The Scaffold (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Scaffold" is a song by Elton John
with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
. It is the seventh track off his first album, Empty Sky
.
, a group of comedians, musicians and poets from Liverpool
. One of the members were Mike McGear, Paul McCartney
's baby brother. The song praises them in the chorus, but the verses are very cryptic and mysterious. One might think that the influence could have been Bob Dylan; the first two verses go:
"In Orient where wise I was
To please the way I live
Come give the beggar chance at hand
His life is on his lip
Three score a thousand times
Were once in Amazon
Where Eldorado holds the key
No keeper holds my hand"
John appeared on some of The Scaffold's album as a musician. Both John and Taupin were big fans.
", this was also performed on John's first solo radio performance. Since then, it hasn't been played in any format.
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 seventh track off 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
It opens with a bluesy minor-key electric piano, before going into a somewhat quiet, relaxed main riff. A rhythm section plays a steady beat, but is more silent compared to other tracks. It changes between major and minor keys, making the music very confusing.Lyrical meaning
Taupin wrote the song as a tribute to The ScaffoldThe Scaffold
The Scaffold were a comedy, poetry and music trio from Liverpool, England, consisting of Mike McGear , Roger McGough and John Gorman.-Career:...
, a group of comedians, musicians and poets from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. One of the members were Mike McGear, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's baby brother. The song praises them in the chorus, but the verses are very cryptic and mysterious. One might think that the influence could have been Bob Dylan; the first two verses go:
"In Orient where wise I was
To please the way I live
Come give the beggar chance at hand
His life is on his lip
Three score a thousand times
Were once in Amazon
Where Eldorado holds the key
No keeper holds my hand"
John appeared on some of The Scaffold's album as a musician. Both John and Taupin were big fans.
Performances
Along with the previous song on the album, "SailsSails (song)
"Sails" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the sixth track off his first album, Empty Sky.-Musical structure:The songs open with an electric guitar feedback accompagnied by piano chords. The song then kicks off to a rather psychedelic feel with Wah-wah pedal-oriented...
", this was also performed on John's first solo radio performance. Since then, it hasn't been played in any format.
Personnel
- Elton John - electric pianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
, 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 - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....