“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.