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To: Jan_Sobieski

Wow, where to begin with this.
It is rare to see such unbridled ignorance on FR. (Ignorance is lack of knowledge, not stupidity.)
Anyone who has read my posts, knows that I post frequently on Rock, and Pop related articles because it’s a hobby of mine. I own 2000 plus albums/CD’s, and store music trivia like a file cabinet.

Here are the things you got wrong in this post.

1) Elton John wrote the song “Philadelphia Freedom” about being gay.
Wrong: Elton is homosexual, we all know that, but this song was written to honor Billy Jean King’s (who’s also homosexual) Tennis Team of the same name. The song was co-written By Bernie Taupin (one of the few songs that Elton helped write lyrics to) who is not homosexual. According to both parties, they have never even been in the room when writing any of Elton’s songs. Bernie writes the lyrics 95% of the time, Elton puts them to music. They are one of the most successful writing duo’s since Lennon and McCartney.

Elton has spoken about the origins of this song many times because most people believe it’s about America’s Bicentennial.
Elton has been openly homosexual since the early eighties. If he and Bernie had written a song about “coming out” why would he lie repeatedly about it?

2) The lyrics refer to a man between knees or what ever you posted.
Wrong. Here are the accurate lyrics;

“Philadelphia Freedom”

I used to be a rolling stone
You know if the cause was right
I’d leave to find the answer on the road
I used to be a heart beating for someone
But the times have changed
The less I say the more my work gets done

`Cause 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
Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had

Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won’t you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do

If you choose to you can live your life alone
Some people choose the city
Some others choose the good old family home
I like living easy without family ties
Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes

If you are referring to this line:
“Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man”
It refers to “Philadelphia Freedom affecting him as a child”, which is why most fans believed it was a pro-America patriotic song.
Elton has said, and shown (see his concerts after 911) that he does love the US, the song was not about that.

A Christian Pastor in Los Angeles (Joe Schimmel, Fight the Good Fight Ministries)

He may be a good pastor, but do you not see the irony that his ministry is named after a 1981 song by a Rock group named Triumph.
In the 50’s it was Elvis, in the 60’s it was John Lennon, in the 70’s it was Alice Cooper, in the 80’s it was Ozzy Osbourne, Next was Marilyn Manson, There were claims of satanic messages by playing the “vinyl” albums “backwards”, but only millionaire TV preachers had $900 turntables that would play records backwards. I’ve heard crap like this my whole life, and still have seen no evidence, of brain washing in popular music.
For example, read the lyrics to this song, and tell what you think:

Shout at the Devil
By Mötley Crüe

He’s the wolf screaming lonely in the night
He’s the blood stain the stage
He’s the tear in your eye
Been tempted by his lie
He’s the knife in your back
He’s rage
He’s the razor to the knife
Oh lonely is our lives
My heads spinnin’ round and round
But in seasons of wither
We’ll stand and deliver
Be strong and laugh and

[Chorus]
Shout shout shout
Shout at the devil

He’ll be the love in your eyes
He’ll be the blood between your thighs
And then have you cry for more
He’ll put your strength to the test
He’ll put the thrill back in death
Sure you’ve heard it all before
He’ll be the risk in the kiss
Might be anger on your lips
Might run scared for the door
But in seasons of wither
We’ll stand and deliver
Be strong and laugh and

[Chorus]

I’ll bet you and your preacher would say it’s about devil worship. Better re-read it, according to author Nikki Sixx it’s an anti-evil statement.

You can find evil everywhere if you look hard enough for it. If you want to gripe about an Elton/Bernie song about homosexuality, go look up the lyrics to “All the Young Girls Love Alice” from the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album (one of the best albums ever). You might have a point for argument with that song.


67 posted on 07/20/2015 8:25:58 PM PDT by rikkir (Anyone still believe the 8/08 Atlantic cover wasn't 100% accurate?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies ]


To: rikkir

I respectfully disagree, even though I am being accused of ignorance. Yes, everyone knows the story that Taupin wrote the song and it is about Billy Jean King. Clearly, that is not the case, unless your into post-modern deconstruction. It is not only this song...Many of his songs have some twisted homosexual double entendre; Nikita, Your Song, Etc.


68 posted on 07/20/2015 9:21:46 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies ]

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