Hymn 2000
Encyclopedia
"Hymn 2000" is a song by Elton John
with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
. It is the fourth and closing track of side one on his first album, Empty Sky
.
", reflected Elton John's early philosophy of "If in doubt, write a hymn!"
. It is clear that he has been the biggest influence on this particular tune, since the vocal is sung in a style that easily could remind of his earlier folk-days. The lyric seems to be inspired by his later years, with nonsencial settings, such as the opening line: "She chose the soft centre and took it to bed with her mother". Similar settings run throughout the song. The chorus then goes:
"And I don't want to be
The son of any freak
Who for a chocolate centre
Can take you off the street
For soon they'll plough the desert
And God knows where I'll be
Collecting submarine numbers
On the main street of the sea"
It has never been performed live in any form.
In a 2008 interview with Elvis Costello
John revealed that he tried to sound like Leonard Cohen
in the singing style. This is one of the few times John mentions and quotes an album track from this particular album.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
. It is the fourth and closing track of side one on his first album, Empty Sky
Empty Sky
Empty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
.
Musical structure
The song was something of an oddity on the "Empty Sky" album. This song doesn't feature drums, instead only having tambourine provide the rhythm. This song, along with "Skyline PigeonSkyline Pigeon
"Skyline Pigeon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the eighth track off his first album, Empty Sky. John performed the song at the funeral of AIDS victim and friend Ryan White in 1990 on a grand piano although he played Roland Piano on tour and in the studio at the time...
", reflected Elton John's early philosophy of "If in doubt, write a hymn!"
Lyrical meaning
One of John/Taupin's biggest inspirations was Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. It is clear that he has been the biggest influence on this particular tune, since the vocal is sung in a style that easily could remind of his earlier folk-days. The lyric seems to be inspired by his later years, with nonsencial settings, such as the opening line: "She chose the soft centre and took it to bed with her mother". Similar settings run throughout the song. The chorus then goes:
"And I don't want to be
The son of any freak
Who for a chocolate centre
Can take you off the street
For soon they'll plough the desert
And God knows where I'll be
Collecting submarine numbers
On the main street of the sea"
It has never been performed live in any form.
In a 2008 interview with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
John revealed that he tried to sound like Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
in the singing style. This is one of the few times John mentions and quotes an album track from this particular album.
Personnel
- Elton John - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, vocals - Caleb QuayeCaleb QuayeCaleb Quaye , is an English Afro-European rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney and Hall & Oates...
- guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Tony Murray - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Roger Pope - tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
- Don Fay - fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Clive Franks - whistlingWhistlingHuman whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...