Burn Down The Mission - Elton John (Tumbleweed Connection 10 of 10)

[overlandparkope]

@Helotes420 love is all encompassing, respect it.

[clyde8her]

This is so good it is indescribable....hope I spelled that right....

[ronkatta0704]

i dont care what he puts in his mouth....hes the best there ever was.

[ThePogoshome]

I think this song should be the anthem for the 99%.

[77edster]

the orchestra melody just before 4.44 reminds me of something..Handel maybe?

The great Herbie Flowers and Barry Morgan on bass and drums respectively on this. They don't make em like this any more!

[adamj431]

There's nothing like the "GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ELTON" ! This song is the perfect example too ! Along with many others ! ROCK-N-ROLL + GOSPEL = EPHESUS THE GREAT AMPHITHEATRE ! If you truly LOVE ELTON & BERNIE then listen to it ! It's part of "Dream Ticket" the 4 Disc Set with concerts at Madison Square Garden, London's Royal Opera House, Ephesus The great Amphitheatre, and disc 4 is a montage of Elton in Four Decades. I'm not kidding you ! You'll be utterly ROCKED ! 

[pretorious700]

one of my favorite albums

[pacman5113]

I've always loved Elton John's music. Doesn't matter whether you're straight or whatever, I love this music. He's a real musician with incredible talent. I bought my first Elton John album in 1972. Been a fan ever since.

[franksnyder1357]

thanks

[AndyHathot]

eltons clear high voice just amazing! great song, cool progressive elements, feel the energy of the song!!! yes, thats real perfect music of the past...love it!

[Violenceinmind40]

BERNIE TAUPIN

[mikeritz07]

listen to it !!! It is an amazing song. Powerfull

[brettbjorkquist]

yea.. accept he didnt write any of his music! LOVE HIM but didnt write any of it :)

[ProcolHarum1967]

@brettbjorkquist Elton? I think you'll find he wrote all his own music (not the lyrics though).

[laylalaylady]

@brettbjorkquist If you actually loved Elton John, you'd know that he wrote almost all of his actual music excluding lyrics. Why do people like you comment on something you're clearly clueless of?

[auggiedoggy]

@brettbjorkquist : You're an idiot and most people have alluded to that fact but I felt this point couldn't be stressed enough.

[mitchgodwin]

cream de la cream , back in the days when elton could still sing and was one of the best white blues singers on planet earth, plus write some of the best songs ever.

[shadowheart52]

A great finish to Elton's greatest album.

[treyrosenmeyer]

I still can't believe this doesn't have millions of hits.

[QueenOfTheForest1]

Song for today. OccupyWallStreet in its 11th day. Get on board the love train.

[shire2005]

@QueenOfTheForest1

Asshole can't just enjoy great music you have to make it political. Pathetic! Get a damn job!

[zilkinson1]

do you remember the LP cover it felt like it came form a diffrent century

[MWL4466]

What a terrific song!!!! Listen to that bass playing !!! This is the REAL stuff. The stuff Elton & Bernie wrote BEFORE they realized how much money can be made. " Hey, let's write a song called Philadelphia freedom. Then we can afford the really good cocaine, and the stretched limo's " You sold out Elton, but I'd still have a beer with you.

[raider51support]

Wow! Early 70's....worked all summer to buy school clothes and a Electrophonic turntable with FM steroe radio! Heard this song and "My Father's gun" on a late night station and had to beg a ride 60 miles to the big city of Jacksonville just to buy the album.

[skinnyernie]

my god this song brings me to my knees. incredible!

[jbrough99]

i will akways have good memories of me and my girlfriend playing this album

what do they have today?

i kinda feel sorry for kids brought up on crap

[Msdistarr]

absolutely brilliant! Elton & Bernie are one of the worlds best collaborations.

[1tuxedoedlobster]

gary pepper

[ruthiesky]

I know exactly what Elton John is singing about here. I assume that the lyrics to this song were written by Bernie Taupin? The whole point of the song is powerful and telling. And, like me, there are still others who can relate to these words, still today. Great song.

