I know it has been a while since my last post on “As The Story Goes”, but that is because I have spent the last few month moving. A while back my wife, Shari, and I decided to leave Oregon and take up residence in the beautiful state of Hawaii. The process was long and grueling, and quite frankly I have not had time to write. Now, however, we are moved and in the process of settling in, and I have been able to carve out time to pick up where I left off writing stories about Classic Rock and Roll.
But, as I begin to write again, I have decided to start with something a little different. You see, Father’s Day arrived a few days before we completed our move to Hawaii, and my children decided that the last thing I would need for Father’s Day is one or two more items that I would need to ship across the ocean. So, they came up with the unique idea of writing their own stories about rock and roll as guest writers. And those stories are the next three stories I will be posting. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Here is the first one:
Title: When I Was a Little Girl
Author: Haley Gallagher
In honor of Father’s Day, I would like to start this the same way my dad always used to start his stories: “When I was a little girl”… When I was a little girl, my dad would tuck me into bed and sing me to sleep every night. Some nights it would be “You are my Sunshine” and other nights it would be “Princess” by Elton John, but no matter which song he chose, I knew that it was his way of telling me just how much he loves me. We even have best friend tattoos to honor those memories. But did you know that while Elton John’s song “Princess” wasn’t about an actual princess, he did sing it as a tribute for a good friend and famous Princess at her funeral?
As the story goes:
In 1973, songwriter Bernie Taupin collaborated with Elton John to write a song inspired by the life and death of Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was the most famous entertainer of her time, though the stress of that fame played a toll on her mental health, until eventually her history of depression, anxiety and drug use resulted in her taking her own life. In the song, “Candle in the Wind” the lyrics tell the story of Monroe, the demands of fame to change, and the impacts of a life cut short.
Unfortunately, Monroe’s story is not unique. Case in point, Elton John’s good friend, the much beloved Princess Diana, also struggled with the spotlight, to the point where she tragically lost her life when the car she was riding in crashed as she was fleeing the paparazzi in 1997. When Elton John was informed by Richard Branson that many writings in the book of condolence referenced his song “Candle in the Wind”, he and Taupin decided to change the lyrics to his song in honor of Princess Diana’s life, and rename it “Goodbye England’s Rose”. After this touching tribute to say goodbye to “England’s Rose”, John released this revised single of “Candle in the Wind” on September 13, 1997, with all proceeds going towards Diana’s charities. As of 2017, this single was the best selling single in UK chart history, and as of 2020, it was the second highest-selling single of all time, following only Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” according to Guinness World Records.
Though I may no longer be a little girl, and I’m definitely not a Hollywood princess or the beloved Princess of Wales, I will always treasure those memories of my dad singing me to sleep. Songs sung by the most amazing dad, which made me feel like the most special girl in the world.
Click here to view the Goodbye England’s Rose video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o9rLDCfO6o
Thank you Haley for this wonderful story. You are my princess and you always will be.
So now you know. Come back next week and read the next of the three stories written by my kids right here at As The Story Goes.
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