Supposedly about a Vietnam war veteran. But why would someone wounded be going to Spain on vacay over and over?
Did you perceive it as a gay lament?
My most hated Elton John song. I hate the melody, arrangement, and I hate the name Daniel.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 12, 2025 1:49 PM |
I always thought the guy liked visiting Spain before he was blinded so that’s why he goes back
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 12, 2025 1:51 PM |
Agreed, R1; I put it in the same class as "Seasons In the Sun" and "Billy, Don't Be a Hero."
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 12, 2025 1:52 PM |
R3 I agree and I say that as a lover of Elton John.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 12, 2025 1:55 PM |
I have very nostalgic feelings about all those songs R3. Of course they are dreck but I loved them as a kid. I love "Daniel" too.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 12, 2025 2:58 PM |
We had joy we had fun putting fingers up our bums but the pain was too strong 'cause our fingers were too long
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 12, 2025 3:01 PM |
Daniel makes me cry because my older brother Danny was a sweet, lost soul who was treated like a fool by my vicious Catholic family. He had a stutter, and probably undiagnosed learning disabilities .
As a teen he got into acid, coke and alcohol. My family (academic high achievers) never gave him a chance. He wasn’t stupid. He was very wise and observant.
He died in 2021. I miss him.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 12, 2025 7:43 PM |
Bernie Taupin said he chose Spain as the country in the song because it rhymed and sounded good. Apparently the song was in regards to a returning Vietnam veteran. The comment "you eyes have died, but you see more than I" to me indicated that Daniel was likely blind, or perhaps that he had died and what he saw now was from a metaphysical perspective.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 12, 2025 9:43 PM |