Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Elton John tries to mend the pieces of his broken heart in 2001’s “Dark Diamond.”
In the song composed by John with lyrics by long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, the term “dark diamond” is used to describe a person who once flourished as a “jewel” with a fire in his soul, but is now “hard and cold.”
He mourns the loss of the one star he could count on, the only one who could show him the true meaning of love. And he has only himself to blame.
John sings, “Oh, I’m a dark diamond / I’ve turned hard and cold / Once was a jewel with fire in my soul / There’s two sides of a mirror / One I couldn’t break through / Stayed trapped on the inside, wound up losing you.”
“Dark Diamond,” which incorporates elements of blues, pop and R&B, appeared as the second track of Songs from the West Coast, John’s 26th studio album. The song's arrangement gets a boost from music legend Stevie Wonder, who makes a guest appearance on the harmonica and clavinet (electric keyboard).
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, the 77-year-old John is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 1967, John met Taupin by chance when both men responded to an advertisement seeking songwriters. At first, they wrote songs for other artists, but then decided the team up and go out on their own.
In a career that has spanned nearly six decades, John has sold more than 300 million records. He is credited with one diamond album, 32 platinum and multi-platinum albums and 21 gold albums. (A diamond designation represents more than 10 million sold, while platinum represents one million and gold represents 500,000.) John and Taupin have collaborated on more than 70 Top 40 hits.
John has won six Grammys from 35 nominations and was inducted with Taupin into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. John entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and Taupin followed in 2023.
Trivia: John won a piano scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11.
John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour concluded in July 2023. The artist, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998, has been battling ongoing health issues, including the loss of eyesight, but said he will continue to "do the odd show."
Please check out the audio track of John performing “Dark Diamond.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Dark Diamond”
Written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John. Performed by Elton John.
Oh, I’m a dark diamond
I’ve turned hard and cold
Once was a jewel with fire in my soul
There’s two sides of a mirror
One I couldn’t break through
Stayed trapped on the inside, wound up losing you
Tell me how does it work
How do you make things fit
Spent all my life trying to get it right
I’ve put it together and it falls apart
I thought to myself I might understand
But when the wall’s built
And the heart hardens
You get a dark diamond
Dark diamond
Oh, I’m a dark diamond
But you’re something else
You read me more than I read myself
The one star I could count on
Only comet I could trust
You burnt through my life to the true meaning of love
Tell me how does it work
How do you make things fit
Spent all my life trying to get it right
I’ve put it together and it falls apart
I thought to myself I might understand
But when the wall’s built
And the heart hardens
You get a dark diamond
Dark diamond
Tell me how does it work
How do you make things fit
Spent all my life trying to get it right
I’ve put it together and it falls apart
I thought to myself I might understand
But when the wall’s built
And the heart hardens
You get a dark diamond
Dark diamond
You get a dark diamond
Dark diamond
You get a dark diamond
Dark diamond
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