[sadcracker]

@ruthiesky I believe you do relate, just by the fact that you won't be specific about why. So what angel is waiting to call in your tree? LOL. It's hard to comprehend how many people have such a very rare spot in their hearts foe the EJ band. Sometimes I think it contains somthing more than just an Englishman's veiw of the American spirrit.

[ccbuster16]

ej n bt spectacular advice only the the beginning xxxooo

[410rdt]

1 of 3 albums made w/western theme from first song to last (and Desperado was one continual story per song) Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection...Eagles - Desperado and The Band - The Band Album

[drewbacsi]

Respect to Sir Elton for making records like this one early in his career.

[prober45]

only 2 complete idiots? that's pretty danged good!

[kinghice]

It just doesn't get any better than this!

[tembuck2]

Hay: Been a long 37 years!  Thank You!

[zkwwz]

I may be telling my age, but I wore out two vinyl copies of this album ;-) Elton is a genius.

[MrMSF7]

I am sitting here watching Elton Songs on American Idol...They are doing a great job & i'm going through you listening to all the songs of my youth..I saw him in Raleigh in 74 when he did his handstand on the keyboards...

[jr4172]

@MrMSF7 me too

[hankabuldank]

@MegaBabeTV - Very overlooked. Let's not forget captain fantastic. Or Caribou !!!

[poobah59]

I forgot how great this work is!...I saw him live 3X's ('74,'76 &'83)...would LOVE to catch him again at MSG in March

[quadbravo]

great album. was like 9 when I first heard it. will never forget it. his best work ever.

[lastrada52]

Elton's had many great albums & songs but he never topped this one. He looks good here, not a clown but a troubadour, sounds good, serious well-crafted songs with Bernie Taupin. OK, this type of lp doesn't sustain a career -- he needed to move on -- but "Burn Down the Mission" vs "Solar Prestige A Gammon?" No contest. "Levon" & "Tiny Dancer" came close, "Street Kids," & "Crazy Water," too. But Tumbleweed is classic. Every track a pearl. Nice to hear another like this someday from Elton.

[Sorreneo3]

I was just sorting through my parent's closet this morning, and i see this lying in the back corner. Needless to say this was instantly transferred to my Ipod. Greatest find ever.

[bluestreakbuck]

I almost forgot how wonderful real music sounded

[MsMeatloaf69]

@bluestreakbuck turn off lady gogo and turn lady jonjon hes the best



[brualkar]

@MsMeatloaf69 When will her 15 minutes be up --- I guess you can't get anybody under 25 ish. to listen to the "GOOD STUFF" ---but my parents said that the "Beatles" were junk lol "Elton , E.L.O. Beatles, Steely Dan" We will still be listening to them long after "Lady Ga" is in the $ 1.99 CD bin at your local gas station---Bruce---

[brualkar]

@bluestreakbuck YES! Elton's music was "Top Shelf" Then he had to go Top 40 on all of us and put out "Captin Fantastic" etc, Anything after "Yellow Brick" ( to me ) was Pure "CRAP" At least we have everything up till then My fav. "Indian Sunset" (( From "Madm,an accross the water") ---- Bruce--------

[michaelsmorrison]

Everything Else In Life

Toxic friends

help you die

they don't judge you

in the end they don't ask why

I don't know what to do without toxic friends

they make everything else in life

seem like a lie

M.S. Morrison

[rikiloNsf]

Yeah they spoke to the shit then...instead of the pop bubble. Can you see em saying burn down the mosque in egypt now? Or Burn down the repubs baptist church now? Nah the coprorations and the media will find it hate speech or sumpn or lack of civil discourse...yada yada... He was lucky he did this in this time.

[MrJoebud420]

@rikiloNsf You forgot the last yada. It's yada yada yada.

