This song is truly great yet obscure, just because of the fortune of songs they wrote in the seventies. The whole Caribou album is an underrated, grand collection of songs as great as any rock album. It came in the middle of such vast swath of beautiful music, it gets overlooked.
this song always creeped me out -- but I was 14 when Caribou was released, so... it still gives me the chills, some of Bernie's best lyrics here.. the whole album was very insightful... LOVE ELTON!!!!
First time I heard this, last track on Caribou, I was stunned silent. The line "You danced in death like a marionette on the vengeance of the law" just blew me away. You didn't need a video to see it. My favorite all-time Elton song.
was lucky enough to see him perform this live during the "solo" tour. Just Elton and the grand piano- simply stunning- and I think half the audience was crying. I think with his older, deeper voice it is even more moving. Thanks for the post- one of Taupins best lyrics, and Elton best songs.
Thanks a million for posting this. It is greatly appreciated. The first time I heard this song was on the radio right before I saw him live in '76 (Louder than a Concorde but not quite as pretty Tour). Captain Fantastic remains the greatest albumn of all time.
What an intense song from the 70;s. To hear it live like this is just great! Thanks for the post! This song wasn't a huge hit but it's a classic. It shows Elton's range and talent!
this song was ahead of its time both in lyrical terms and more importingly in musical terms. it paved the way for elton to express his thoughts.in many ways i think this is perhaps the defining song in eltons entire collection.totally unbridled and free from the pressures of HAVING to make a statement on vynil during the dick james years,elton genually seemed to be at ease with himself . it was the reason why i began to listen to his style of music and expression.
His voice started going south in the late 70s, on albums like Caribou. He got a strange, warbly vibrato. His voice was so incredibly expressive in the early 70s. Amazing.
Elton's vocal skill is still there, and he still has a great voice. He's also, in my opinion, the best piano player in the world. Is his voice different now than it was in the 70s? Yeah, but it's a new, more masculine sound.
Talking about Elton's voice, I think he shouldn't perform any songs written prior 1985 during live shows. Yeah, his 70's songs are the best, but when he sings it with his current voice (current means mid 80's and on), it's just like some guy with a deep boring voice doing covers for Elton John's songs. I love Elton's music and have all his albums and some rare ones, but he mustn't sing his 70's songs. I wish he could have his 70's voice again...
@youvalss I know what you mean Elton`s range was ruined by cocaine & booze but he can still play the piano like a Madman . I wish he would sing along with a sound alike & pound on his piano !
One of my favorite Elton somgs, ever since it came out all those years ago.I'm giving you 6 stars ****** for it.Thank you for having it,and for sharing it with us.
Ticking is without question, Taupin's most brilliant Lyric put to pen. This is also Elton's most "powerful" songs in his History. But I am so glad the radio never got a chance to ruin this hidden Classic.
I've never really liked Bernie and Elton's 'story songs' (Indian Sunset, Talking Old Soldiers, The First Discovery, First Episode at Heinton) with one exception--Ticking!
It's Elton, the piano, and in the background, an ARP synthesizer playing some bass notes. He makes this song sound like an entire orchestra. Amazing how he can bang on a grand piano and make it sound so good!
I always assumed the reason that Bernie used certain unflattering terms to describe the characters in the bar is that we are seeing into the mind of the young man with the gun. This is the way he thinks of these people in his sick and paranoid mind. I think these lyrics get to the core of racism and violence in our society. I have never heard this, officially but it seems obvious.
I couldn't agree more, the studio version is so amazing that I was stunned for the entire song the first time I listened to it... Extraordinary piano.
Undoubtedly Elton is among the top five musical artists in history to ever get on a stage. He deserves being knighted (or whatever it was) and so much more. And this song - it's just beautiful.
OK: Brilliant lyric: "Crazy boy you'll only wind up with strange notions in your head, hearing, hearing, ticking ticking..." Now, the average songwriter just doesn't write lyrics so descriptive, so, poignant!!
It was brilliant when I first heard it on the Caribou album when it was first released. It is brilliant in this version. Bernie's lyrics captured Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and so many others who walked through life seemingly "normal" but were "ticking" time bombs that went off in the most gruesome of ways. Bernie's imagery is as powerful here as in all of his lyrics & Elton's perfectly matched music once again makes this another of hundreds of unforgettable musical "moments." Thanks for posting!
Those words used to describe the perception of the protagonists' mind. Just like Randy Newman, actually. I am a big fan of this song and I foolishly failed to see that theory until a recent comment I found here. Thank you, whoever that was.
