Album: Too Low for Zero (1983)

Charted: 4 12

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• You could never know what it's like
  Your blood, like winter, freezes just like ice
  And there's a cold, lonely light that shines from you
  You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
  
  And did you think this fool could never win?
  Well look at me, I'm a-coming back again
  I got a taste of love in a simple way
  And if you need to know while I'm still standing
  You just fade away
  
  Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did?
  Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
  And I'm still standing after all this time
  Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
  
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  
  Once I never coulda hoped to win
  You starting down the road, leaving me again
  The threats you made were meant to cut me down
  And if our love was just a circus
  You'd be a clown by now
  
  You know I'm still standing better than I ever did
  Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
  I'm still standing after all this time
  Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
  
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  
  Don't you know that I'm still standing better than I ever did?
  Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
  And I'm still standing after all this time
  Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
  
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  
  I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah)
  I'm still standing Writer/s: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 25

• Ben from AmsterdamAccording to Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, the original "inspiration" was an old girlfriend of his. He said:
  It's perhaps one more example of the original idea being interpreted by everyone into something quite different. I think people see it as an anthem based on Elton's strong sense of survival in the face of adversity. Which, believe me, is perfectly fine by me. In fact, it's probably infinitely more interesting, perhaps, than what it was initially written about. Which, if my memory serves me correctly, it was a sort of kiss off to an old girlfriend. You know the sort of thing, 'Don't you worry about me, I'll be perfectly fine.' Unlike George Jones' 'She Thinks I Still Care,' where, in fact, he really did, I really didn't."
  
  From Wikipedia page of the song, including references.
• John Anderson from Arnhem, The NetherlandsIt's about his ex manager John Reid after Elton came out of rehab. "Fun fact", Duran duran stayed at the same hotel claiming Elton was drinking and using blow as a complete mad man after the shoot.
• Bob from Homebe nice to everyone
• Kthe male dancer painted yellow from the video is so beautiful
• Aubrey from New Amsterdam I still dont know what the songs about... can someone help me?
• Arrow from AmericaThe video was actually shot in Cannes because of the Carlton Hotel . If it would have been Nice it would be the Negresco at the Prom. de Anglais.
• Mrina from Americamy ex actually sent me this song haha. i had broken up with him because i didnt feel comfortable in the relationship and it just wasnt working out for me and he sent me this song. idk what kind of "mask" i hide behind but its not what he thinks lol. i wasnt going to lead him on and i realized soon that my feelings were more lust than love
• Sexy Beats from UkI think it’s about how he wanted to kill himself and he became better and how he’s still standing and how he’s ok now but you can look at it from a lot of views.
• False from AmericaI always thought it was about him quitting drinking because of the lyrics like "Picking up the pieces of my life without *you* on my mind" (him trying to piece his life together after everything he did while using alcohol) and "You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use" (he probably tried to make it look like he wasn't struggling with alcoholism and he's eluding here to the fact that he did struggle)
• Ap from IsraelHonestly, for me this song is about showing how strong you are even after your former lover destroyed your life. (kind of dramatic, yes.) This hits very close to home for me as I had broken up with an abusive partner. This song kept me going when things were very difficult.
• Bridget from CoI thought this was about staying strong after going through a lot, given the title. I thought that because someone made a video of clips from Chad Wild Clay and his friend's videos with the Sing! version of this was playing, specifically with Melvin CWC in mind (he's been through a lot). But it would make sense even if the video was never posted.
• Truthteller from Edinburgh, UkThis song was about Elton’s ex boyfriend and manager, John Reid.
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxMy brother's wife at the time was from Europe and didn't always understand what the lyrics were saying. She thought EJ was singing "I can't stand it!" and didn't understand...what he couldn't stand.
• G Lander from Southington ConnecticutI'm not from the same generation that heard this song on MTV. I always thought of it as him saying he's coming out saying that he's gay. But I guess I was wrong. it's okay I still love this song. whenever I have to clean. I always put some crocodile Rock some rocket Man and I'm still standing in my playlist it gets me up and going and cleaning
• Cobje from NigeriaExcellence
• Sam from RicardoneI'd really love to find out the locations in Nice where the video was shot - so one day we all can get to know them better.
• Raelyn Brian from AltoonaI love Elton John and music.
• John from TexasI thought the sing was based on him beating his adduction to drugs but this work's too
• Tom from Belgium"From the coda" at the end of the guitar solo??
  No, he sings "Don't you know that"!
• Patricio from Grand Forks, NdElton can clearly be heard saying “from the coda” in time with the song on beat 2 of the final measure of the guitar solo, signifying to the band to head to the playout on the chart they were reading in the studio.
• Karen from Manchester, NhBruno Tonioli, one of the judges from "Dancing With the Stars", shows up as a dancer in this video.
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiMy favorite Elton John Song.I love the video,too.It reminds me of Underdog.
• Breanna from Henderson, NvI love this song. It`s definetly one of his best!
• George from Calumet City, IlThis song is so damn good.
• Mercedies from Soldotna, AkThis is one of his coolest songs. He has so many great ones it's hard to chose a favorite.

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