“I knew [the song] was about me. I had been into ballet as a little girl and sewed patches on Elton’s jackets and jeans”, referring to the song’s description of a “seamstress for the band”.
– Maxine Feibelman
Tiny Dancer is one of Elton John’s most lucid and airy songs, built around a beautiful, looping piano melody. The English singer-songwriter may as well have come right out and said it: “Please, America – like me.” The song wasn’t even released in the UK. Between the American accent John adopts – something he does time and again in his 1970s work – and the pedal steel guitar interludes, which provide a neat counterpoint to the sun-drenched visions of Los Angeles, it’s a strange mesh of sounds and imagery. Yet it somehow works, remaining adaptable to almost anywhere and any occasion
Tiny Dancer was inspired by lyricist Bernie Taupin’s first visit to the US and how the California girls differed so much from the English lasses back home. Specifically, it was about his former wife Maxine Feibelman who was in fact a seamstress for the band.
My only criticism of it, is its length at just over 6 minutes – it seems to overstay its welcome by repeating the first verse. In fact due to its length it was a non starter in the US reaching No. 41 on the US Billboard, but a hit in Australia at No. 13. Some radio edits ended the song following the first chorus, because the first verse repeats. So that’s where my ideal version would end as well.
Eventually, the song slowly became one of John’s most popular songs even in the territories that initially failed to embrace it. The full-length version is now a fixture on North American, UK and Australian adult contemporary and rock radio stations. The song also received a boost of popularity after being prominently featured in Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film – Almost Famous.
[Verse 1]
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty-eyed, pirate smile
You’ll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must’ve seen her
Dancing in the sand
And now she’s in me, always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
[Verse 2]
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back, she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man, he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on, she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums
[Pre-Chorus]
But, oh, how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you, and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
[Chorus]
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
References:
1. Tiny Dancer – 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’ve always loved “Tiny Dancer.” It was among the first Elton John songs I heard back in Germany many moons ago when I borrowed and taped on music cassette a greatest hits sampler.
I came to ‘Tiny Dancer’ a lot later than most of his material. I don’t know why. In fact I presumed the song was a late 70’s release until I researched the article.
Love this song!
It seems to be one of his most popular now.
Matt…if I had to pick a “favorite” Elton John song…this would be it! I’ll never forget the placement of this song in the great movie “Almost Famous” and that made me like it even more.
If I had to have guessed which was your favourite from Elton it would have been this one, because I remember you singing its praises and the movie ‘Almost Famous’ as well. It’s a great song and seems to have gained more popularity over time.
Something about it Matt that I really like… I do like a lot of his songs but this one really hits. I also like Daniel, Philadelphia Freedom, and the list goes on….but if you put a gun to my head…I’d pick this one. Have you seen Almost Famous? I can’t remember
Yeh, I was meaning to revisit ‘Almost Famous’. I love how Cameron Crowe’ uses music in his movies. He wrote the linear notes of Dylan’s Biograph. If someone gets the green light to do that – then they know their stuff.
Oh, you’d be impressed, lol I listened last night to George Harrison’s ‘Something’ with the Beatles then John Lennon’s song ‘Woman’. Both are stupendously good songs. They are two classics.
You are so right on Crowe getting the green light from Dylan! That is enough.
Yes I am impressed! They are good songs…both of them. I haven’t listened to the Beatles for a while…but they will be in my future again soon I’m sure.
It’s funny how I’m more tuned into the Beatles (especially post solo works) now than I have ever been. I tend to like the Beatles’ outtakes as well perhaps more than the tamed comercial versions.
I always like outtakes… I love to see where a song is coming from and how much it changed. I listen to my outtakes sometimes…to see what I did.