High-Flying Bird

On Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player. A musical bow to Van Morrison.

The best song on the album was never a single. "High Flying Bird," with its anthemic melody, was Bernie's favorite and, unlike "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel," has not been overexposed on radio and stage. It's "a cross between Crosby, Stills & Nash and Irma Franklin," Elton said. Bernie's lover, his "high-flying bird" who "has flown from out of my arms" mistakes affection for control: "She thought I meant her harm / She thought I was the archer. Continuing in the avian mode, Elton also recorded a beautiful, and superior, version of one of his earliest songs, "Skyline Pigeon," that can be found as a bonus track on the CD reissue. (Buckley)

Lyrics:
You wore a little cross of gold around your neck I saw it as you flew between my reason Like a raven in the night time when you left I wear a chain upon my wrist that bears no name You touched it and you wore it And you kept it in your pillow all the same

My high-flying bird has flown from out my arms I thought myself her keeper She thought I meant her harm She thought I was the archer A weather man of words But I could never shoot down My high-flying bird

The white walls of your dressing room are stained in scarlet red You bled upon the cold stone like a young man In the foreign field of death Wouldn't it be wonderful is all I heard you say You never closed your eyes at night and learned to love daylight Instead you moved away

Musicians:

 * Music: Elton John
 * Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
 * Piano: Elton John
 * Vocals: Elton John
 * Bass: Dee Murray
 * Drums: Nigel Olsson
 * Leslie Guitar: Davey Johnstone
 * Acoustic Guitar: Davey Johnstone
 * Backing Vocals: Davey Johnstone
 * Backing Vocals: Dee Murray
 * Backing Vocals: Nigel Olsson