Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
Elton John
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What happened here As the New York sunset disappeared I found an empty garden among the flagstones there Who lived here He must have been a gardener that cared a lot Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop And now it all looks strange It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain And what's it for This little empty garden by the brownstone door And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more Who lived here He must have been a gardener that cared a lot Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop And we are so amazed, we're crippled and we're dazed A gardener like that one no one can replace And I've been knocking but no one answers And I've been knocking most of the day Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny Can't you come out to play And through their tears Some say he farmed his best in younger years But he'd have said that roots grow stronger, if only he could hear Who lived there He must have been a gardener that cared a lot Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls We hear, we hear your name And I've been knocking but no one answers And I've been knocking most of the day Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny Can't you come out to play And I've been knocking but no one answers And I've been knocking most all the day Oh and I've been calling, oh hey hey Johnny Can't you come out, can you come out to play, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny Can't you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
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Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Background"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" is a song performed by the legendary English musician, Elton John.
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Album FeatureThe song appears on his 1982 album "Jump Up!" This album is regretted by John and Bernie Taupin due to its rushed writing process, even though "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" was still a great success.
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Tribute SongThe ballad was written as a tribute to John Lennon, the former Beatles member who was tragically killed in December 1980.
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Songwriting PartnershipThis hugely emotional song, like most of Elton John's music, is a product of his longtime songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin.
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Garden MetaphorThe song's title "Empty Garden" represents the loss of John Lennon, with the "garden" being a metaphor for his life and his unique talent for songwriting, now left empty by his death.
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Lyrics InterpretationThe lyrics "Who lived here?" express the disbelief and grief at Lennon's sudden demise, hinting at the unresolved emotions left by his absence.
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Chart SuccessUpon its release, "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" peaked at No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it a significant hit.
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Live PerformanceElton John performed "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" in Central Park, New York in 1982, a location that was poignant due to its proximity to where John Lennon was murdered.
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ReceptionThe song was well-received by both critics and fans, especially due to its emotional melody and heartfelt lyrics.
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Limited PerformanceElton John has mentioned in interviews that he finds it hard to perform this song due to the close friendship he had with Lennon, and as a result, it is seldom included in his live setlists.
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Music VideoThe music video shows Elton John performing the song live at the Royal Albert Hall, highlighting the raw emotion behind the lyrics.
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Notable CoverPianist Roger Williams did a cover of this song which surpassed the original on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at No.7.
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Citation
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"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19900161/Elton+John/Empty+Garden+%28Hey+Hey+Johnny%29>.
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