Indian Sunset
"Indian Sunset" is a 1971 song, written and recorded by Elton John, with lyrics by his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. It was from John's album Madman Across the Water. The song chronicles the story of an unnamed American Indian warrior on the verge of defeat from the white man. Taupin was inspired to write the lyrics after visiting a Native American reservation. In 2004, the song was sampled in an Eminem-produced Tupac Shakur song entitled "Ghetto Gospel".[1] The song 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.
| "Indian Sunset" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Elton John | |
| from the album Madman Across the Water | |
| Released | 5 November 1971 |
| Recorded | 14 August 1971 at DJM Studios |
| Genre |
|
| Length | 6:45 |
| Label | DJM |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon |
John told Rolling Stone in 2011 that this is 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."[2]
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[3]
References
- 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.
- Scaggs, Austin (17 February 2011). "The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- Philip Anness (4 January 2014). "Elton John - Indian Sunset (1971) Live at BBC Studios" – via YouTube.
