The Country Classic Elton John Wishes He Wrote

Elton John has delivered his fair share of classic tracks. He’s written more hits than many of his peers. Nevertheless, his track record hasn’t stopped him dreaming about having written other peoples’ hits. There is one modern country track that John hailed as the no. 1 song he wished he had written. Find out which song that is, below.

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The Country Classic Elton John Wishes He Wrote

You’re feeling nervous, aren’t you, boy?
With your quiet voice and impeccable style
Don’t ever let them steal your joy
And your gentle ways, to keep ’em from running wild

Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke” has become beloved by a generation of country fans. This track was written in response to the political climate in America in 2017. Even so, the song has endless applications. It has been an assuage for listeners who feel mistreated and othered.

John once spoke in an interview about how he wished he had penned “The Joke.” He found the song to already be “Elton-ish.”

“I just love it,” John once said of this modern classic. “I’ve played it continuously. It’s just the kind of song I could have written, quite Elton-ish. It’s the song that launched her into the stratosphere after seven albums – it was nominated for four Grammys. She’s a friend, I love her, and people are now giving her the respect she deserves.”

Let ’em laugh while they can
Let ’em spin, let ’em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I’ve seen how it ends
And the joke’s on them

We see where John is coming from. “The Joke” has the same universal appeal as many of John’s songs. It speaks to the world around us, which John has been known to do a time or two. It also feels timeless, which has proven to be true of John’s music.

Carlile certainly struck gold with this power ballad. Revisit this touching track, below.

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They come to kick dirt in your face
To call you weak and then displace you
After carrying your baby on your back across the desert
I saw your eyes behind your hair
And you’re looking tired, but you don’t look scared

(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)