Come Down in Time
"Come Down in Time" | |
---|---|
Song by Elton John | |
from the album Tumbleweed Connection | |
Released | 30 October 1970 (1970-10-30) (UK) 1 April 1971 (1971-04-01) (US) |
Recorded | March 1970 (1970-03) |
Studio | Trident, London |
Genre |
|
Length | 3:25 |
Label |
|
Songwriter(s) | Elton John & Bernie Taupin |
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon |
"Come Down in Time" is the second track on Elton John's third album, Tumbleweed Connection, released in 1970. The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, Elton's long time writing partner. The song was originally recorded for John's second album, Elton John.
Covers and other versions
The song was covered by Al Kooper on his 1971 album, New York City (You're a Woman), then later covered by Sting on the 1991 album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Norwegian jazz singer Radka Toneff also recorded the song for her 1982 album Fairy Tales, which features herself with Steve Dobrogosz on piano. A soulful version of the song was released as a 7" single by soul singer Eugene Pitt and his band the Jyve Fyve in 1970 on the AVCO Embassy (AVE-4568) label. The song was also covered by Judy Collins on her 1976 album Bread And Roses. Lani Hall recorded the song in 1972 for her first solo album, Sun Down Lady. It was covered by Laura Fernández in 2020 for her Okay, Alright album.
In October 2020, John issued a 10-inch vinyl only "jazz" version, backed by members of Hookfoot, recorded during the Tumbleweed Connection sessions, but not used on the album. The track's release coincided with the 50th anniversary re-release of Tumbleweed Connection, and was uncovered during archival research for John's box set Jewel Box, a multi-disc collection of early demos, and other rarities and B-sides, many of which were never previously released.[2]
Meaning and melody
"Come Down in Time" is one of the two exceptions to the primarily American Western musical themes of Tumbleweed Connection. The album was recorded at London's Trident Studio in March 1970, produced by Gus Dudgeon, and released in October 1970.
Set in the keys of A minor and D major, the song starts with an evocative harp introduction augmented by natural guitar harmonics.[3] Conductor and orchestral arranger Paul Buckmaster's use of strings, harp, oboe, and horn set a plaintive and haunting mood.[4][5]
Though originally using harp as the primary instrumental accompaniment, in his live sets John primarily replaced it with the piano. Despite not being a hit, the song was performed live in 1970, 1971, 1989, 1995, and subsequent solo tours, the last performances of the song included Ray Cooper on percussion in 2009.[6] It was also performed as a duet by John and Sting on stage at a Rainforest Benefit concert in 1991 and again on the television program An Audience with Elton John in 1997.[7]
The song maintains a steady, even tempo throughout, containing little of John's signature crescendos. The song itself outlines a conversation between a man and his lover; she urges him to come meet her one night. As he is walking and nears their agreed upon meeting place, he wonders whether she will be there or if he will be left alone to count the stars.
Personnel
- Elton John – vocals
- Skaila Kanga – harp
- Les Thatcher – acoustic guitar
- Karl Jenkins – oboe
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar
- Chris Laurence – acoustic bass
- Barry Morgan – drums[8]
- Paul Buckmaster – arranger, conductor
References
- ^ Zimmerman, Kent (2004). Sing My Way Home: Voices of the New American Roots Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 124. ISBN 1617747912. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Elton John Drops Unreleased Jazz Version of 'Come Down in Time'". Rolling Stone. 30 October 2020.
- ^ Guitar harmonics
- ^ "Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Come Down in Time by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "An Audience with Elton John". IMDb. 27 September 1997.
- ^ "Tumbleweed Connection".
- John, Sir Elton and Taupin, Bernie. "Come Down in Time." Tumbleweed Connection. Mercury Records; 1970.
- v
- t
- e
- "I've Been Loving You" (1968)
- "Skyline Pigeon" (1968)
- "Lady Samantha" (1969)
- "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
- "Border Song" (1970)
- "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970)
- "From Denver to L.A." (1970)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970)
- "Your Song" (1970)
- "Come Down in Time" (1970)
- "Friends" (1971)
- "Levon" (1971)
- "Indian Sunset" (1971)
- "Tiny Dancer" (1972)
- "Rocket Man" (1972)
- "Honky Cat" (1972)
- "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972)
- "Crocodile Rock" (1972)
- "Elderberry Wine" (1972)
- "Daniel" (1972)
- "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972)
- "Teacher I Need You" (1973)
- "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973)
- "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973)
- "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
- "Step into Christmas" (1973)
- "Candle in the Wind" (1974)
- "Bennie and the Jets" (1974)
- "Harmony" (1974)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974)
- "The Bitch Is Back" (1974)
- "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974)
- "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975)
- "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975)
- "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975)
- "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975)
- "Island Girl" (1975)
- "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976)
- "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976)
- "Pinball Wizard" (1976)
- "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976)
- "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976)
- "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977)
- "Crazy Water" (1977)
- "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977)
- "Ego" (1978)
- "Part-Time Love" (1978)
- "Song for Guy" (1978)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (1979)
- "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979)
- "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
- "Little Jeannie" (1980)
- "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980)
- "Dear God" (1980)
- "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981)
- "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981)
- "Blue Eyes" (1982)
- "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982)
- "Ball and Chain" (1982)
- "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982)
- "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983)
- "I'm Still Standing" (1983)
- "Kiss the Bride" (1983)
- "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984)
- "Passengers" (1984)
- "Nikita" (1985)
- "That's What Friends Are For" (1985)
- "Wrap Her Up" (1985)
- "Heartache All Over the World" (1986)
- "Slow Rivers" (1986)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988)
- "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988)
- "Town of Plenty" (1988)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988)
- "Through the Storm" (1989)
- "Healing Hands" (1989)
- "Sacrifice" (1989)
- "Club at the End of the Street" (1990)
- "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)
- "The One" (1992)
- "Runaway Train" (1992)
- "The Last Song" (1992)
- "Simple Life" (1993)
- "True Love" (1993)
- "Shakey Ground" (1994)
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994)
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994)
- "Circle of Life" (1994)
- "Believe" (1995)
- "Made in England" (1995)
- "When the Money's Gone" (1995)
- "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996)
- "Live Like Horses" (1996)
- "The Madness of King Scar" (1997)
- "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997)
- "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997)
- "Written in the Stars" (1999)
- "Someday Out of the Blue" (2000)
- "I Want Love" (2001)
- "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002)
- "Original Sin" (2002)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (2003)
- "Ghetto Gospel" (2005)
- "Electricity" (2005)
- "The Bridge" (2006)
- "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008)
- "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
- "All of the Lights" (2010)
- "Good Morning to the Night" (2012)
- "Sad" (2012)
- "Looking Up" (2015)
- "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
- "Ordinary Man" (2020)
- "Sine from Above" (2020)
- "The Pink Phantom" (2020)
- "It's a Sin" (2021)
- "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021)
- "Merry Christmas" (2021)
- "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021)
- "Hold Me Closer" (2022)
- Category:Elton John