It Ain't Gonna Be Easy
Encyclopedia
"It Ain't Gonna Be Easy" is a song by Elton John
with lyrics by Gary Osborne
. It is one of his longest songs recorded, and is the fifth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It also ends side one.
". At the end of the song, John sings some of the highest falsetto
es of his later period. Elton has rarely, if ever, performed the song live.
on him, which devastates him and makes him believe he cannot trust her. The narrator is torn between a decision to end the relationship (a recognition that he cannot go back to blindly trusting his lover and that it might be appropriate to fold a losing hand), but overall he offers to work things out if the lover is willing to work on patching things up. More emphasis is paid to the fact that patching things up will be difficult, though, and the song's overall mood is more despairing than forgiving or hopeful. There are only three verses in this song, though it is more than eight minutes long. The verses are repeated later parts, becoming increasingly wailing and melancholic.
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 one of his longest songs recorded, and is the fifth track off his 1978 album, A Single Man. It also ends side one.
Musical structure
The song opens with a bluesy electric guitar intro accompanied by piano notes. It then goes into the first verse, which features piano, still heavily focused on blues. The rhythm section keeps a steady beats, making the song seem dark and empty, much in style with the moaning lyrics. For the second verse, a string section appears, baring resemblance to his older songs. After the main song, the song continues another four-five minutes, in which a mix between guitar and piano solos appear. One of the themes in the solo is much reminiscent of the piano performance in another one of John's older songs, "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On
"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
". At the end of the song, John sings some of the highest falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
es of his later period. Elton has rarely, if ever, performed the song live.
Lyrical meaning
The song describes a man whose lover has been cheatingInfidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
on him, which devastates him and makes him believe he cannot trust her. The narrator is torn between a decision to end the relationship (a recognition that he cannot go back to blindly trusting his lover and that it might be appropriate to fold a losing hand), but overall he offers to work things out if the lover is willing to work on patching things up. More emphasis is paid to the fact that patching things up will be difficult, though, and the song's overall mood is more despairing than forgiving or hopeful. There are only three verses in this song, though it is more than eight minutes long. The verses are repeated later parts, becoming increasingly wailing and melancholic.
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 ....
- 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...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
- orchestral arrangements