Solar Prestige A Gammon by Elton John

Album: Caribou (1974)

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Don't look for meaning in this one: The words are just a collection of nonsense sounds strung together. Some are real words, others not:

Hair ring molassis abounding
Common lap kitch sardin a poor floundin
In Elizabeth Rosenthal's biography His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John, it is revealed that this song was inspired by "Sun King" from The Beatles Abbey Road album. Elton said: "I thought it would be great to write a song with English words that didn't mean a thing, but that sounded fantastic when put together." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander - London, England
This is the kind of song that might get removed from the album under scrutiny, but when Elton made Caribou, he didn't have the luxury of time. The entire album was written and recorded in just 10 days, so there was no time to second guess.

Comments: 9

Deejaydon from Canadanever, cared if it was about anything. I, just, liked the melody, the synthesizer and, Sir Elton's vocals(lead and, bg).
Bruce Morton from New YorkI always thought this was meant as sort of mock French, probably written in an alcoholic haze after watching a French movie on TV. (The accordion was a dead giveaway, at least to me.)
Geoff from Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSo, all these years (and there's been a lot of them) I was singing this song correctly all the time. Hoodathunkit?
Linda C from Linda From San Diego, CaliforniaI love this song, I thought I was singing in another language! I’m glad you put it on the album! One of my favorites
Ray Stoll from CaliforniaAs I SEE it in reading the lyrics, the song reeks of fish! It's all about turbert - salmon - herring - sardine - flounder - cod. Check it out.
Dalton from Phoenix, AzHave that song memorized to this day! I found another great song that means nothing by Italian Adriano Celentano called Prisencolinensinainciusol. This is from the same year I believe that Elton's song came out, around '73. You can find it on Youtube under that name. Really catchy tune.
Fernando Gonzalez from Coconut Creek, FloridaIncredible song, heard something once it was inspired by a Beatles song although that sounded weird to me. I literally live on Beatles since i was a child, but could never imagine it could be Sun King.... In the end, there could very well be true. Solar Prestige ... Is indeed a great song by the John-Taupin team for sure... This info sheds a whole new light on it. Thanks!!
Chezchez from New York, NyLoved this song even though i have no clue what the heck its about. Again Elton and Bernie kick ass. - chezchez, bronx, ny
Tony from Red Deer, AbI heard that this song was actually a "friendly" competition between Elton John and Bernie Taupin, in which Elton bet his buddy that he could make a song sound good musically, even if the lyrics were absolute gibberish.

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More Songfacts:

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeElton John

Recording "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," Elton John was frustrated and sang the line "don't discard me" with an exaggerated American accent, which is why is sounds strange.