Healing Hands

Album: Sleeping With The Past (1989)
Charted: 1 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin drew on soul music for the songs from the Sleeping With The Past album. "Healing Hands" has a gospel influence, with a redemption theme framed around a relationship that has turned toxic. Taupin's lyric has Elton facing the pain by looking for healing in a higher power. The lines, "You gotta wade into the water, you gotta learn to live again," indicate a baptism.
  • In the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Elton's lyricist Bernie Taupin described this song as "An updated version of the Four Tops' Reach Out I'll Be There, only slightly more religious." Elton John noted, "The Impressions were a big influence on this album and 'Healing Hands' is probably where they left their mark."
  • When this was first issued as a single in 1989, it stalled at #45 in the UK. When Rocket Records decided to reissue "Sacrifice" in the UK, they issued it as a double A-side along with this song. By mid-summer 1990 it was topping the UK charts.
  • John and Taupin worked out of many different studios throughout their partnership in an effort to keep their creative juices flowing and minimize distractions. For the Sleeping With The Past album, they chose Denmark, working at Puk Studios in Randers. They had most of the album written after just four days.

Comments: 3

  • Michelle 49 from Australia Such an uplifting song of hope.
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaIt has the tone of a revival.
  • Dylan from Port Orange, FlA VERY, VERY, VERY underrated song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.