I’ve always been fascinated by the writing arrangement between Elton John and Bernie Taupin, wherein John writes all the music and Taupin all the lyrics. It’s hard to imagine the lyrics of ‘Your Song’ or ‘Daniel’ being written completely unaware of the melodies that would one day support them. And it’s equally hard to imagine the music of ‘Levon’ or Tiny Dancer’ being written with no clue what words would fill their spaces.
But I suppose one of those cases must be true, because theirs is not an active collaboration. Their process takes place (as one tribute album alluded to in its title) in two rooms.
This song, in particular, feels like a perfect marriage of music and lyrics and I just don’t see how they were composed independently. It’s my favorite Elton John song and probably the best song ever written about New York City.
I don’t know if I grasp all of its meanings, but overall I see it as a tale of disillusionment with the big city tempered by the comfort we find in the people we love. I think its theme is summed up pretty neatly in the second verse: “Until you’ve seen this trash can dream come true, you stand at the edge while people run you through. And I thank the lord there’s people out there like you.”
I’ll let Bernie and Elton take it from there.
Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say
I thought I knew
But now I know that rose trees never grow in New York City
Until you’ve seen this trash can dream come true
You stand at the edge while people run you through
And I thank the lord there’s people out there like you
I thank the lord there’s people out there like you
While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers
Turn around and say good morning to the night
For unless they see the sky
But they cant and that is why
They know not if its dark outside or light
This Broadway’s got
It’s got a lot of songs to sing
If I knew the tunes I might join in
I’ll go my way alone
Grow my own, my own seeds shall be sown in New York City
Subway’s no way for a good man to go down
Rich man can ride and the hobo he can drown
And I thank the lord for the people I have found
I thank the lord for the people I have found
Meet Me In Montauk 
So glad you highlighted this song. It certainly ranks as one of the best (if not the best) Elton John songs ever. And, yes, I think it wonderfully displays the juxtaposition of opportunity and disillusionment, happiness and depression, hope and futility found in the stories of the millions of souls living in this tremendous city.
I, too, have always been convinced that I don’t entirely “get” this song, but that’s never stopped me from loving it to distraction. Not only is it my favorite Elton John song, it is one of my top 10 (5?) favorite songs of all time. There is such a poignancy to these lyrics, this music, and the performance of both, that I feel I’m a richer person each time I listen to it.
As for the two rooms theory, I think Elton John does read Taupin’s lyrics before setting them to music. While he may have a musical composition in the works, I imagine he saves it for the lyrics that seem suitable. Then it all comes down to arrangement.
And boy do I love the arrangement of this song. Thank you for featuring it.
Just watched “Life on Mars”* and the song was played. Wonderful.
*Installment titled Life is a Rock -I think.
I heard this song watching Almost Famous,,,, this songs takes somewhere else…its soo amazing and fills my soul with interest in being wrapped in a world of New York minutes and fighting through crowds of Mona Lisas and Madd Hatters…lol..;)
Amazing song and fantastic lyrics. Really gets into the soul and moves it deeply. One of the top songs of all time for me. And always brings tears to the edges.
Mona Lisas: women who are taken captive by their husbands and consume with vanity.
Mad Hatters: mad hatter syndrome, was an occupational disease among hatmakers, caused by chronic mercury poisoning. It affected those whose felting work involved prolonged exposure to mercury vapors.
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers: Those who are so busy with commerce have become disconnected with the outside world.
Sounds like New York City
I’ve always thought mona lisas and mad hatters was a poetic way of saying prostitutes and junkies as in 1970s new york you’d have seen plenty walking the streets saying good morning to the night. The rose of Spanish Harlem from the Ben e king song but he can take solace in h is loved ones that help him from his disillusionment and the madness he saw before him. At least that’s my take asthe mona lisa was thought to have been a painting of a working girl and some saw the mad hatter as a caricature of a morphine addict.