Today we have the first of an Elton John double billing – a happy quirk of the alphabetical sequence that sometimes throws up these fortuitous double features.
We’re dialing things right down with this lesser known song from Elton John’s 1992 album The One (image inset). Elton has a talent for capturing emotional chill – just as he did on tracks like Too Low for Zero and Cold As Christmas. The North carries on in that same desolate, bleak and despondent way painting a stark emotional landscape. The music kind of meanders as well like a man trudging along disoriented and numb searching for a beacon of hope.
Lyrically, the song explores themes of personal reckoning and the struggle to move beyond a haunted past. Elton sees a faint light on the horizon as he turns away from the cold, oppressive burden of “the North” – a metaphorical steel cloud trailing behind him. In shedding that emotional weight, he begins to rediscover the younger, more hopeful self within, now turning his gaze toward the symbolic warmth of the South.
It’s worth noting that The One marked Elton’s first studio album following his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and bulimia in 1990. That context makes the song’s journey from heaviness to clarity feel all the more poignant.
The One is Elton John’s 21st studio album and the last record I procured by him. I wore it out such was my fascination with the record. Its cover artwork was designed by Gianni Versace. The One spent three consecutive weeks at No. 2 without reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, being kept off the top spot by the Lionel Richie compilation Back to Front. However, it was John’s biggest-selling album in the US since 1976. All songs composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except Runaway Train, co-written by Olle Romö.
[Verse 1]
Have you seen the North
That cold grey place
Don’t want its shadow anymore
On my face
A man grows bitter
We’re a bitter race
Some of us never get to see
A better place
In the Northern Skies
There was a steel cloud
It used to follow me around
But I don’t see it now
There’s a farm in the rain
And a little farmhouse
There were a young man’s eyes
Looking south
[Chorus 1]
The North was my mother
But I no longer need her
You trade your roots and your dust
For a face in the river
[Chorus 2]
And a driven rain that washes you
To a different shore
There’s a North in us all
But my North can’t hold me anymore
References
1. The One (Elton John album) – 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 really loved Elton John’s 1983 “Too Low For Zero” album and still do, in addition to much of his ’70s catalog. While he continued to have the occasional decent song, he kind of fell off my radar screen starting from the mid-’80s. From “The One” I only knew the title track. Spontaneously, I think I might prefer “The North.” Thanks for the intro!
I recall your adoration for ‘Too Low For Zero’ which aligns with my appreciation of it. I can understand why Elton fell of your radar as he did for countless others. Having said that, this album was his highest selling in the US since 1976 which is so impressive.
It’s uncanny you mentioned the title track as it is today’s featured song.
The song from the record I most prefer to listen to now is ‘Whitewash County’. It’s just so jovial and uplifting and my God – John’s piano playing is magnificent. I can’t get enough of it. Allow me to indulge you:
Thanks! That’s a pretty good song. I like the upbeat vibe. Spontaneously, this may be my favorite of the three! 🙂
Yeh! It’s just such a vibrant number which I haven’t grown tired listening to. Also it’s a bit of a misnomer on the record, considering how it contrasts from the other songs mentioned including ‘Last Song’ being quite solemn. Not just that, but I can’t really compare it to any other song he has done musically speaking. May be you can think of one, which hasn’t occurred to me.
I think I had heard that song before. Spontaneously, I can’t think any other similar Elton John song either.
Since it bugged me, I just looked it up in Wikipedia and saw the song also appeared separately as a single. This means I most likely heard it on the radio at the time it came out.
There is some other song which bugs me also in the recesses which harps back to his rhythmic and coalescing piano playing on this. I’ll get it.
I think it’s this one in terms of the vibrancy and piano playing / solos, although I think Whitewash County is the better and more mediated output including the country-esque vibe :
Recognized that one immediately, though I’ve never listened to the corresponding album. Elton John really was a remarkable hit machine!
That makes two of us re. the album. It was his biggest release of the 80’s.
So I guess it’s fair to conclude while John no longer dominated the albums chart as much as he did during the first half of the seventies, he still scored some hit singles in the ‘80s and beyond.
No! He got the biggest album hit with The One in the US since 1976.
Wow! I also think he had 4 or 5 albums during the first half of the seventies, which topped the U.S. Billboard 200 and other charts. That’s what I meant – an ongoing period of chart dominance.
I hope you don’t mind diverging from the topíc: Clueso just released the following:
While I find that clip of Clueso’s live concert in Berlin more engaging, I have to say the studio version of this song sounds pretty good.
Thanks for listening to it. I very much enjoyed the melody, mood and presentation. Of course I have no idea of what he is saying, but no matter – when it comes time to writing an article on it, I’ll search the translation. Cheers.
If you find it too much I understand completely. This is Christina Perri’s ‘The Times of our Lives’. This is why I hold her in such high esteem. The rhythm, the production, the voice, the words are unbelievable:
Not at all, I’m always open to getting introduced to new music. While musically I don’t like this particular song as much as the previous picks you shared, vocally, Christina Perri once again sounds great. There’s no doubt in my mind she’s very talented.
Thanks again for watching it Christian and it’s always neat to get your perspective. I must admit ‘Time of Our Lives’ is one of my favourites by her (although I have a lot!) and musically its so distinct from any other she’s done. I never grow tired of it.
Great track…The One was my ex wife’s favorite…don’t know…
I’m glad you thought so. As I mentioned to Christian here, my favourite from the record to listen to now is ‘Whitewash County’.
Awesome track