VERSE
Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)
Elton John
What happened here
As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain
And what's it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace
And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play
And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear
Who lived there
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name
Johnny can't you come out to play in your empty garden
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Translated byAllen Morningstar
About this Song
Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny) by Elton John is a poignant tribute to John Lennon, the legendary member of The Beatles who was tragically assassinated in 1980. The song metaphorically refers to Lennon's life and legacy as a 'garden' that is now empty due to his untimely death. Key themes include loss, remembrance, and homage to a cherished friend and influential musician. Particularly poignant moments in the song include the chorus, where Elton John profoundly expresses the emptiness left behind by Lennon's absence, symbolizing the void in the music world and among his loved ones.
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