(Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
Song written in the late 1960s/1970 with the lyrics by Bernie Taupin and recorded in 1970 in London by Elton John.
It was a track included on the 1970 album Elton John and was issued as a single in the USA with the track “Your Song” on the B-side. Although it was broadcast on the radio it was soon overshadowed by “Your Song” which became Elton’s first chart hit both in the UK and the USA.
The song has gone on to be performed regularly by Elton John at his concerts but when asked about any meaning to the lyrics he said he didn’t have any idea. Bernie Taupin, who actually wrote the lyrics, also isn’t sure about what they mean but the science fiction books he was reading at the time have been alluded to.
The song was sung as a solo version on 1979’s Live in Moscow and the original music score written by Paul Buckmaster arranged for a full orchestra when he performed it on the 1987 Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
It has been covered by other artists over the years and some of these include Jose Feliciano, Ben E. King, Odetta, Al Jarreau and Rick Wakeman along with many others. The Who included it on their tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
Singers have performed it in episodes of American Idol and it is featured on the 2018 soundtrack of Escape at Dannemora.
Sources:
- http://eltonjohnallsongslist.blogspot.com/2008/06/story-behind-take-me-to-pilot.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_to_the_Pilot
- https://www.songfacts.com/facts/elton-john/your-song
- https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/16090/
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8493708/