Elderberry Wine
Elton John · Don't Shoot Me (I'm Only The Piano Player)
A dog in the yard
And a year since I saw you
There's a trunk in the corner
I keep all my letters
My bills and demands I keep too
Well I can't help thinking
About the times
You were a wife of mine
You aimed to please me
Cooked black-eyed peas-me
Made elderberry wine
Drunk all the time
Feeling fine on elderberry wine
Those were the days
We'd lay in the haze
Forget depressive times
How can I ever get it together
Without a wife in line
To pick the crop and get me hot
On elderberry wine
Round a tree in the summer
A fire in the fall
Flat out when they couldn't stand
The bottle went round
Like a woman down south
Passed on from hand to hand
Elderberry Wine
Elderberry Wine stands as a standout track from Elton John's 1973 album, Don't Shoot Me (I'm Only The Piano Player). Released during a period of significant creative experimentation, the song showcases the artist's ability to blend rock energy with sophisticated, almost theatrical arrangements. The recording captures a moment in John's discography where he moved beyond his earlier piano-driven ballads into more complex, rhythmically driven compositions. As part of an era that solidified his status as a global superstar, the track reflects the bold production choices and dynamic range that defined his work in the early 1970s. It remains a notable song in his extensive catalogue, illustrating the depth and variety of his musical output during this celebrated phase of his career.