I want to restart my Music Monday series with a cover tune I took on as a challenge. I’m not a stellar guitarist, and I felt the chord structure of this Elton John tune would be a good test of my meager talents. If you’re a musician or an astute music fan, you’ll notice the flub in the second refrain that I powered through as best as I could.

I also find the storytelling of Bernie Taupin’s lyrics compelling: someone of humble beginnings who rejects being used as a social circle showpiece.

This was recorded about a half decade ago, when I was going through a particularly shaggy phase.