Tracing the name “Alvin Tostig” is fairly straightforward, but with a bit of a twist. The “Alvin Tostig” mentioned in the song (Levon’s father) is, according to Taupin, merely fictional.Īn Elton John fan website adds some speculation regarding the name “Alvin Tostig”: However, in 2013, Bernie Taupin said that the song is unrelated to Levon Helm. The Band was apparently John’s and Taupin’s favorite group in those days. “It was just lines that came out that were interesting.” The names “Levon” and “Alvin Tostig”Īccording to Gus Dudgeon, Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics for Levon, was inspired by The Band’s co-founder, drummer, and singer Levon Helm to name the title character after him. When Rolling Stone asked Taupin about the song in 2013, he insisted that he has no idea what he intended as the meaning. On that same page someone else added this: Since Bernie Taupin wrote the song, I thought he would be a better source of information about the meaning of Levon.

Elton John didn’t write the song, Bernie Taupin did.Elton John in His Own Words appears to be out of print.It’s just somebody who gets bored with blowing up balloons and he just wants to get away from it but he can’t because it’s the family ritual.” (thanks, Alexander - London, England) In Susan Black’s book, Elton John in His Own Words, Elton says of Levon: “It’s about a guy who just gets bored doing the same thing. There, one contributor states the following: The best information I’ve found comes from the songfacts website. After a little research, this is what I’ve been able to find out about the meaning of Levon. I’ve always wondered about the meaning of the song Levon, as performed by Elton John, with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin.

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