Levon

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"Levon"

Single by Elton John
from the album Madman Across the Water
Released	1971
Format	vinyl record (7")
Recorded	Trident Studios
Genre	Rock
Length	5:22
Label	Uni
Writer(s)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Friends" (1971)	"Levon" (1971)	"Tiny Dancer" (1972)

"Levon" is a popular 1971 song, recorded by Elton John with music written by him and lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It was from John's album Madman Across The Water.

[edit] Song

The titular character's name derives from The Band drummer Levon Helm.[1] The track's power derives from John's solid vocals and his piano-based melody married to Paul Buckmaster's dynamic string arrangement, as well as powerful drumming by Roger Pope.

The song describes a family living with mental illness. The opening line is the first clue to Taupin's riddle. "Levon wears his war wound like a crown" refers to being used as a "pawn" in warfare, and receiving a head injury. His son, irreverently named "Jesus", is growing apart from his father, who seems to fixate on religious and status symbols. The song's refrain, "He shall be Levon", contains a subtle pun which John's phrasing alternately obscures and punctuates: "He shall believe on."

[edit] Trivia

"Levon" has since been covered by several artists, including Bon Jovi and Billy Klippert. It was also taken on by Taylor Hicks in the first week of the semifinal of the fifth season of American Idol, one of the most praised performances of that season. Hicks sang it again on the final day of the competition.

Between 1997 and 1999, the Florida Marlins baseball team would play the song over the public address system just before pitcher Livan Hernandez would take the mound in the top of the first inning ("Livan" pronounced correctly in Spanish sounds the same as "Levon" pronounced in English). Hernandez went on to lead the Marlins to the 1997 World Series Championship and was named the series' most valuable player.