Taylor Hicks sang this Elton John song, 'Leave On' or something on American Idol. What is this song, what is it about?
2006-06-21 01:28:26 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Actually Rain ^^^^^^ sourced this before Smiddy managed to, so the points should go there ... unless of course someone else actually provides some deeper insight.
"Levon" is a popular 1971 song, recorded by Elton John with music written by him and lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It was from John's album Madman Across The Water.
As usual with Taupin, the lyrics are a complex riddle, involving Jesus, Venus, Christmas, The New York Times, Friedrich Nietzsche's joke "God is dead", and the apocryphal Alvin Tostig. The titular character's name derives from The Band drummer Levon Helm. [1]. The track's power derives from John's solid vocals and his piano-based melody married to Paul Buckmaster's dynamic string arrangement.
The song describes a family living with mental illness. The first line is the first clue to Taupin's riddle. "Levon wears his war wound like a crown" refers to being used as a "pawn" in warfare, and receiving a head injury. His son, irreverently named "Jesus", is growing apart from his father, who seems to fixate on religious and status symbols. The song's refrain, "He shall be Levon" contains a subtle pun which John's phrasing alternately obscures and punctuates: "He shall believe on".
"Levon" has since been remade by several artists, including Bon Jovi and Billy Klippert. It was also taken on by Taylor Hicks on the fifth season of American Idol and was one of the most praised performances of that season.
2006-06-21 01:33:17 · answer #1 · answered by Smiddy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No- its Levon... its a guys name.
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the album Madman Across The Water
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
Spend 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
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
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
2006-06-21 08:33:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Levon
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
Spend 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
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
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
2006-06-21 08:33:32 · answer #3 · answered by DollyLama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
[Update: Just goes to show you can teach an old dog new tricks! I've always thought this song was about what I wrote. I love Smiddy's answer...even if #2 responder sourced it first. I had no idea this song had such deeper meaning. Thanks for the insight. My vote will go to Smiddy!]
The song is called "Levon," by Elton John.
It's about a man who went from rags to riches, but forgot what is truly important in life - - family. His son, Jesus, wishes for a better life. Not necessarily better in terms of wealth, but in terms of happiness...love...
Here are the lyrics:
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
Spend 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
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
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
2006-06-21 08:31:38 · answer #4 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
levon---read the lyrics...tell me
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
Spend 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
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
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
2006-06-21 08:34:10 · answer #5 · answered by Jack Kerouac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's actually called Levon off the Madman Across the Water album.
2006-06-21 08:32:32 · answer #6 · answered by star dust 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