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Elton John – Better Off Dead (1975) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Elton John
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Better Off Dead

TRACK

Better Off Dead

Release date: 19th May 1975

From Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Spotify More on Elton John

About This Track

"Better Off Dead" is a track by Elton John, from the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, released 19th May 1975. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 8 articles about Elton John.

About the Artist

Elton John

Elton John

Lyrics

Better Off Dead

[Verse 1]

There was a face on a hoarding that someone had drawn on

And just enough time for the night to pass by without warning

Away in the distance there's a blue flashing light

Someone's in trouble somewhere tonight

As the flickering neon stands ready to fuse

The wind blows away all of yesterday's news

[Verse 2]

Well, they've locked up their daughters

And they battened the hatches

They always could find us but they never could catch us

Through the grease-streaked windows of an all-night cafe

We watched the arrested get taken away

And that cigarette haze has ecology beat

As the whores and the drunks filed in from the street

[Chorus]

'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire

If you ask how I am then I'll just say "inspired"

If the thorn of a rose is the thorn in your side

Then you're better off dead if you haven't yet died

[Break]

Ooh (Ooh)

Ooh

Ooh (La, la, la)

Ooh (la, la, la)

Ah

Ah

La-la-la-la-la...

[Chorus]

'Cause the steam's in the boiler, the coal's in the fire

If you ask how I am then I'll just say inspired

If the thorn of a rose is the thorn in your side

Then you're better off dead if you haven't yet died

[Outro]

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Better off dead

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

1975

Listen

Album

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Release year

1975

—House of Cards
—We All Fall in Love Sometimes
—Better Off Dead
—Philadelphia Freedom
5:25
—Writing
—Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
—Tower of Babel
—Bitter Fingers
—Curtains
—(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
—Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
—Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
—One Day (at a Time)

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Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

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Pop Anglo Para Ti Y Para Mi

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Good Mood Mix

Pop + Electrónica = Electropop

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Football Anthems 2024

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Father's Day Favourites

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Girl Dinner

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More tracks by Elton John

Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

Writing (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

We All Fall In Love Sometimes (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

Curtains (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

Philadelphia Freedom (Remastered 2025)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

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(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

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Tell Me When The Whistle Blows (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)

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View all tracks by Elton John →

(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)
4:01
A Little Light
Better Off DeadLive From The Rainbow Theatre
Better Off Dead (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)
2:37
Bitter Fingers (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)
4:34
Bon VoyageThe Devil Wears Prada A New Musical (Original West End Cast Recording)
Border SongLive From The Rainbow Theatre
Cage The SongbirdLive From The Rainbow Theatre
Captain Fantastic (Take 1 / Session Demo)
3:25
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Remastered 2016)Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (50th Anniversary Edition)
5:45

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Elton John-inspired Watford FC shirts are going up for exclusive auction

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5 Feb 2025 • 5:10 pm

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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Producer: Gus Dudgeon
Drums: Nigel Olsson
Acoustic Guitar: Davey Johnstone
Electric Bass: Dee Murray
Lead Vocals: Elton John
Piano: Elton John
Remixer: Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne