"I Only Hope I'm Standing Here When Heaven Finally Comes to
Rudy Palma | NJ | 04/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With a completely sharp, gorgeous set of lyrics from Taupin and a rapturous, heart tugging melody from Sir Elton, "All That I'm Allowed" is a completely underrated composition that has only been treated as an of-its-time album track, already dropped from concert setlists now that Elton has moved on to another album. However, its pointedly autobiographical lyrics and message of profound gratitude makes it not only a sharp listen on CD but the ideal song to be heard live.
"And I've got all that I'm allowed/It'll do for me, I'm thankful now/The walls get higher every day/The barriers get in the way/But I see hope in every cloud/And I'm thankful, so thankful/I'm thankful, I've got all that I'm allowed/I've always tried to make things clear/Then I watched as progress stalled/I only hope I'm standing here/When heaven finally comes to call."
Leftover tracks that miss inclusion on Elton's LPs are usually excluded not because of quality but because of non-adherence to theme or variation in musical style, so "A Little Peace" and "So Sad the Renegade" by far increase the desirability of this particular song.
With a seductive selection of piano keystrokes and a funky little southern-fried melody, "A Little Peace" is an awesome, winning song that Elton's fans cannot do without. Taupin even manages to tip the hat to the one and only John Lennon.
"And a little peace goes a long, long way/It's peace we want, for peace we pray/A little peace goes a long, long way/It's peace we want, for peace we pray/Ain't so crazy, John Lennon knew/That a little peace goes a long, long way when you want it to."
"So Sad the Renegade" is just as impressive. Country-tinged through and through with its twangy guitars, it could have made a dent on Billboard's Country Singles chart if it were released in its own right. A perfect goodbye to a would-be flame, it may have been excluded from the "Peachtree Road" album due to its similarity in subject matter to the equally rustic "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave." Though both are standout tracks, "...Renegade" is certainly a more interesting song for Elton.
"It's only love that keeps me here/Something in you I hold so dear/I'm not out to change your ways/All I want is the chance to say/Go ahead and chase the wind/And if someday you fold your wings/I'll be the nest you never made/If not, so sad the renegade."
Obviously, this single is essential for any who fervently admire the music of Sir Elton. Even the songs that don't make the albums exemplify how much of a vocal virtuoso and master of melody he truly is, as those featured on this disc certainly prove. The synergy he and Taupin have is still unrivaled in terms of pop songwriting. For a look at the pair in 2004, check this one out."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1
