Original handwritten lyrics for Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
Original handwritten lyrics for Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
TAUPIN, BERNIE. Autograph Manuscript Signed ("B.J. Taupin"), 2 pp, legal folio, [Chateau D'Hérouville, France], December 11, 1972, written in black felt tip pen on three-hole foolscap, some toning to page, loss at hole punches to both leaves. With a 45 of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" in the original sleeve.
Provenance: Collection of Maxine Taupin.
"Saturday Night" is an atypical song in the Elton John canon: a raucous rock-n-roll romp whose lyrics celebrate London's brawling pub culture, it could not be further away from the tender sentimentality of "Daniel" or the grief of "Candle in the Wind." It was, however, one of three top ten hit singles from the album, and remains today an anthem of the rock-n-roll thug life.
As with many of these other lyrics, the outline of the final song is here in this early draft, though this version is decidedly more cockney than what we hear on the record.
Saturday Nights (Alright) (For Fightin)
it's getting late have yer seen me mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
it seven-o-clock and I want to rock
and I want to get a belly full beer
me sister looks cute in her braces and boots
and a handfull of grease in her hair
me old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
and me old lady she dont care
Cause Sat night the night I like
Sat night alright
cause we get us a draft and kick up stink
lay a little action down
So don't give us none of your aggrevation
We've had it with your disaplin
Saturday nights alright for fightin
Get a little action in.
Sat nights the night I like
Sat nights alright
create a state of panic any place
Gettin about oiled as a diesel train
were gonna set this dance hall alight
Cause Saturday nights the night I like
Saturday nights alright, alright alright
Well there packed pretty tight in here tonight
and Im looking fer a dolly who can see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I want need
and theres some courage in the bottom of this ale.
And theres some courage in bottle if Im in need
I may sink a little drink and shout he She's with me.
And the only a couple of the sounds that I really like
are the sound of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Who's best friend floats in the bottom a glass.
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Original handwritten lyrics for Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
TAUPIN, BERNIE. Autograph Manuscript Signed ("B.J. Taupin"), 2 pp, legal folio, [Chateau D'Hérouville, France], December 11, 1972, written in black felt tip pen on three-hole foolscap, some toning to page, loss at hole punches to both leaves. With a 45 of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" in the original sleeve.
Provenance: Collection of Maxine Taupin.
"Saturday Night" is an atypical song in the Elton John canon: a raucous rock-n-roll romp whose lyrics celebrate London's brawling pub culture, it could not be further away from the tender sentimentality of "Daniel" or the grief of "Candle in the Wind." It was, however, one of three top ten hit singles from the album, and remains today an anthem of the rock-n-roll thug life.
As with many of these other lyrics, the outline of the final song is here in this early draft, though this version is decidedly more cockney than what we hear on the record.
Saturday Nights (Alright) (For Fightin)
it's getting late have yer seen me mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
it seven-o-clock and I want to rock
and I want to get a belly full beer
me sister looks cute in her braces and boots
and a handfull of grease in her hair
me old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
and me old lady she dont care
Cause Sat night the night I like
Sat night alright
cause we get us a draft and kick up stink
lay a little action down
So don't give us none of your aggrevation
We've had it with your disaplin
Saturday nights alright for fightin
Get a little action in.
Sat nights the night I like
Sat nights alright
create a state of panic any place
Gettin about oiled as a diesel train
were gonna set this dance hall alight
Cause Saturday nights the night I like
Saturday nights alright, alright alright
Well there packed pretty tight in here tonight
and Im looking fer a dolly who can see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I want need
and theres some courage in the bottom of this ale.
And theres some courage in bottle if Im in need
I may sink a little drink and shout he She's with me.
And the only a couple of the sounds that I really like
are the sound of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Who's best friend floats in the bottom a glass.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