It's INDIAN SUNSET!!!! Please at least get the names of the songs right. I agree though that Ticking and Indian Sunset are some of the best songs that Elton and Bernie have every written and I wish that he would play them more in concert. In that note I just saw Elton's recent solo concert on Sept. 30 , 2008 and he played Ticking. One of the best songs of the night.
Just in case some of you haven't noticed...2 different people have put up pieces of the Aquarius TV show special of Elton in 1971. The entire show is there if you look at all the pieces.
I have also thought this one of his best... also, check out "Indian Summer"... fantastic and rarely heard. Another one of life's tragedy songs, similar to Tickin in some ways.
I was also 10 but did not see Elton. I envy you. Do you have a copy of the Christmas 74 show? You can get it on DVD. It would be close to the show that you saw.
It's amazing how many great EJ songs there are...but only the same 5 or 6 songs are ever played on radio: Candle in the Wind, Daniel, Saturday night's alright for fighten, Bennie and the Jets...and maybe 1 or 2 others. All the other great Elton classics are unknown to most of the world... because they are never on radio. I've always been amazed by that. That's awesome that you are posting some rare footage of some of Elton's "other" songs. A round of applause from me. Great stuff.
Well said! It's a shame that this song has been almost forgotten. Especially with the disturbing events of some youngsters within certain educational facilities of reletively recent times. Bernie really lets you get into the characters' head and the tragedy is very moving. I was very much into Elton and Bernies' songs at this time and I remember seeing this broadcast when it first aired. Amazing to see this again after over thirty years!
After "Yellow Brick Road" easily his best album and this is probably the best track off it. Certainly the finest keyboards Elton has ever played and that's saying something. Thanks for posting it groovycleaner, much appreciated.
Caribou always got torn apart by critics and even by Elton himself. It has always been my favorite. Glad to see it is someone else's fav too. I think, because it was done so quickly it is more representative of the talent in that band. It has a unique sound and feel to it.
I think the vocals should have been made stronger during the re-mixing process. Also, they should have left out "Solar Prestige a Gammon" and "Stinker" in favor of "Sick City" and "Cold Highway". However, this is still one of my favorite albums.
Sorry the quality can't be better. These are recordings that have been passed from fan to fan for years. This has probably been copied about a zillion times. All the fans know this stuff is out there. We would all run out and buy it if they would just release some of this on DVD.
timeless.. trust me ... there was way less of this back then than there is now...
mortishia99 1 month ago
Nice "comment". I guess no one is allowed their opinion in your world.
wpollock1 2 months ago
your head is flat.
lugags 2 months ago
Great song - but, the delivery is flat. He is in great voice, but he seems tired.
wpollock1 2 months ago
@wpollock1 I think your head is flat.Its the mood of the song.Great underrated song by Elton.
lugags 2 months ago
This song is truly great yet obscure, just because of the fortune of songs they wrote in the seventies. The whole Caribou album is an underrated, grand collection of songs as great as any rock album. It came in the middle of such vast swath of beautiful music, it gets overlooked.
beautyinbreakdowns2 5 months ago 2
Like lightx said...my favorite elton song on my favorite elton album, and finally it's on youtube, thank you <3
HBsongwriter 5 months ago
this song always creeped me out -- but I was 14 when Caribou was released, so... it still gives me the chills, some of Bernie's best lyrics here.. the whole album was very insightful... LOVE ELTON!!!!
delfin7461 5 months ago 3
First time I heard this, last track on Caribou, I was stunned silent. The line "You danced in death like a marionette on the vengeance of the law" just blew me away. You didn't need a video to see it. My favorite all-time Elton song.
yestix1 10 months ago
I love how all Bernie's songs tell an amazing/emotional story :))))
Rocketman2396 10 months ago
was lucky enough to see him perform this live during the "solo" tour. Just Elton and the grand piano- simply stunning- and I think half the audience was crying. I think with his older, deeper voice it is even more moving. Thanks for the post- one of Taupins best lyrics, and Elton best songs.
mikeyinqc 10 months ago
Em memória do massacre ocorrido no Rio, no dia 7 de abril de 2011, esta canção retrata exatamente a história de Wellington.
laurence7591 11 months ago
I think that Ticking is one of Elton's most "intense" songs. It tells a very sad story, in a very powerful way.
ftsjr 11 months ago
Superb..but still very haunting
wolfsige 11 months ago
Thanks a million for posting this. It is greatly appreciated. The first time I heard this song was on the radio right before I saw him live in '76 (Louder than a Concorde but not quite as pretty Tour). Captain Fantastic remains the greatest albumn of all time.
midnightduder 11 months ago
@midnightduder I agree that Captain Fantastic is among the best albums ever, but Ticking was on the Caribou album.
ftsjr 11 months ago
What an intense song from the 70;s. To hear it live like this is just great! Thanks for the post! This song wasn't a huge hit but it's a classic. It shows Elton's range and talent!
mminer58 11 months ago 2
One of my favourite songs by Sir Elton John.
