Elton John released "A Single Man" in 1978 and it was his first LP to not use frequent collaborator lyricist Bernie Taupin. The first single issued was the disco-ey "Part Time Love" and it peaked at #22.
The follow up was a gentle, dreamy ballad called "Song For Guy" that followed the track "Reverie" and was released as a single but not promoted in the US and did not receive any airplay there, although it was a major hit in everywhere else in the world. MCA Records was not behind the song for the US market.
In the liner notes, Elton explained "Song For Guy", "As I was writing this song one Sunday, I imagined myself floating into space and looking down at my own body. I was imagining myself dying. Morbidly obsessed with these thoughts, I wrote this song about death. The next day I was told that Guy Burchett, our 17-year-old messenger boy, had been tragically killed on his motorcycle the day before. Guy died on the day I wrote this song."
I just remember floating away when this song came on the radio, the chill percussion and the simple arrangement made sure of that. The dedication to Elton's deceased friend makes the song even more poignant. It stands as one of Elton John's finest songs that he wrote by himself. I still like to lay down and put this one on, it is just so relaxing and calming. Near the end you can hear Elton gently intoning "Life is a delicate thing". Those lyrics are not printed in the album. I checked online and the lyrics are erroneously noted as "Life, isn't everything" which makes no sense at all in the context of the songs origin. I have tweeted Elton and asked and am waiting on a reply....
