Big Dipper (Elton John song)
Encyclopedia
"Big Dipper" is a song by Elton John
with lyrics by Gary Osborne
. It is the fourth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It gained notice for not being included on the Russian release of the album due to the meaning of the song.
-inspired jazz horn section. The drum and bass pattern also follows this, making it sound like something that could easily be ragtime
. The backing vocals on this song is John's then-owned football team, Watford F.C.
. This is one out of their two appearances on this album.
The last verse is adapted from an old classic, "Makin' Whoopee".
along with another song, "Part-Time Love
". The song could tell about a man looking for love with a sailor, using "Big Dipper" (which in British slang is a rollercoaster, and an asterism
in the American language) as a substitute for a penis
. The sailor says he can't handle anymore, so the man "filled him up with all kinds of stuff to relax him". This could symbolize that a drug rape was taking action. The third verse opens with "He hadn't been too keen at the start - now he seems to have a change of heart", indicating that the sailor finds out about his homosexuality, and therefore continues his relationship. The song ends fading out with the line: "Another ride, another tune, another crazy afternoon, another reason for squeezin' your big dipper".
It was a highly controversial issue to put in a song at that time, but since the album nor the song was very commercially successful, it did not gain widespread notoriety.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
with lyrics by Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom.-Career:Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen....
. It is the fourth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It gained notice for not being included on the Russian release of the album due to the meaning of the song.
Musical structure
The music is not reminiscent of anything else that John has ever done. The main part of the song is a jaunting piano joined by a New OrleansNew Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
-inspired jazz horn section. The drum and bass pattern also follows this, making it sound like something that could easily be ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
. The backing vocals on this song is John's then-owned football team, Watford F.C.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. This is one out of their two appearances on this album.
The last verse is adapted from an old classic, "Makin' Whoopee".
Lyrical meaning
It was banned when released in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
along with another song, "Part-Time Love
Part-Time Love
"Part-Time Love" is a song written by Elton John with lyrics by Gary Osborne. It is the sixth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It is also the opening track of side two. It proved to be one of the most popular singles the couple wrote, along with 1982's "Blue Eyes". It was banned in the...
". The song could tell about a man looking for love with a sailor, using "Big Dipper" (which in British slang is a rollercoaster, and an asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
in the American language) as a substitute for a penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
. The sailor says he can't handle anymore, so the man "filled him up with all kinds of stuff to relax him". This could symbolize that a drug rape was taking action. The third verse opens with "He hadn't been too keen at the start - now he seems to have a change of heart", indicating that the sailor finds out about his homosexuality, and therefore continues his relationship. The song ends fading out with the line: "Another ride, another tune, another crazy afternoon, another reason for squeezin' your big dipper".
It was a highly controversial issue to put in a song at that time, but since the album nor the song was very commercially successful, it did not gain widespread notoriety.
Personnel
- Elton John - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocals - Tim Renwick - guitarsElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Clive Franks - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Steve Holly - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, motor horn - Ray CooperRay CooperRay Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
- tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all.... - Pat Halcox - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- John Crocker - clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
- Jim Shepherd - tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Watford Football Team - backing vocals
- The South Audley Street Girl's Choir - backing vocals