Seattlecarnut 1 year ago
At about 5.00 the discordant chords (if such a thing can be) are reminiscent of the soundtrack to The French Connection
77edster 1 year ago
Just the singer and the piano....just plain awesome talent..very few can do this...
dragor56 1 year ago
Dowwnload the audio from this clip at speedyconversion doht cohm.
ClemKropotkin669 1 year ago
That song is a classic
MrSonnyboy64 1 year ago
This song brings me to tears no matter how many times I hear it.
sirwolfgang 1 year ago
groovycleaner the man is english whats he want with american racisim
bluezz99 1 year ago
What a gem!! One of my all-time favourites,along with "The Ballad of Danny Bailey".
muskokan59 1 year ago
this song was ahead of its time both in lyrical terms and more importingly in musical terms. it paved the way for elton to express his thoughts.in many ways i think this is perhaps the defining song in eltons entire collection.totally unbridled and free from the pressures of HAVING to make a statement on vynil during the dick james years,elton genually seemed to be at ease with himself . it was the reason why i began to listen to his style of music and expression.
johntrafford 1 year ago
beautiful
joeyfoils1 1 year ago
This is the Elton John I fell in love with in the first place. Not say face to face with Billy Joel.
torturedej 1 year ago
at his peak....
SkunkDroppings 1 year ago
The Greatest Melody Writer Ever In Popular Music
mactheartofwarfare 1 year ago
People that put this song down obviously just can't grasp the story, and the brilliant way with words. This song is a CLASSIC!!!
dominiquejustine 1 year ago
I'm speechless...
Rodeo1202 1 year ago
His voice started going south in the late 70s, on albums like Caribou. He got a strange, warbly vibrato. His voice was so incredibly expressive in the early 70s. Amazing.
Kaalec 1 year ago
man Elton owned the 70's
chadisawesomeness 1 year ago 3
Elton's vocal skill is still there, and he still has a great voice. He's also, in my opinion, the best piano player in the world. Is his voice different now than it was in the 70s? Yeah, but it's a new, more masculine sound.
MJacksonLive 2 years ago 2
Talking about Elton's voice, I think he shouldn't perform any songs written prior 1985 during live shows. Yeah, his 70's songs are the best, but when he sings it with his current voice (current means mid 80's and on), it's just like some guy with a deep boring voice doing covers for Elton John's songs. I love Elton's music and have all his albums and some rare ones, but he mustn't sing his 70's songs. I wish he could have his 70's voice again...
youvalss 2 years ago
@youvalss I know what you mean Elton`s range was ruined by cocaine & booze but he can still play the piano like a Madman . I wish he would sing along with a sound alike & pound on his piano !
LordGandor3 1 year ago
Incredible to think he actually believes his voice was better in the 90's than it was in the 70's.
CityslickCaptain 2 years ago
@CityslickCaptain I was thinkiing the exact same thing when he said that, there's just no comparison, when I listen to the 70' and him now.
odie7 2 years ago
i agree with elton his voice is alot better now then it was in the 90's, 80's, 70's or 60's. his voice is so much richer and deeper now
princev11 2 years ago
I don't think 'richer' and 'deeper' means better at all. In any case, it was 'richer' in the 1970's.
torturedej 2 years ago
@torturedej Agreed
77edster 1 year ago
princev11, let me ask you this: If Elton was a new artist today (with no 60's-90's history)...based on his voice today, would you buy his albums?
youvalss 2 years ago
yeah cuz his voice is so nice and rich now
princev11 2 years ago
@youvalss nope. and i own everything pre 2005 several times over
77edster 9 months ago
Absolutely wonderful song, this is the first version I've heard live before his surgery.
And, by the way, I love what he's wearing! O.O I want to look like that!!!
gummiplutt 2 years ago
Que porra de músico!!! Great guy!!!
psilvafox1 2 years ago
Columbine.....
Opalwitley 2 years ago
Wow.
Elton John still gives me goose bumps.
Thank you so much for posting this video.
seattlebeard 2 years ago 12
One of my favorite Elton somgs, ever since it came out all those years ago.I'm giving you 6 stars ****** for it.Thank you for having it,and for sharing it with us.
