, to me..anyway! BT's lyrics are really very eloquent poetry! But the musical arrangements-prob. Paul Buckmaster or Gus Dudgeon-take it the rest of the way home.....powerful & deep at the same time!!! |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 09:49 Cynaera wrote: I can't analyze Elton John/Bernie Taupin albums, because each has its own charm and its own shame. I try to take each one on its own merits, but I confess, I have my favorites. I love "Rock of the Westies" because of the absolute dominance of Davey Johnstone's guitar work and the backing vocals. I love "Caribou" because of "Ticking." I love "Honky Chateau" because of the mood the entire album evokes in me (like the runes album by Zep - I can't single out one song; I have to listen to the whole thing.) Yep.EJ had a bad stretch of music, but even at his worst, he was better than most artists, if only for his incredible piano playing and his determination. I've got nothing bad to say about him. (Oh, okay - "Island Girl," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Crocodile Rock," but with a track record as long and impressive as his, I think he can be excused for a few clunkers.) |
| sieversfam | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 09:49 DanO-1 wrote: Really???? Really! I am having trouble determining which white, non-US artist's song on Native American plight is worse.. This song, or Europe's "Trail of Tears." Europe had better hair. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 09:48 BigTimber wrote: This song was played a while back but I just now am able to write my comment. I found it interesting that much of the imagery seemed like a montage of stereotypes strung together (for instance, not every Native American lived in a tipi, those of the northwest and northeast used wood to make longhouses and some in the southwest used stone to build elaborate structures). I was wondering if there was any sort of backlash to this. It is cool that he was giving a shout out to different tribes from across what is now the US with various languages, cultures, and histories...I suppose it would have just made more sense to me if he had stuck with one tribe located in one particular location and focused on their unique history. Now, I don't want to cause any bad vibes because I actually really dig EJ and I realize what he did here was a tribute of sorts, just was wondering what others thought about this. Thanks! Oh, the whole lyric is straight from Bernie Taupin, a country boy from Nowheresville, England. Bernie is famously fascinated by the American West and the Civil War, but he is very short on historical accuracy. He can be forgiven: what do us Yanks know about Agincourt or Hastings, for example. He was just writing music, not researching actual events. Don't read too much into his lyrics, that way lies madness. |
| DanO-1 (Sandia Park, New Mexico) | Posted: Aug 29, 2011 - 09:45 imnotpc wrote: Worst Elton John song I've ever heard. Had to turn it off... Really???? |
| gregormiz (Portland, OR) | Posted: Jul 29, 2011 - 00:42 This isn't a terrible song. It's pretty ok, as is a lot of the work on this album. The problem wit this album is that we hear WAY too much of it here. Seriously, I'd just as soon hear more "good old Ludwig Van". He didn't suck either. Do we have to hear his 9th EVERY day? |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 14:43 I can't analyze Elton John/Bernie Taupin albums, because each has its own charm and its own shame. I try to take each one on its own merits, but I confess, I have my favorites. I love "Rock of the Westies" because of the absolute dominance of Davey Johnstone's guitar work and the backing vocals. I love "Caribou" because of "Ticking." I love "Honky Chateau" because of the mood the entire album evokes in me (like the runes album by Zep - I can't single out one song; I have to listen to the whole thing.) EJ had a bad stretch of music, but even at his worst, he was better than most artists, if only for his incredible piano playing and his determination. I've got nothing bad to say about him. (Oh, okay - "Island Girl," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Crocodile Rock," but with a track record as long and impressive as his, I think he can be excused for a few clunkers.) |
| jessfine (exiled to Wisconsin) | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 14:38 Pure schmaltz! I logged in just to give this a 1 - my first ever. I generally love Elton's early stuff, but this is far from his best. |
| wendyleefrancis (Somewhere in Canada) | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 14:31 This is my favourite songs off one of my favourite albums. John so eloquently and passionately captures the tragedy of the end of Indian culture in the US. No matter how many times I hear this song, it brings tears to my eyes. Brilliant! |
| imnotpc | Posted: Jun 27, 2011 - 14:31 Worst Elton John song I've ever heard. Had to turn it off... |
| BigTimber (Fort Collins) | Posted: May 11, 2011 - 16:18 This song was played a while back but I just now am able to write my comment. I found it interesting that much of the imagery seemed like a montage of stereotypes strung together (for instance, not every Native American lived in a tipi, those of the northwest and northeast used wood to make longhouses and some in the southwest used stone to build elaborate structures). I was wondering if there was any sort of backlash to this. It is cool that he was giving a shout out to different tribes from across what is now the US with various languages, cultures, and histories...I suppose it would have just made more sense to me if he had stuck with one tribe located in one particular location and focused on their unique history. Now, I don't want to cause any bad vibes because I actually really dig EJ and I realize what he did here was a tribute of sorts, just was wondering what others thought about this. Thanks! |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:30 jgirl63 wrote: Classic Elton John. The seventies were unsurpassed for EjJ/BT team. "Candle in the Wind" doesn't hold a candle to his early work. "Candle in the Wind" was released in 1973 - relatively early in their careers. |
