All The Nasties

Album: Madman Across The Water (1971)
Play Video
  • If it came to pass that they should ask
    What could I tell them
    Would they criticize behind my back
    Maybe I should let them
    Oh if only then and only then
    They would understand
    They'd turn a full-blooded city boy
    Into a full-blooded city man

    If they could face it
    I could take it in their eyes
    Oh I know I'd make it
    Their tiny minds
    And sacred cows just fake it
    If only then and only then
    They would understand
    They'd turn a full-blooded city boy
    Into a full-blooded city man

    But I know the way they want me
    In the way they publicize
    If they could turn their focus off
    To the image in their eyes
    Maybe it would help them, help them understand
    Maybe it would help them, help them understand
    Maybe it would help them, help them understand
    That a full-blooded city boy
    Is now a full-blooded city man

    Oh my soul
    Oh my soul
    Oh my soul Writer/s: Bernard J.P. Taupin, Elton John
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • AnonymousElton doesn’t write the lyrics, Bernie Taupin does.
  • AnonymousRight on, Tom from Bath MI. Bernie wrote the lyrics by himself and Elton put music to them.
  • Tom from Bath MiI listened to this song for the first time in 2020. The lyrics seemed right away to track with Dave's first comment. However, when the songwriters explain what they were thinking about when they wrote the song, I'll go with them.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."