[FRANCECHILD]

LONG LIVE ENGLISH ROCK.

[dariushenry88]

Songs and Albums like these are the reason why I wish I was born in 1948 instead of 1988. That way, I can grow up listening to the best decade of music ever; the 1970s.

[Tigerroux]

I agree - this is probably my favorite of all the Elton John albums. I still like his first one too - just something about his earlier tunes that stuck with me.

[clipperhenry]

This album, started me on my Elton John Journey...This song "B D T M ", was the first song I ever heard from Elton, and after hearing him "tickle" the ivory like no one else can I ran out and bought the album and proceded to TURN my friends on to this NEW artist, I had discovered!!!........my romantic side turns and listens to "come down in time"...................."some leave you counting the stars in the night"

[canadiantothebakon]

1 person has very poor taste in music.

[whowweeemandude40]

Elton was the 70's to me .......just the best feeling.....it was the best of times

[2nubbie]

Just so much soul in this song

[jum1801]

@2nubbie Yep, EJ used to be tremendously soulful. I listen to the early EJ music like this and it breaks my heart. Because by 1976 he'd traded all that soul for cars and mansions and flowers and millions of glittery spangles so he could play.at being Mr. Eternally Fabulous. It's enough to make you weep to see such gifts thrown away...

[Msdistarr]

@jum1801 I agree with you 100%. When I think of Elton John, THIS music is what comes to mind. I wrote pretty much the same thing on another page. He veered so far off this brilliant musical path. He may have made alot more money in the later years but it came at a cost and that cost was alot of his fans that were there in the beginning with him. Myself being one of them. He lost me during the mid 70's. I find it truly sad.

[e11aguru]

Great song... so moody, theatrical and strangely uplifting. Someone should use it in a movie, preferably during a scene in which something is being burned down and there's a lot of flames and shit.

[pinz2022]

@e11aguru

"Tamara Drewe"?

Stephen Frears' dark comedy last year based on Posy Simonds' graphic novel of the same name which is itself based on Thomas Hardy's "Far from the Madding Crowd".

The song would fit well into the story set in the isolated and somewhat schizophrenic village in the English countryside.

[montclairbobbyb]

This is a required album to own... truly one of the classics from cover to cover

[ChuckJ99]

Although his voice has changed, it'd be great if he did a show with just TC songs. Imagine that?

[gadgetgirl9]

It is the best. I have the original, the cassette, the CD. How can anyone beat the song writing, singing and Elton when he was the true Piano man - Brilliant!

[johnjmccauley]

Where To Now St. Peter? One masterpiece after another.

[johnjmccauley]

I agree with MegaBabeTV

[Mrdianalynn]

GREAT LITERATURE FOR THIS TEN YEAR OLD AT THE TIME.

[MikeDaMuddah]

I think this album expressed a desire to create a synergistic body of work on one album and represents the best of BT & EJ working together. Yellow Brick Road is similar in that way.

[Joeyland]

Masterpiece

[derblae52]

A GREAT ALBUM. I TOO SPENT MANY OF MY TEEN AGE YEARS ALONE LISTENING TO THIS. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ELTON ON THIS ALBUM IS HEAVILY INDEBTED THE GROUP CALLED THE BAND.

[mizofan]

Elton's new album The Union, with Leon Russell, is superb! Tumbleweed is of course one of the greatest albums by anyone

[mallen628]

Sin duda el mejor trabajo de John & Taupin. Lo sigo escuchando y disfrutando como el primer día, hace ya 40 años!!!

[dmkwils]

It is his best. 40 years ago I played this album all the time.

[gorickard319582010]

A masterpiece that hardly ever gets played on the radio anymore, even on classic rock stations. Long live Elton John and Bernie Taupin!

[TheWestendbandit]

hey! signed in for this!,,had a big story!,but,bottom line,,,"the guys great",so,lets enjoy and listen !!,,,one of my most liked singer/songwriters,many of his songs will be forever,,,see ya !,,have fun !

