A listener suggestion from Paul in Charles City!
Elton John – Empty Garden
Elton John and John Lennon were quite good friends and even put out a #1 song together, “Whatever Gets You Through The Night”, in 1974.
After John was murdered at the end of 1980, Elton and his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, were in shock and saddened by the great loss.
“Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” was their tribute to Lennon and released in 1982 on Elton’s ‘Jump Up’ album.
Lyrically, it was a beautiful analogy of looking at the lives of people Lennon influenced because of his quest for world peace, freedom and love. The garden, the lives of all ofhis fans who also wanted the same things… The gardener, Lennon, was the caretaker and cultivator of the many beautiful things he helped to “grow” in the world.
Now, the storyteller, notices that the garden is wilting and the gardener is missing, nowhere to be found and the garden is noticably saddened by the loss of the gardener, who took such good care of it while he was there.
The song peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 and is one of Elton and Bernie’s most loved and sad songs.
