☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Candle in the Wind' is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, whose real name was Norma Jeane, and conveys Elton John's admiration for her career, although he never knew her personally
- The song describes Monroe's grace and strength in the face of the challenges and difficulties that came with fame
- The metaphor 'Like a candle in the wind' is used to illustrate the transience and uncertainty of Monroe's life and career
- The song reveals Monroe's loneliness and suffering, and emphasizes that her influence and legacy extend far beyond her own life
- The final verse emphasizes that Monroe was more than just a sex symbol - she was a person with depth, complexity, and human dignity
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Candle in the Wind (1997 Funeral)' by
Elton John is a tribute to the late actress Marilyn Monroe, whose real name was Norma Jeane. It begins with the lines 'Goodbye Norma Jeane / Though I never knew you at all', which signifies that Elton John, although he never personally knew her, was touched by her life and career.
The line 'You had the grace to hold yourself / While those around you crawled' describes how Monroe remained graceful despite the pressures and challenges that came with her fame.
The metaphor 'Like a candle in the wind' is used to depict Monroe's life and career - she was bright and captivating, but also fleeting and uncertain, constantly in danger of being extinguished by the challenges and difficulties of her life.
'Loneliness was tough / The toughest role you ever played' reveals the loneliness and suffering Monroe had to endure despite her fame and success. And the line 'Your candle burned out long before / Your legend ever did' emphasizes that Monroe's influence and legacy extend far beyond her own life.
The final stanza 'From the young man in the twenty second row / Who sees you as something as more than sexual / More than just our Marilyn Monroe' shows that Monroe was more than just a sex symbol - she was a person with depth, complexity, and human dignity.
Overall, 'Candle in the Wind (1997 Funeral)' is a poignant tribute to Marilyn Monroe, capturing both the lights and the darkness of her life and acknowledging her enduring significance and influence.