I’m a huge fan of Elton John’s Too low for Zero album and Cold as Christmas brings the temperature down, way down as only John can do to open the album and lead us into the title track. This song is not a big Elton hit by any stretch, but I really like to hear it and wallow in the lyrics. It was overshadowed by I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues and I’m Still Standing.
We still sit at separate tables
And we sleep at different times
And the warm wind in the palm trees
Hasn’t helped to change our minds
It was the lure of the tropics
That I thought might heal the scars
Of a love burned out by silence
In a marriage minus heart
I do consider this song an overlooked gem in his collection. It is a song about separation, but trying to keep the relationship strong for the sake of loved ones. This is a song that I suspect will immediately appeal to Elton John fans, but it may take some more digging into from others.
‘Two low For Zero’ was John’s best selling album of the 80’s and as usual all lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. It is said that this album marked the coming together of the two again and Elton foraged his backing band of the early 70’s to make this album. It’s a stellar and the Title track is one of my favourite things in music. This track isn’t far off.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I remember this one. I did listen to him in the 80s…he did have some good songs that have been overlooked. He was competing with his golden period of the early 70s.
Hey Max, I hope you’re doing well. This album ‘Too Low For Zero’ is up there with the best from the 80s mainstream albums at least from what I have heard. His early 70’s stuff was magic, but this was 80’s style and the ‘I’m still standing’ video clip is testament to that lol
He was up against the impossible… to compete with his own self. The first thing I remember liking a lot was Empty Garden from his 80s period.
Hope you and your family are doing well Matt.
That is true. I gather you saw ‘Rocketman’? Yeh, the family are good apart from the socialist riots and uprising lol
Yes I did…
Yea that is scary Matt. I read something about that in Newsweek about taxes and the protest of….
Yeh, the conservative Government once again trying to get the economy moving has been beleaguered by the populist socialists. Remember Biden invited an ex warfighter of one of the socialist war fighting factions ‘Gustavo Pedro’ to his inauguration. Our president no. We are in for some tough times.
I’m sorry to hear that. That sounds like Biden…how crazy that it is. I hope it gets clear soon but I don’t see it.