Zeke1950 2 years ago 5
Ticking is without question, Taupin's most brilliant Lyric put to pen. This is also Elton's most "powerful" songs in his History. But I am so glad the radio never got a chance to ruin this hidden Classic.
Thanks for the video!
Masherbrum 2 years ago 17
@Masherbrum
I've never really liked Bernie and Elton's 'story songs' (Indian Sunset, Talking Old Soldiers, The First Discovery, First Episode at Heinton) with one exception--Ticking!
judmurph 1 month ago
Listen to the studio version, on the "Caribou" CD
It's Elton, the piano, and in the background, an ARP synthesizer playing some bass notes. He makes this song sound like an entire orchestra. Amazing how he can bang on a grand piano and make it sound so good!
JFJB 2 years ago 6
I always assumed the reason that Bernie used certain unflattering terms to describe the characters in the bar is that we are seeing into the mind of the young man with the gun. This is the way he thinks of these people in his sick and paranoid mind. I think these lyrics get to the core of racism and violence in our society. I have never heard this, officially but it seems obvious.
groovycleaner 2 years ago
@groovycleaner Its not racism, its mental illness.
TheElevenalive 1 year ago
@groovycleaner Insightful post. This has always been one of my favorite EJ songs. Very powerful and tragic...never fails to make me cry.
karmadhyana 1 year ago
@groovycleaner For lack of a better word Bernie was trying to be "REAL" for this particular situation. There was no bigotry intended .
LordGandor3 10 months ago
Comment removed
aeondolphin 2 years ago 2
hey did u guys ever go there.i it fenton mi. i live in fenton
NonRider 2 years ago
This was when Elton John was at his peak :-)
PeteGeeza86 2 years ago
hes still awesome today!
princev11 2 years ago
In no one live performance from that song Elton tops the piano version on the studio album.
lordcuba 2 years ago
I couldn't agree more, the studio version is so amazing that I was stunned for the entire song the first time I listened to it... Extraordinary piano.
gummiplutt 2 years ago
Undoubtedly Elton is among the top five musical artists in history to ever get on a stage. He deserves being knighted (or whatever it was) and so much more. And this song - it's just beautiful.
mka800 2 years ago
How can you not mention Bernie Taupin ???
LordGandor3 2 years ago
OK: Brilliant lyric: "Crazy boy you'll only wind up with strange notions in your head, hearing, hearing, ticking ticking..." Now, the average songwriter just doesn't write lyrics so descriptive, so, poignant!!
JFJB 2 years ago 6
He recorded this in Colorado for "Caribou" in 1974.
Fitting. Columbine.
tommyrock69 2 years ago
Ridiculous.
IrisMG 2 years ago
One of the top three for me for sure.....cried so many times going to sleep as a kid to this.....
hermanssub 3 years ago 2
It was brilliant when I first heard it on the Caribou album when it was first released. It is brilliant in this version. Bernie's lyrics captured Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and so many others who walked through life seemingly "normal" but were "ticking" time bombs that went off in the most gruesome of ways. Bernie's imagery is as powerful here as in all of his lyrics & Elton's perfectly matched music once again makes this another of hundreds of unforgettable musical "moments." Thanks for posting!
intrepidsinger 3 years ago 2
Now THAT I'll agree with. I'll wager I'm around the same age you are then, because I bought the Caribou album brand new.
I still wonder about Bernie's use of the words "gook" and
"Negro" in his characterization of this man, though.
IrisMG 2 years ago
I strongly doubt those words were used in a bigoted manner & not just because he is gay
LordGandor3 2 years ago
Who the heck are you, and who said anything about his being gay?! This question was resolved a month ago.
IrisMG 2 years ago
My name is Sean I live in San Diego I am a Libra I like long walks on the beach with my dogs. You have a nice weekend !
LordGandor3 2 years ago
this song is about gun violence
princev11 2 years ago 2
This song is about a person growing up with mental issues, his mother wasn`t a very observant parent nor was she a very nurturing parent.
LordGandor3 2 years ago
Those words used to describe the perception of the protagonists' mind. Just like Randy Newman, actually. I am a big fan of this song and I foolishly failed to see that theory until a recent comment I found here. Thank you, whoever that was.
candelise 2 years ago
He is the only artist that his lives are as good as the studio versions! He is the best!
Greekpeople1 3 years ago 5
Amazing and very rare performance of a masterpiece! Elton is the best!
