This, That, and the Other

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has given us a theme suggested Di of Pensitivity101. The focus is on songs involving Sounds, Talk, Voice, or Words. I chose to go with the song from Elton John titled “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word.”

“Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word” was written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was John’s second single released by The Rocket Record Company. The song was a Top 20 hit, reaching number. 11 in the UK, number 6 in the United States, and number 3 in Canada.

Elton John began writing this song in 1975 in Los Angeles. Normally Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics first then Elton added the music, but in this instance Elton wrote the melody and most of the words as well, with Bernie finishing them off. As Elton explained, “I was sitting there and out it came, ‘What have I got to do to make you love me.’”

The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship which is falling apart. Taupin said, “It’s a pretty simple idea, but one that I think everyone can relate to at one point or another in their life. That whole idealistic feeling people get when they want to save something from dying when they basically know deep down inside that it’s already dead. It’s that heartbreaking, sickening part of love that you wouldn’t wish on anyone if you didn’t know that it’s inevitable that they’re going to experience it one day.”

Here are the lyrics to “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word.”

What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there?

What have I got to do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over?
And sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad (so sad)
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad (so sad)
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad (so sad)
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad (so sad)
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

What have I do to make you love me, oh
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do?
What have I got to do?
When sorry seems to be the hardest word