| RedTopFireBelow (Jersey shore, USA) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:24 classic elton/bernie song.. one of the few ever written about the near extermination of the native american.... remember AIM (American Indian Movement)? Russell Means, an activist, was wrongly imprisoned for many years for allegedly shooting a federal agent... he was THE Last Mohican in the movie.. a little movie trivia for y'all.... |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:24 CoolbeaN wrote: I've never liked elton john... Here is annother example why. I have always liked Elton John. Here is another example why. |
| NicJohn (Northern Michigan) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:23 Great! |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:22 Peyote wrote: This song puts a lump in my throat everytime! Yes. Yes it does. |
| coyotexxx2 (Enjoying Paradise) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:22 Great native american theme set Bill. How about Iron Maiden's "Run For the Hills" next or Nugent's "Great White Buffalo." Ok, probably never on RP but would be fun to hear! |
| Papernapkin (Mountain View, CA) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:20 Terrible. |
| RipperP (Greater New York Metro) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:20 Nice pairing of tunes...I was passively listening to the prior number by Jesse Colin Young and caught myself thinking it was a remake of this Elton tune (until I listened more closely). |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Apr 25, 2011 - 09:20 jgirl63 wrote: Classic Elton John. The seventies were unsurpassed for EjJ/BT team. At the time of its release, CitW was pretty amazing, a wonderful tribute to a tragic figure. Reworking it for Diana was a bit crass, in my opinion."Candle in the Wind" doesn't hold a candle to his early work. |
| linzie | Posted: Mar 24, 2011 - 19:59 An absolutely eloquent use of poetry, strings, and piano!! The words blend so well with each chord, and vice versa!! Kinda says it all when you talk about the impact these two made on music during that period...BT sent him the words, and he made it sound like this!!! |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 09:11 Gus Dudgeon I think produced this album and Tumbleweed Connection. I think he also produced Shawn Phillips album from the same period. May have been same arranger for the strings. Liked the sound on all three. |
| jgirl63 (Georgetown, Maine) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 09:10 Classic Elton John. The seventies were unsurpassed for EjJ/BT team. "Candle in the Wind" doesn't hold a candle to his early work. |
| dogpound (the island on which I belong) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 09:06 I love the ghetto gospel version of this |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 09:03 Zeke19 wrote: I'm sure that most Native Americans in the mid-late 19th Century could easily relate to Elton John's eclectic shoe fetish and fabulous stage presence. Well, really it was Bernie who was/is obsessed with the American West and the Civil War. I remember in Junior High, our music teacher played this for us, three times. We had to write about what it meant and how it made us feel. I went and bought 'Madman' that weekend. Edit: Damn. Listening to it again, now, it grabs me just as much as it did then. |
| MojoJojo (Indianapolis, IN USA) | Posted: Feb 21, 2011 - 09:03 Zeke19 wrote: I'm sure that most Native Americans in the mid-late 19th Century could easily relate to Elton John's eclectic shoe fetish and fabulous stage presence. Thanks for a much needed LOL-moment here in cubicle hell on a cold and rainy Monday morning. |
| demetrio_barros | Posted: Oct 01, 2010 - 13:19 Um dos maiores exemplos da genialidade de Elton John. Logo no início percebe-se a beleza desta canção somente com o vocal. |
| funkaholic (Los Angeles) | Posted: Jun 09, 2004 - 22:53 This is not one of Elton's better songs. In my opinion, Madman Across The Water is quite the cumbersome album; weighted down by it's own pretensions. Tumbleweed Connection is a much more sincere effort, filled with better songs. But for capturing the essence of what the John/Taupin team was, complete with better songs, Honky Chateau and Don't Shoot Me are as good as they got. |
| phineas (lotusland) | Posted: May 27, 2004 - 16:11 bryceharrington wrote: Please, no more EJ. I get too much of that on the sappy local radio station...
Regardless of who is now playing on RP, why in god's name are you listening to a "sappy local station"? Throw in cassette, plop in a disk, switch on your I-Pod, hell, sing to yourself....but stop griping about a song on RP because you're apparently unable to keep yourself away from your "sappy local station." And FWIW, I seriously doubt you're hearing this EJ song on any mainstream radio. |
| Zeke19 (Zamunda) | Posted: May 27, 2004 - 16:10 I'm sure that most Native Americans in the mid-late 19th Century could easily relate to Elton John's eclectic shoe fetish and fabulous stage presence. |
| Gaby | Posted: May 27, 2004 - 16:07 I've never heard this one before.Not sure if I like it. |
| Peyote (over under sideways down) | Posted: May 14, 2004 - 11:30 Bat_Man wrote: ......It's lonely and it's quiet and the horse soldiers are coming, and I think it's time I strung my bow and ceased my senseless running.... For soon I find the yellow moon, along with my loved ones. Where the buffaloes graze in clover fields without the sound of guns........
and peace to this young warrior comes with a bullethole! It is a good day to die.  |
| Peyote (over under sideways down) | Posted: May 14, 2004 - 11:28 Jinx I was listening to this this morning!! I thought my cd player was overriding RP on my player!! This song puts a lump in my throat everytime! |
| ralpki (West Coast of Florida) | Posted: May 14, 2004 - 11:23 Make it stop please, please, oh for the love of all that is good make it stop. |
| digger (Vermont) | Posted: May 01, 2004 - 08:31 bryceharrington wrote: Please, no more EJ. I get too much of that on the sappy local radio station...
Bite your tongue, young man! Don't tell me you've heard THIS EJ song on the radio. I have been listening to the radio since this album came out, and I have NEVER heard this song!! |
| bryceharrington | Posted: Apr 18, 2004 - 11:59 Please, no more EJ. I get too much of that on the sappy local radio station... |