Tell Me When The Whistle Blows by Elton John

VERSE

Tell Me When The Whistle Blows

Elton John

Tell Me When The Whistle Blows

Song byElton John

in AlbumCaptain Fantastic

There's a dusty old gutter he's lying in now

He's blind and he's old

And there's a bottle that rolls down the road

Me I'm young and I'm so wild

And I still feel the need

Of your apron strings once in a while

For there's taxi cabs hooting

But I can't be foot-loose forever

My suitcase it's a cheap one

My darling she's a dear one

My head's feeling light as a feather

Take my ears and tell me when the whistle blows

Wake me up and tell me when the whistle blows

Long lost and lonely boy

you're just a black sheep going home

I want to feel your wheels of steel

Underneath my itching heels

Take my money

Tell me when the whistle blows

Part of me asked the young man for the time

With a cool vacant stare of undue concern

He said nine

It's not so bad but I really do love the land

And rather all this than those diamante lovers

In Hyde Park holding hands

Blowing heat through my fingers

Trying to kill off this cold

Will the street kids remember

Can I still shoot a fast cue

Has this country kid still got his soul

LanguageEnglish

Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Tell Me When The Whistle Blows by Elton John is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, nostalgia, and the longing for simpler days. The song encapsulates the melancholic yearning for the past while grappling with the inevitable march of time. Themes of loss, memory, and the desire for connection are woven throughout the lyrics. Key moments include the references to the narrator's past relationships and the evocative imagery of waiting for a signal—a 'whistle'—to move forward or to remember the good times.