re: Elton John Honky Cat

Great dusting off the ol' music library, ain't it?

Honky Cat had a whimsical jes'-chillin' vibe to me. Back then the lyrics could have meaning but were definitely secondary to the melody.

Writer Bernie Taupin -- he did seem to have disdain for "rednecks" (just sayin'). In both Honky Cat and Texan Love Song, rednecks get a shout-out (and not in a good way).

'Honky Cat':

"Well, I quit those days and my redneck ways
And, ooh ooh ooh ooh, oh, change is gonna do me good"

Texan Love Song (from 'Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player':

You out of town guys sure think you're real keen
Think all of us boys here are homespun and green
But that's wrong my friend so get this through your head
We're tough and we're Texan with necks good and red

LINK

Texan Love Song one of my favorite tracks on what I regard as Elton's John's best album by far.

But how about the biting irony of the social commentary and rest THESE lyrics? CAN this track be considered "Early WOKE'? (lyrically, the Listener seems to be forced to choose sides. Packed into the lyrics are: "Victim/Oppressor" Guilt-ing, gay-bash shaming, and ironic "politicking".).

Interesting buzz-words/phrases used in this "Love" song:

"REDNECKS", "COMMUNISTIC-POLITICS", "FAIRIES"," "DAUGHTERS MINDS POISONED", DRUG-CRAZY SONGS", "PRESIDENT'S NAME" [was] "STILL RESPECTED")

FULL LYRICS to 'Texan Love Song' (Composers: Bernie Taupin, Elton John, Album: 'Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player'- 1972)

So socially speaking, WHO in retrospect since 1972 really ruined things? And again -- was this tune an early 'WOKE' anthem?

I heard from a friend you'd been messing around
With a cute little thing I'd been dating uptown
Well I don't know if I like that idea much
Well you'd better stay clear I might start acting rough

You out of town guys sure think you're real keen
Think all of us boys here are homespun and green
But that's wrong my friend so get this through your head
We're tough and we're Texan with necks good and red

So it's ki yi yippie yi yi
You long hairs are sure gonna die

Our American home was clean till you came
And kids still respected the president's name

And the eagle still flew in the sky
Hearts filled with national pride
Then you came along with your drug crazy songs
Goddamit you're all gonna die

How dare you sit there and drink all our beer
Oh it's made for us workers who sweat, spit and swear
The minds of our daughters are poisoned by you
With your communistic politics and them negro blues

Well I'm gonna quit talking and take action now
Run all of you fairies clean out of this town
Oh I'm dog tired of watching you mess up our lives
Spending the summertime naturally high