I’ve been listening to Don’t Shoot Me… this past week, and I had almost (but not quite!) forgotten how much I really like this song. And since the CD is playing in my car whenever I transport my daughter, she tells me it is one of her favorites, too.
You wore a little cross of gold around your neck
I saw it as you flew between my reason
Like a raven in the night time when you left
I wear a chain upon my wrist that bears no name
You touched it and you wore it
And you kept it in your pillow all the same
More Bernie poetry (I mean, come on…”as you flew between my reason”…classic!) adorned by Elton’s superb vocals and simple, timeless orchestration…and of course my favorite bird-flying to-freedom theme.
My high-flying bird has flown from out my arms
I thought myself her keeper
She thought I meant her harm
She thought I was the archer
A weather man of words
But I could never shoot down
My high-flying bird
You know, it’s very comforting to listen to a song like this again after such a long time. It’s like reacquainting with an old friend…you may not have thought about him/her for a while, but it’s like yesterday when you do. And it brings back so many memories. I vividly recall the album photograph that accompanies this song…Bernie with outstretched arm trying to keep the ocean at bay. Loved that photo, loved so many of the photos from this album (and had so many of them plastered on my bedroom wall).
But I digress once again…now onto the tune itself. And be sure to listen to the second verse, too – it’s just as beautiful as the words I’ve included here.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear EJ play this song during his 60th birthday concert…he said it is one of his all-time favorite songs, too. And, since he said he had to relearn it for the concert, I don’t feel so bad about almost (but not quite!) forgetting how much I like it, too!
From the 60th Birthday concert at MSG
High Flying Bird (Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player – 1973)
The Captain and the Kim 