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Elton dedicated this to tennis player Billie Jean King, who coached a World Team Tennis team in 1974 called the "Philadelphia Freedoms." King was one of the first women ever to coach men. (thanks, Samantha - Seattle, WA)

Elton was a big fan of Billie Jean King, and along with his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wrote this for her. After meeting King at a party, Elton tried to attend as many of her matches as he could. He promised King a song after she gave him a customized track suit.

On the single, it said this was dedicated to "B.J.K." (Billie Jean King) and "The Soulful Sounds Of Philadelphia."

Inspiration for this song was provided by the Philadelphia Soul sound of groups like The O'Jays and Melvin & The Blue Notes, and also the American bicentennial - in 1976 the US celebrated 200 years of independence.

Running 5:21, this was one of the longest dance hits of the '70s. A few months earlier, a national radio programer declared that he would no longer play any Elton John song over 4 minutes long because they were screwing up his playlists (Program directors liked short songs because they could play more of them. Elton's opuses like "Daniel" and "Funeral For A Friend" had a way of screwing up the "14 Hits In A Row" format). Elton knew this would be a hit, and was happy to screw the programmer by making it long, knowing he would have to play it anyway.

Elton: "One of the only times I tried to deliberately write a hit single."

Elton often put interesting B-sides on his singles, which made them more valuable. On this, the B-side was a live duet of The Beatles hit "I Saw Her Standing There" that Elton recorded with his friend John Lennon. Elton had previously sung on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" and also released a version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," which was written by Lennon.

In 1975, Elton become one of the first white performers to appear on the TV show Soul Train, which was an honor for him. He performed this song and "Bennie And The Jets."

Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy was the first album to enter the US charts at #1. This was due to advance orders, as the album was widely anticipated.

Comments:

"knee-high to a man" is NOT any kind of veiled reference to anything sexual. It merely means that the proclaimed "Philadelphia Freedom" of the song was such a strong inner spirit that it sustained the singer from his years being a child (knee-high) to his adult life.
- Mike, Hastings, NE

I think the date of the CD that has this song on it should be noted in the title, along with a note that it is not on the original album, since it is not on either my Captain Fantastic LP or CD.
- Rudolf, Vancouver, Canada

The title is connected with a tennis team that Billie Jean King was on before going pro in tennis.
- Ashley, Somerset, KY

An Englishman singing and writing a song about the Bicentennial? My god, the British lost the Revolutionary War!
- Darrell, Eugene, United States

This was originally a stand-alone single and was credited to the "Elton John Band". It is now available as a "bonus" track on Captain Fantastic, and on several greatest hits CD's.
- Ken, Louisville, KY

Dusty Springfield sang backup vocals on this song. Elton was a HUGE fan of hers, and even sang at her funeral.
- Ken, Louisville, KY

Another song that takes me back to my high school days. I had just graduated and it brings back a ton of memories.
- Rafael, Pasadena, CA

"Philadelphia freedom took me knee high to a man" is a thinly-veiled reference to giving a blow job.
- Les, Joplin, MO

I caught my dad dancing to this song once when I was a kid hahaha
- Amandass, Buckley, WA

Personally I never, ONCE doubted this song to be a testimonial to his own feelings...it's just to damn perfectly written in that light to dismiss. What an uplifting song of hope and freedom... regardless of your sexual orientation. Elton is a legendary performer and has all the respect this heterosexual can possibly have for any figure of entertainment.
- Scott, Columbus, OH

"On the single, it said this was dedicated to "B.J.K." (Billie Jean King) and "The Soulful Sounds Of Philadelphia." Gee, and I figured it had something to do with the Declaration of Independence, the 1976 Bicentennial and all that. Just me projecting my own interpretation on the song, I guess.
- Wes, Springfield, VA

Due to this song's uncharacteristic production and the low timbre in John's voice, I heard it dozens of times before I learned it was Elton John.
- Rob, Santa Monica, CA

As I have heard it told, this was the first time Elton asked Bernie to write a set of lyrics for a specific reason.
- Celeste, Drexel Hill, PA

Couldn't this song also be about Elton admitting he is gay because Philidelphia is 'the City of BBrotherly Love"?
- Alex, New Orleans, LA

Correction: Philadelphia Freedom was only available as a single until it made a Greatest Hits Vol. 2 LP in 1978. There is one track on CFATBDC (Tell Me When The Whistle Blows) that has string arrangements very similar to those on Philadelphia Freedom.
- Charles, Charlotte, NC