Burn Down the Mission
Elton John
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You tell me there's an angel in your tree Did he say he'd come to call on me For things are getting desperate in our home Living in the parish of the restless folks I know Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps It's time we put the flame torch to their keep Burn down the mission If we're gonna stay alive Watch the black smoke fly to heaven See the red flame light the sky Burn down the mission Burn it down to stay alive It's our only chance of living Take all you need to live inside Ah ah ah Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today My wife cried when they came to take me away But what more could I do just to keep her warm Than burn burn burn burn down the mission walls Now everybody bring your family down to the riverside Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps It's time we put the flame torch to their keep Burn down the mission Lord If we're gonna stay alive Watch the black smoke fly to heaven See the red flame light the sky Burn down the mission Lord If we're gonna stay alive It's our only chance of living Take all you need to live inside
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Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Song Origin"Burn Down the Mission" is one of the songs in Elton John's third studio album, titled "Tumbleweed Connection," released in 1970.
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CompositionIt's a lengthy song with a runtime of approximately 6:22 minutes.
- It is written in the key of D minor.
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Lyrics and ThemeThe lyrics of the song were penned by John's long-time writing partner, Bernie Taupin.
- The song tells the story of a poor man's revolt against a wealthy establishment.
- It showcases John's storytelling songwriting style and Taupin's lyricism, which often highlights societal injustices.
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Live PerformancesElton John often performed "Burn Down the Mission" as a closing number during his live concerts in the 1970s.
- It was included in several of his concert DVDs, including "Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden."
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Critical ReceptionCritics have praised the song for its musical complexity, emotional depth, and powerful vocal performance by John.
- It remains a fan-favourite and is often considered one of Elton John's most underrated songs.
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Song's Influence"Burn Down the Mission," along with other songs from the album "Tumbleweed Connection," heavily influenced the modern Americana and folk-rock genres.
- It also influenced other artists like Mumford & Sons and First Aid Kit, who have frequently cited Elton John as a major influence.
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TriviaDespite the song's popularity and powerful message, it was never released as a single. Still, it achieved a lot of recognition and appreciation.
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Citation
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"Burn Down the Mission Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/305312/Elton+John/Burn+Down+the+Mission>.
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