| Elton John – Grey Seal Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I'd assumed 'grey seal' meant the official seal of authority, probably on a certificate of learning, be it a highschooler's diploma or the educator's. So 'grey seal' would be slang for any authority that influenced -- in a perceptually stunting way -- the lyricist's development. But a quick Google search shows grey seals are common to the England/Scotland area, where Taupin and John are from, so perhaps it refers to the actual animal. I do know that when a seal sits up its chest pops out and head tilts slighty upwards in a regal bearing. And perhaps Taupin equated the seal's natural ability to learn through exposure and experience with a 'wisdom' lacking in formalized "warn and torn" educational settings. The 'phoenix' "...reborn before all life could die" is just about surviving a past perspective/belief system and beginning/learning life anew. |
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