One Track Mind is a more-or-less weekly drool over a single song selected on a whim — usually — and a short thesis on why you should be drooling over it, too.
"Come Down in Time" is taken from the brilliant album Tumbleweed Connection and is the reason why you have to hate Elton John's last period. John is never in half light any more — never so patient, so bravely remote, so note perfect. Back then, he put out piano music, with an active and jazzy rhythm section, and there was uncommon beauty.
The emotion around "Come Down in Time," a track about lost love, is only deepened by the expressive bass work of Chris Laurence, the quiet majesty of these Bernie Taupin lyrics, and then a lonely oboe.
It's true, the tune isn't representative of the rest of this occasionally rough and rascally tribute to the rural South, which in 2003 was ranked No. 463 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest of all time. More often than not, you'll find songs marked by a gospelly, but still honky-tonk feel — notably "Ballad of Well-Known Gun," "Son of Your Father," "My Father's Gun," and "Country Comfort."
But it is here, inside the spare arrangement by Paul Buckmaster, that John first successfully mines the more melancholy themes that would become so familiar on 1970s radio. Even so, "Daniel" and "Rocket Man," to my ear, have nothing on "Come Down in Time."
John sings in the earnest, deeper version of his voice that was, back then, a tribute to Van Morrison. As he has aged, it is all that remains. But John never works with this kind of dark paint anymore.
There is a timelessness inside the unfulfilled romance of the song's characters because it mirrors our own fading allegiance to John, who has devolved into the kind of obviousness that the person who put out this record would never accept. Twice, the song collapses into melancholy, the way our hearts will. It has nothing to do with MTV, and everything to do with the kind of connecting resonance that this once-great artist hasn't approached in a generation.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
I was always partial to "Burn Down The Mission" myself.
-Glen
2 - JohnP
I Love the new 'Captian And The Kid' album, it really great. It's different but give it a chance. I love it
3 - Stephen Connolly
Nice choice and well expressed. My buddy Les had the old gatefold album which we traded back and forth regularly. I gave up on EJ after Honky chateau myself.
4 - Stoned In The Twilight
The author clearly has not listened to Elton John's last three albums, nor is he familiar with Elton John's brilliant "Made In England" from 1995.
I found that paople who are critical or do not like more recent releases from this still great and greatly creative artist simply have not heard it.
To lump all of Elton John's music past about 1980 as dismissable is just plain ignorant.
5 - Amoreena
I agree with the author of this article. Elton's music was his soul back then. You felt him in each song. Too many artists forget to add that 'emotion-ness' to their songs. If you can't hear them 'feel it' in their voice, then the song is just emptiness no matter what it's about.
---An EJ fan since 1974
6 - Nick Deriso
Stoned In The Twilight: "The author clearly has not listened to Elton John's last three albums, nor is he familiar with Elton John's brilliant "Made In England" from 1995."
"Believe" doesn't belong in the same sentence as any song on this album.
The period that you reference, from 1995 until the present, would also include the embarrassing reworking of "Candle in the Wind"; and the actually far more embarrassing duets with LeAnn Rimes and Eminem; overhyped but empty "comeback" tries with "Songs from the West Coast" and "Peachtree Road"; the entirety of "The Road to El Dorado"; a series of shows with Celine Dion called "The Red Piano" in Vegas that were quite beneath him, and a lifeless retread of the brilliant "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy."
Leave room for the idea that I heard of all that stuff, but just didn't like it.
7 - Tiny Dancer (aka Rhonda)
I find it interesting that you picked this song from the album (a great track, don't get me wrong) as it's the only one on the LP that Elton and Bernie didn't write. It was written by a lady named Leslie Duncan. Not sure where she is these days, but that's the only song of hers Elton ever covered.
8 - Nick Deriso
Tiny Dancer (aka Rhonda): "I find it interesting that you picked this song from the album (a great track, don't get me wrong) as it's the only one on the LP that Elton and Bernie didn't write. It was written by a lady named Leslie Duncan."
