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Elton John – Madman Across the Water Lyrics 15 years ago
Having been around when this song first came out in the early 70's let me give you a historical perspective. Back then, we always though the madman was he was refering to was Nixon and the "boat on the reef with a broken back" refered to the ship of state. The "good part in a play" refered to being Vice President under Eisenhower. The in laws refered to his daughter Julie Nixon marrying Eisenhower's grandson. The joke and the think it's very funny everything I say, refered to his, "and you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore" after loosing the California Gov. race in 1962 and his appearance on "Laugh In" when he said,"Sock it to me," in 1968.
Remember that was a different time. People wrote songs for other purposes than just making money.

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