Top Ten Songs of the Summer
#9 – Elton John & Kiki Dee – ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ (1976)
Elton John has been in the running for Song of the Summer a half dozen times during his career, for songs as varied as ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me’ and ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’ But only once did he claim the title, and it was for this infectious duet with English pop singer Kiki Lee.
Written by John and Bernie Taupin as an homage to Motown duets, the track was initially intended to be sung with Dusty Springfield. Springfield was reportedly ill at the time, so the offer went instead to Dee, who scored her one and only #1 hit.
This song is a trifle, but such a gloriously happy one.
Don’t go breaking my heart
I couldn’t if I tried
Oh, honey, if I get restless
Baby, you’re not that kind
Don’t go breaking my heart
You take the weight off of me
Oh, honey, when you knocked on my door
Ooh, I gave you my key
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, nobody knows it
When I was down, I was your clown
Ooh, nobody knows it (Nobody knows it)
Right from the start, I gave you my heart
Oh, I gave you my heart
[Chorus]
So don’t go breaking my heart
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart
[Verse 2]
Nobody told us
‘Cause nobody showed us
And now it’s up to us, babe
Oh, I think we can make it
So don’t misunderstand me
You put the light in my life
Oh, you put the spark to the flame
I’ve got your heart in my sights
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, nobody knows it
When I was down, I was your clown
Ooh, nobody knows it (Nobody knows it)
Right from the start, I gave you my heart
Oh, I gave you my heart
[Chorus]
Don’t go breaking my heart
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, nobody knows it
When I was down, I was your clown
Right from the start, I gave you my heart
Oh, I gave you my heart
[Outro]
Don’t go breaking my heart
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my, don’t go breaking my
Don’t go breaking my heart
Don’t go breaking my, don’t go breaking my
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Don’t go breaking my)
I won’t go breaking your heart…
Meet Me In Montauk 
I actually remember this song being played on the radio in the summer of 1976.
This is one of my favorite Elton John recordings. Thank you for featuring it. I have never seen this (very improvisational) promotional video that he and Ms. Dee made. It is charming. I also am savoring their outfits (pink overalls! very high heeled shoes for Mr. John, and what appears to be a 70’s era zoot suit. I remember listening to a top ten radio countdown program when this was the number one song. Hurrah for music!