But more than ever, I simply love you
More than I love life itself
When Elton sings the above lines in today’s featured track, it sends chills down my spine. It’s simply devine and one of my favourite romantic songs from his vast catalogue. Bernie Taupin’s lyrical prowess certainly does shine in this as well. What a fabulous pairing those two were in contemporary music. I liked when John performed the song live playing it as part of a medley with his hit Blue Eyes.
I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues was released as the first single from John’s 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. It was the first single since 1975’s Someone Saved My Life Tonight to feature the classic lineup of the Elton John Band. I know Elton deservedly gets a lot of plaudits for his 70’s output but as far as my musical apreciación goes, I consider his 1983 Too Low For Zero record one of his greatest musical feats perhaps since Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
The following are extracts from the Wikipedia reference below:
The song became one of John’s biggest hits of the 1980s in the United States, holding at No. 2 for four weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart, and reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top ten in five countries, including the UK, peaking at number five.
The song received largely favourable reviews, with Bill Janovitz of AllMusic declaring the song “likely to stand the test of time as a standard.” He added: “As with the lyric, the music has more than a tinge of nostalgia, with a ’50s-like R&B shuffle, a jazzy piano theme, and an inspired, Toots Thielemans-like harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder‘.
[Verse 1]
Don’t wish it away
Don’t look at it like it’s forever
Between you and me, I could honestly say
That things can only get better
[Pre-Chorus]
And while I’m away
Dust out the demons inside
And it won’t be long before you and me run
To the place in our hearts where we hide
[Chorus]
And I guess that’s why they call it the blues
Time on my hands could be time spent with you
Laughin’ like children, livin’ like lovers
Rollin’ like thunder under the covers
And I guess that’s why they call it the blues
[Verse 2]
Just stare into space
Picture my face in your hands
Live for each second without hesitation
And never forget I’m your man
[Pre-Chorus]
Wait on me, girl
Cry in the night if it helps
But more than ever, I simply love you
More than I love life itself
[Harmonica solo: Stevie Wonder]
The original music video (below), one of twenty directed for John by Australian Russell Mulcahy, tells the story of two 1950s-era young lovers who are separated when the man is forced to leave for National Service, depicting the trials and tribulations he experiences there, and then are finally reunited at the end of the song.
References:
1. I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues – Wikipedia
“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 share your enthusiasm about the song and the entire “Too Low for Zero” album. While Elton John also had some memorable songs in the wake of the amazing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” album, such as “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “Little Jeannie” and “Blue Eyes”, “Too Zero for Zero” felt like a comeback to full greatness. So many great songs on that album. In addition to this song, I love “Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)”, “I’m Still Standing”, “Kiss the Bride” and the title track in particular.
We had this same conversation in my post in July this year on ‘Kiss the Bride’, but I think it’s worth pressing how grandiose this album is. For me as well the title track ‘in particular’ is the stand – out if that’s what you were getting at.
This is one of my favorite of Elton John’s songs from the 80s.
I can see why. It”s so beautiful. Off the top of my head I think it is one of my favourite Romantic songs from him maybe ‘Your Song’ eclipsing.