The original liner notes list Lesley Duncan as the author of "Love Song" from this album, not "Come Down in Time." She was also a backing vocalist on the record.
9 - A.L. Harper
Congratulations! This article has been chosen by A.L. Harper as an editor's pick of the week.
10 - Evan
i think thats a good song i like Elton John
11 - Dawn
Personally, I've been consumed by "Tumbleweed Connection" lately. I hadn't listened to it in its entirety in ages and I am truly enjoying the mood, lyrics, and music of the album. It's funny that you chose this song at this point in time. I'm gearing up for Elton's 60th birthday concert at MSG and for the true fans, albums like "Tumbleweed Connection" are what made us fans in the first place. Still following Elton after all these years....life is good!
12 - JavaMusiK
Interesting points in this article and not all hard to agree with, yet I still find occasional moments of brilliance in this artist's recent work.
Come Down In Time, My Father's Gun, Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun & Where To Now, St. Peter? from Tumbleweed all resonate with a timeless appeal that has not faded with age. Sad that his voice has faded from the strong tenor characteristic it once was into the now husky baritone, at best. (Personally, I enjoy when he plays the piano & stops singing the most, anyway.) At least his body of work is far-reaching and possesses a great deal of variety with many bright spots in it's catalogue. Still a fav after first 'discovering' him in '73.
13 - Paul sanderson
you are right that this is one E and B's best. If you play / sing this on the piano or guitar it is apparent how perfect it is both melodically and lyrically. Elton's phrasing is outstanding as well. This is also one of his better albums, if not the best. The rawness of the orchestration seem to fade away into bubble gum slickness when we get to yellow brick road.
14 - Lord_Choc_Ice
"a series of shows with Celine Dion called "The Red Piano" in Vegas that were quite beneath him, and a lifeless retread of the brilliant "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy."
Another person with something to say just to see their opinion out in front of others. If you don't like his new stuff, why comment? Do you have nothing better to do than spread your negative energy to other people? And, if you are going to comment, at least get your facts straight. Elton's show 'Red Piano' is not with Celine Dion. Those shows are for people like YOU who only want to hear what he did in the 70's. Like on his marvelous new album, "The Captain & The Kid"(not a retread of CF&TBDC), one of the lines in the closing song by the same name, says, "pleasing the people, some of the times, digging into our roots, but I have a brand new pair of shoes, and your on a horse in old cowboy boots." You see, if Elton were still putting out music like he did in the 70's, nobody would be interested now, in fact, he wouldn't even be around today because of that very fact, but because he's slowly evolved into today's Elton John, maybe not as prolific, but still a viable artist by all means, those of you who liked his music back in the 70's but failed to hang in there and listen to the progression, will not even take the time to listen to the new stuff but be quick at hand to write about what you think about his new stuff. Anyone that mentions his "Disney period" is out of touch, if you knew Elton, you would know that he has been a huge fan of Disney since a youth, and that it was an 'honor' to be asked to participate and because of that, we now have a whole new generation of kids starting to find his other music. That was an album for KIDS, not his fans. Get real. Because you can't understand how 40 years later, Elton is still touring to SOLD OUT crowds where ever he goes, still making albums that appear in the TOP 20, still breaking records of all types, you just want to criticize. Change is always taking place, for better or worse, without it, comes DEATH. Long live the KING! ELTON JOHN ROCKS...
P.S. Elton is up for an IVOR award in May (his 12th) for a song he wrote for Scissor Sisters called "Don't Feel Like Dancing", a group that has been said to sound like the early Elton John you enjoy, maybe you should give them a spin!
15 - Evan
Elton John used to be a tenor but hes a bass becuse his voice is deep when he sings
16 - MBJ
Arguably the most sensual pop song ever written. It can be interpreted on several levels...spiritual, sexual, contemplative..EJ and BT at their best
17 - Evan
has anybody ever heard Elton John singing Come Down in Time in this decade