Bernie Taupin "One Hundred Ways"

Legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin — Elton John’s songwriting partner of over 50 years and the mind behind “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Candle in the Wind” — returns to the Sad Song Queens podcast for part two of an intimate conversation with hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington.

This episode dives deep into “One Hundred Ways,” the poignant closing track from Taupin’s new solo album The Sea Has No Mercy (out October 23rd), his first solo record in nearly four decades. The song features a duet with his daughter, Georgey Devon Taupin, and Bernie opens up about writing directly to his children, confronting mortality, and why he chose to end the song abruptly rather than fade it out.

The conversation ranges far beyond the single track: Bernie reflects on what he calls his “late-life manifesto,” the emotional and creative differences between writing alone versus with Elton John, his process of people-watching for song inspiration, his honest (and blunt) advice for aspiring songwriters, and the true stories — and fabricated ones — behind some of his most beloved lyrics, including “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “I’m Still Standing.”

Whether you’re a longtime Elton John fan, a songwriter looking for insight from one of music’s greatest lyricists, or just here for a good cry, this episode delivers the raw honesty Sad Song Queens is known for.

Guest: Bernie Taupin Featuring: “One Hundred Ways” ft. Georgey Devon Taupin, from The Sea Has No Mercy (out October 23rd

Topics:Elton John songwriting partnership, mortality and legacy, fatherhood, songwriting advice, autobiographical vs. fictional lyrics

Support the show

To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist! 

Find us elsewhere: 

https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens

If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee!

Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company.

Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui. 

Check out our friends atThe Songwriting School of Los Angeles!