And he shall be Levon/
And he shall be a good man.

Elton John’s “Levon” is about three generations of the Tostig family: Alvin Tostig who is Levon Tostig’s dad, and Jesus Tostig who is the youngest, Levon’s son. Each Tostig is a good man and desires the best for their son, but most of all, each wants their son to achieve more in life than they did.

It is very much a tale of the American dream. Levon owns a semi-successful balloon company but his son Jesus just looks at the balloons and dreams of being an astronaut. This makes Levon both proud and disappointed. He is happy that Jesus is looking to better himself but slightly disappointed that he doesn’t see himself continuing the family business. I really like structure of the song, and how Taupin is simply telling us a story about a family.

The melody of the verse and chorus in addition to the story-telling all add up to make “Levon” a great song. The song is produced extremely well. Most of John’s albums are. After the piano intro, the strings do most of the weight-lifting. Though there are some crazy piano solos that really show off Elton’s piano chops. He is the best rock piano player (on this list and not on this list). Nina Simone is better than him, but I don’t consider her rock.

Levon 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.
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.
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’s 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,
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.
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.

And he shall be Levon!
And he shall be a good man.
And he shall be Levon,
In tradition with the family plan, woo.
And he shall be Levon,
And he shall be a good man.
He shall be Levon.

written by Elton John/ Bernie Taupin

Just stop your crying/
It’s the sign of the times…

According to Harry Styles, “Sign of the Times” is about a mother who just had a child and she was told the baby is going to live but she is going to die shortly. “Sign of the Times” is the mother’s words to the child. That concept is great, but that is not the story the song tells, nor does the tone of the song match. It wouldn’t be the first time an artist fibbed when asked what a song is about. (Dylan did this all the time.)

Think of all the things you’d want to tell your child if you had only five minutes to live. Probably not something about how we’re always stuck and running from bullets. What does that even mean in this context?

The lyrics sound closer to a Bonnie & Clyde adventure told from the perspective of Clyde. Everything makes much more sense this way. The lovers are having fun but getting into trouble…they’ve got to get away! This makes much more sense.

Harry Styles is has an amazing voice and delivers a powerful vocal. What a melody! Both the verse, bridge and chorus are strong. The song has solid instrumentation.  Styles  sings with emotion.   His falsetto is amazing. He is on the same level as Prince and the Brothers’ Gibb.

The more you experience “Sign of the Times” and the less background you bring to it, the more you’ll enjoy it (the fact that he was in boy band “One Direction”, his story about the lyrics, etc.) “Sign of the Times” is one of the best songs of the past decade.

Sign of the Times Lyrics

Just stop your crying,
It’s a sign of the times.
Welcome to the final show,
Hope you’re wearing your best clothes.

You can’t bribe the door on your way to the sky.
You look pretty good down here,
But you ain’t really good.

If we never learn, we been here before.
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.
We never learn, we been here before.
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.

Just stop your crying,
It’s a sign of the times.
We gotta get away from here,
We gotta get away from here.
Just stop your crying,
It’ll be alright.
They told me that the end is near,
We gotta get away from here.

Just stop your crying,
Have the time of your life.
Breaking through the atmosphere.
And things are pretty good from here.
Remember everything will be alright,
We can meet again somewhere,
Somewhere far away from here.
We never learn, we been here before,
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.

We never learn, we been here before.
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.
Just stop your crying
It’s a sign of the times.
We gotta get away from here.
We gotta get away from here.

Stop your crying
Baby, it will be alright.
They told me that the end is near.
We gotta get away from here.
We never learn, we been here before,
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.

We never learn, we been here before,
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets.

We don’t talk enough.
We should open up,
Before it’s all too much.
Will we ever learn?
We’ve been here before.
It’s just what we know.

Stop your crying, baby
It’s a sign of the times.
We gotta get away,
We got to get away!
We got to get away!
We got to get away.
We got to get away.
We got to, we got to (away).
We got to, we got to (away).
We got to, we got to (away).

written by: Harry Styles, Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Ryan Nasci, Alex Salibian, Tyler Johnson

Well I guess everything dies baby that’s a fact/
But maybe everything that dies someday.

Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” tells the story of a poor couple who gather up their money and head to Atlantic City to try to make ends meet. They are aware that the city has an unsavory reputation–the city is being overtaken by the mob- but they have few options.

There are few jobs available there, and the man does end up getting involved with the mob by “doing a little favor for them.” He is sick of ending up on the wrong side, seeing everyone else wind up rich. The chorus is great. Springsteen discusses his hopes for the resurrection of the city that has died in the context of a man who hopes that this turn to the mob will not make him irredeemable.

That rawness of “Atlantic City” provides much of the appeal. Supposedly, Springsteen tried to make this into a rock song, but producer Jon Landau convinced him to keep it with the folkish sound. He has played it in concert with the full band and it never sounds the same.

The harmonica plays an essential part on this song. It is a great solo instrument here, and I think it is Springsteen’s finest harmonica work. I also like the mandolin. It brings the song together and brings home the Italian imagery.

Atlantic City Lyrics

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night,
Now they blew up his house too.
Down on the boardwalk they’re gettin’ ready for a fight,
Gonna see what them racket boys can do.

Now there’s trouble busin’ in from out of state,
And the D.A. can’t get no relief.
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade,
And the gambling commission’s hanging on by the skin of its teeth.

Well now everything dies, baby that’s a fact.
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty,
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

Well I got a job and tried to put my money away,
But I got debts that no honest man can pay.
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust,
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus.

Well now everything dies baby that’s a fact.
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty,
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold
But with you forever I’ll stay.
We’re goin’ out where the sand’s turning to gold.
So put on your stockings baby
Cause the night’s getting cold.

And everything dies baby that’s a fact,
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.

Now I been lookin’ for a job but it’s hard to find-
Down here it’s just winners and losers,
And don’t get caught on the wrong side of that line.
Well I’m tired of comin’ out on the losing end.

So honey last night I met this guy
And I’m gonna do a little favor for him.

Well now everything dies baby that’s a fact.
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.
Put your hair up nice, fix your make up pretty,
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

written by Bruce Springsteen