Hey how about this
A little conversation tonight
Thinking aloud how we struggled to find
Our place in the dizzy heights
Don’t often do this
We never really get the chance
Nearly froze to death on Oxford Street
Now we’re sitting in the South of France
Now, haven’t you ever gotten together with an old friend – someone you haven’t seen after many years – and it seems just like yesterday – like no time has passed? I just want to go “Awwwww…” because that’s how I think of Elton and Bernie after all these years. Musical soulmates. But beyond that, I like this song because it is honest in its simplicity and “everydayness” – something we can all relate to.
Old ’67 what a time it was
What a time of innocence, what a time we’ve lost
Raise a glass and have a laugh, have a laugh or two
Here’s to old ’67 and an older me and you
“Old ’67” refers to 1967, when Elton and Bernie started writing together. They’ve come a long way, baby, that’s for sure. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to be them and to look back at where they came from, where they’ve been and where they are now. But they made it and still going strong – despite the odds, despite the years, despite being “targets on the rifle range.”
Talking through the evening
Sitting here side by side
Just you and me on a balcony
It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside
That last line – that gets to me every time I hear it. Call me sentimental, I can live with that.
To top it all off, one of my friends from college (who I promised will remain nameless) and is as big an Eltonite as I am, borrowed Bernie’s lyrics and wrote some special ones for me for my 25th anniversary with IBM. I was so touched (and still am) when I read the lyrics. So here’s Old ’82…
Hey how about this
A little talk about those Tech days
Thinking aloud how we struggled to find
Our way around North Avenue
Don’t often do this
We studied CS, not English
Nearly froze to death on Peachtree Street
So you went back to South Florida
Whenever we get together
It’s good to shoot the breeze
Thinking about you, Gordon and me
And realizing we haven’t changed over the years
Old ’82 what a time it was
What the Varsity tasted like then, what it still tastes like now
Thinking about Gagliano or Goda and I’ll bet you’ll have a laugh or two
Here’s to Old ’82 and and older me and you
Sentimental about the Rich Building?
Conversing ’bout those Yellow Jacket days
Laughing about how the two of us sound
When we sing at Elton’s concerts these days
Honest, it’s amazing
That we get together occasionally
For in between the kids, work and all the other stuff
It’s great that we’ve been able to stay in touch
Talking all through those ICS classes
Sitting here thinking how fortunate we were
Just ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down’ on you and me
It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside
Here’s to you, my friend (you know who you are) – to old ’82 and an older me and you…
To an older me and you, too, Elton
Old ’67 (The Captain and the Kid – 2006)
The Captain and the Kim 