“Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton John

Those searching for an emphatic way to commemorate their loved ones need look no further than “Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton John. The two songs, written separately but recorded together, open John’s iconic 1973 album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Often, the British rock star has used the duo as a dramatic opening for his concerts as well.

John wrote “Funeral for a Friend,” a slightly more melancholy — if still rock ‘n’ roll — instrumental piece, when contemplating the sort of music he’d like at his funeral. “Love Lies Bleeding,” an upbeat follow-up with John on piano, accompanied by drums, guitar, bass and synthesizer, contrasts with the dire nature of its lyrics. It begins:

The roses in the window box
Have tilted to one side
Everything about this house
Was born to grow and die

The lyrics were composed by long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, and the chorus goes on to lament the death of a relationship, perhaps due to the effects of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle:

And love lies bleeding in my hands
Oh it kills me to think of you with another man
I was playing rock and roll and you were just a fan
But my guitar couldn’t hold you
So I split the band
Love lies bleeding in my hands

John’s Far-Reaching Influence

Several other famous musicians have found the album to be formative. Axl Rose has often lauded John’s music, and “Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” has been credited with influencing his band, Guns ‘N’ Roses – particularly their hit classic “November Rain.” Meanwhile, Weird Al Yankovic told author Eric Spitznagel, in a book excerpt published by Men’s Health, that “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” was the first contemporary rock album he’d ever purchased. “The entire album got pretty even wear, but ‘Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding’ got the most groove damage,” he said.

Like all good things, John’s cinematic performances are coming to an end — he announced his upcoming retirement from touring in 2018. John was in the final year of his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, and has rescheduled the remaining performances for fall 2021.

You can watch Elton John perform “Funeral for a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding” in the video below.