[kezadrone]

@pakleglia All the best stuff usually is mate.

[2nubbie]

One of the best songs recorded, Period!

[Shango9]

This record is a remarkable masterpiece, it never gets old.

[strummeresque]

@pakleglia Yes, and both are the only two Elton John albums really worth having....well, maybe "Honky Chateau" as well.

[d1sailer]

played this 8track until it wouldn't play anymore......

[slazzer145]

bernie and elton are good team in Music ...

[redlipstickmafia]

I listened to this album constantly when it came out. Learned a lot about nice melodies and tasteful piano. Played it at my recital when I was about 10.

[eltonfan4eternity]

The raw emotion.... you can't make that up... These songs by Elton and Bernie are all a little piece of their souls that they shared with us!!! What a priceless gift!!!! :)

[darkskidz]

I had only heard this song within the last year. They had played it on the radio and I couldn't believe I hadn't heard it before. I went out to a retro store near where I live and they had a mint condition tumbleweed connection LP for $6, so I bought it. The whole album is a masterpiece in my opinion. I particularly like "Where To Now St. Peter?".

[MrMSF7]

@darkskidz ...I still have my original album...I think I paid 5.95 or 6.00 bucks for mine too !!!!! ha ha..40 yrs ago....Burn Down the Mission and Come Down in Time are two of my favorites....

[bk2pla]

@darkskidz Hey cool! good for you, you got good taste! Funny, that was probably what it sold for originally!

[trenawl]

Agree with Mygrass on this. This track runs second to My Fathers Gun on my list of top drawer numbers.

[imjunipernow]

I love Bernie

[dbj1976]

I also agree that Elton John is one of the best pianists in the modern era. He does not just play chords. Check out, for example, some of his extended piano solo work in the "Ephasus" concert clips. Also, when he plays chords, he does unique and unpredictable things. In "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," the tonal centr of the song is not easy to tell, because he used slash chords and other unpredictable things all over the place. Check out the wide body of his work, and then see what you think.

[doogymon]

LOL.

I'm EJ's biggest fan..but "Best Pianist"....

EJ plays chords.... Oscar Peterson..now that man was a pianist....EJ put it all together though....brilliant.

[terrabletim]

i like him because he wears some really huge glasses.

[Hemingway271]

@terrabletim thats all? lol

[terrabletim]

i like him because he wears some really giant glasses.

[keaster55]

Love this and all the songs on Tumbleweed Connection! He really rocked out in concert with this song. His hands are magical to play that great. The best pianist ever, in my generation. Billy Joel can't hold a candle to him.

[AUS10TEX]

vINYL  album cover is pretty cool.

[formine56]

Celts Forever! Freedom our Goal!  Elder Tom.

[rocktenniscat]

Raise a glass for the late Dee Murray today. Great bass lines never die....

[FINEEMAN]

This is my favorite Elton John song...I did not know Dee Murray had died..

[rocktenniscat]

If you go to "Sixty Years On Live 1992" on Youtube, at 6:35 there's a lovely spoken tribute to Dee by Elton. EJ played two benefit concerts for Dee's family after he died. Well spoken tribute

[machoguy94]

@rocktenniscat

I agree, my hat is off to all who play/played with Elton, and Bernie Taupin for such amazing lyrics. Both Elton and Bernie have changed several peoples lives, including mine, by they're music.

[whereamigoingnow]

quite a friggin' album!

[Antony2191]

Umm I think he still is..

[rabe56]

One of his best... he was one helluva singer.

[lilliemom]

Rock On Sir Elton!!

[formine56]

St/ John, I await arrival.

[SoulAtZero88]

The bass makes this song.

[pml22]

Well, to me, this is unquestionably the best song he ever did, and an unreal talent on piano.

[clyde8her]

I have to vote for "Amoreena" but this is a close second.

