"Indian Sunset"
Song by Elton John
from the album Madman Across the Water
Released5 November 1971
Recorded14 August 1971 at DJM Studios
Genre
Length6:45
LabelDJM
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon

"Indian Sunset" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water.

Background

It's a story, it's not a protest song, which many people think it seems to be.

— John before performing the song at BBC studios[1]

The song chronicles the story of an unnamed American Indian warrior on the verge of defeat from the white man.[2] Taupin was inspired to write the lyrics after seeing the Frederic Remington painting, "The Scout: Friends or Foes?".[3] It contains numerous inaccuracies, most notably the line about Geronimo being shot by U.S soldiers. In reality, the Apache warrior died of pneumonia at the age of 79.

John told Rolling Stone in 2011 that this song was one of his favourites to play live: "I do 'Indian Sunset' with Ray Cooper. Nobody knows that song at all, it's an obscure track from Madman Across the Water, and it gets a standing ovation every night. It's a six-minute movie in a song."[4]

Sampling

In 2004, the song was sampled in an Eminem-produced Tupac Shakur song entitled "Ghetto Gospel". It topped the charts in United Kingdom, Australia, Czech Republic, Ireland, and Scotland. It also become a Top Ten and Top 20 hit on some countries.[5]

References

  1. ^ Philip Anness (4 January 2014). "Elton John – Indian Sunset (1971) Live at BBC Studios". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "The 10 best Elton John deep cuts". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ Bell, Jennifer (13 May 2023). "The Meaning Behind The Song: Indian Sunset by Elton John". Old Time Music. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ Scaggs, Austin (17 February 2011). "The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  5. ^ Roxborough, Tim (28 June 2015). "10 Years On From 2Pac & Elton John's 'Ghetto Gospel' – The Genius of Eminem". Roxborough Report. Retrieved 29 December 2017.


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