Levon bears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus 'cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town

Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spends his days counting
In a garage by the motorway

He was born a pauper
To a pawn on a Christmas day
When the New York Times
Said God is dead and the war's begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today

And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon

Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leave Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies

He was born a pauper
To a pawn on a Christmas day
When the New York Times
Said God is dead and the war's begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today

And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan, woo
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon

And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan, woo
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon


Lyrics submitted by kevlar_soul

Levon Lyrics as written by Bernard Taupin Elton John

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Levon song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    This is definitely my favourite Elton John song ever. It reminds me of something of the consumer culture, and somebody going against it. Levon is seen as the pinnacle of what is right: he is a family man, he makes a lot of money, he is successful, he has a son. But this son does not want this, but instead "wants to go to Venus/and leave Levon far behind" which makes me think of wanting to get out, go away, find something beautiful instead of the stinking motorway and balloon making he has grown up with.

    I love the lead-in to the chorus, the "He was born a pauper to a pawn on Christmas day/when the New York Times said God is dead/And the war's begun/Alvin Tolstig has a son today." For some reason, it gives me the image of the stock market crashing in the '30s and all these men walking around with briefcases realising their money and consumer culture was coming down to nothing.

    thequeenofscotson February 07, 2008   Link

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