[SuspiriaTits]

Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today

My wife cried when they came to take me away

But what more could I do just to keep her warm

Than burn, burn, burn, burn down the mission walls_______That is so romantic but also sad because he is taken away.

[CGiordano464]

i want some piano lessons from him. wat is it gonna run me 4 mill

[anthroscott]

and a good blowjob!

[CGiordano464]

haha. i love his music and that wqas pretty messed up but pretty funny 2

[Mygrassisblue01]

This is one Of Elton's and Bernie's best albums

[smokeyhaze1000]

@Mygrassisblue01 the best one they ever made by far imo

[blueseed11]

honestly YES!

[SmokestackMckegger]

Great,great song!

[SlipKid1717]

love the song so much!

[jsilence418]

Great Bass! Herbie Flowersa or Dee Murray on this tune? Al Kooper says, Herbie ???

[honkycabbit]

This version is too slow for me. I fell in love with this song when I heard it on 11-17-70 and other bootleg performances.

[MegaBabeTV]

This is one of the most overlooked albums in music history. An under appreciated masterpiece. Fortunately, Elton fans like us know the truth.

[LisaJMoore]

Overlooked albums?????What makes you say that????I am not sure.....

[MegaBabeTV]

I just mean not as well known by music fans as it should be.

[peliot2]

@MegaBabeTV  Well said

[cloverband]

@MegaBabeTV You are absolutely right.

Clover

[Beadbud5000]

@MegaBabeTV Ity was pretty popular within a year of its release. I almost think of the trilogy of Madman, Tumbleweed & Honky Chateau as his zenith!

[Beadbud5000]

@MegaBabeTV It was pretty popular within a year of its release. I almost think of the trilogy of Madman, Tumbleweed & Honky Chateau as his zenith!

[westrokker]

@MegaBabeTV so true and this is one of my all time fav ej songs!

[mydogchance195]

@MegaBabeTV It was always one of my favorites. Elton went many year without producing anything short of amazing..

[RecipesForRockstars]

one of my favorite songs of his...loved his soulful period! and this Album

[ElJefe625]

Yeah, this is one of my favourite albums ever...

[statelybird3]

I know! Another great,powerful ballad from this album (which I have,of course).

[masokitten77]

Perhaps one of the most revolutionary songs of Bernie / Elton combo. When Elton dives into the chorus it sounds like a million lights in the sky all in chorus.

[007PICKLE]

he sing this live on one album and it's better than this. i think it's on"here and there".

[loveflog]

youre right, live version is incredible!!

[jmholistics]

10/10 for posting this album - have long since lost my vinyl LP copy. at least now i can listen to all thses on my mp3

[nllleonard]

I love this song!

[astanjay]

why did he burn down mission?

[ZIPPTPH77]

EJ was a little fire bug it turns out...

[dave929]

To get even with those who have a lot more than the rest. "Behind four walls of stone / the rich man sleeps / It's time we put the flame torch to their keep....." Sounds like a riot and looting song for the homeless - "Burn down the mission, Lord / Burn it down to stay alive / 'Cus it's our only chance of a-livin' / Take all you need to live inside." Burn the place down (arson), then loot the place ('take all you need to live inside').

[masokitten77]

The mission represents the hypocrisy of the religious establishment in the area, preaching generosity and god's love while enslaving, exploiting the local population to the point where working people can't afford to feed their families. These are god fearing people who know right and wrong better than the preachers who claim to profess it. This is a song of revolution and sacrifice as old as any bible tale.

[gbj11]

Wasn't this album about the Civil War and romanticized the Southern point of view?

[clayLavl]

hmm..i never heard that before. Is it true?

[JJJZANESVILLE2]

masokitten, whomever you are: do you think you know how it is? I don't. And I admit it. You should. Our life here is a mystery that ain't pretty. Understand? I doubt it.

[rkeime1]

thats where the rich man sleeps

[ohmarkus]

one of my fav EJ songs!

[estyle40]

One of his better non-hits, I think.