Angiolino81 3 years ago 3
The best, and most underrated Elton John song ever!!!
mp2369 3 years ago 4
Ticking is not so very underrated.
rakdawgel 3 years ago 3
It's INDIAN SUNSET!!!! Please at least get the names of the songs right. I agree though that Ticking and Indian Sunset are some of the best songs that Elton and Bernie have every written and I wish that he would play them more in concert. In that note I just saw Elton's recent solo concert on Sept. 30 , 2008 and he played Ticking. One of the best songs of the night.
kathyloveselton 3 years ago 2
Just in case some of you haven't noticed...2 different people have put up pieces of the Aquarius TV show special of Elton in 1971. The entire show is there if you look at all the pieces.
groovycleaner 3 years ago
I have also thought this one of his best... also, check out "Indian Summer"... fantastic and rarely heard. Another one of life's tragedy songs, similar to Tickin in some ways.
bryaninpa 3 years ago
I was also 10 but did not see Elton. I envy you. Do you have a copy of the Christmas 74 show? You can get it on DVD. It would be close to the show that you saw.
groovycleaner 3 years ago
the greatest EJ/BT song ever...perfect, this made me love music..saw him at age 10 on this tour...
mineheadX1 3 years ago 3
the best Elton john`s song
satelitarny 3 years ago 2
thank you for posting this. i had forgotten about it. its so relevant to life.
LadyAltheaIsMe 3 years ago 2
Very powerful song! Great, thoughtful lyrics from BT at such a young age.
davidinla36 3 years ago
clearly his most difficult and best example of his piano playing.
IAMAJAMMA 3 years ago 3
It's amazing how many great EJ songs there are...but only the same 5 or 6 songs are ever played on radio: Candle in the Wind, Daniel, Saturday night's alright for fighten, Bennie and the Jets...and maybe 1 or 2 others. All the other great Elton classics are unknown to most of the world... because they are never on radio. I've always been amazed by that. That's awesome that you are posting some rare footage of some of Elton's "other" songs. A round of applause from me. Great stuff.
valenzuala 3 years ago 4
yea ik i also hear "Crocodile Rock" ALOT on the radio and i love alot of his other stuff and it stinks they dont put that stuff on the radio.
sydlivy 3 years ago
Well said! It's a shame that this song has been almost forgotten. Especially with the disturbing events of some youngsters within certain educational facilities of reletively recent times. Bernie really lets you get into the characters' head and the tragedy is very moving. I was very much into Elton and Bernies' songs at this time and I remember seeing this broadcast when it first aired. Amazing to see this again after over thirty years!
candelise 3 years ago
A true goldmine, simply wonderful...I'm such a big fan of Elton's, and especially from this period!
-Martin
torturedej 3 years ago
One of the best recording artists of all time singing a classic. Nothing better.
dragor56 3 years ago
Excellent post!! Thanks a lot!!
ZiggyStardust35 3 years ago
After "Yellow Brick Road" easily his best album and this is probably the best track off it. Certainly the finest keyboards Elton has ever played and that's saying something. Thanks for posting it groovycleaner, much appreciated.
ghasgfhag 3 years ago
One my favorite Elton pieces from my favorite Elton album. Finally on Youtube, just awesome. Thanks for posting.
lightx43 3 years ago 2
Caribou always got torn apart by critics and even by Elton himself. It has always been my favorite. Glad to see it is someone else's fav too. I think, because it was done so quickly it is more representative of the talent in that band. It has a unique sound and feel to it.
groovycleaner 3 years ago
I think the vocals should have been made stronger during the re-mixing process. Also, they should have left out "Solar Prestige a Gammon" and "Stinker" in favor of "Sick City" and "Cold Highway". However, this is still one of my favorite albums.
davidinla36 3 years ago
I prefer the live version than the studio one (same with Grimsby).
Think I've got this one too.
chenlung1 3 years ago
just fantastic
asingleman 3 years ago
Sorry the quality can't be better. These are recordings that have been passed from fan to fan for years. This has probably been copied about a zillion times. All the fans know this stuff is out there. We would all run out and buy it if they would just release some of this on DVD.
groovycleaner 3 years ago
Don't apologize. Very cool. Unfortunately, EJ doesn't see a need to release early live footage.
fourbagger 3 years ago 2
Amazing! One of my all-time favorites. Perfect piano playing and singing and great lyrics.
HKHK7 3 years ago
Not the best video quality, but I'm just so glad this is finally on YouTube. Cheers.
chazzwozer 3 years ago
This is AWESOME stuff! Thank you so much! I love this song...
WhisperLady023 3 years ago 2
YEAH!!!!! , love love it , thanks for uploading.
CARFGF15 3 years ago
Thanks! Wow in july of 1974? Aswome its July 5th, great video two thumbs up, Elton archival.
godwhyisthistaken 3 years ago