My older brother Paul left home when I was only 7. I remember him having such a horrible relationship with my father. Constant fighting and strain. Ten years later, in 1990, Paul reached back out to us to inform us he was dying of a disease that nobody quite understood. I remember being in the hospital room with him and my parents as he lay withering away. My father was completely broken. I witnessed them reconcile before Paul died. I still can’t think about that time, or listen to this song, without being reduced to a sobbing mess.
Lost my dad to cancer 9 years ago. He was only 54. He had so much more life to live. I think about him every day and all he taught me to mold me into who I am now. I'm 35 now and me and my wife had our first baby 6 months ago and I now have a son of my own, who unfortunately will never know his grandfather. But I dedicate this song to both my dad and my son and I look forward to telling my son how great of a man his grandpap was.
@@ObsidianCrocodile I totally forgot I made this comment 4 years ago. But I guess I followed through with what I said. My son is 4 now and always loves hearing stories about pappy Karl.
@@The_Bad_Guy. it’s true, they will always be in our hearts ♥️ Congratulations on having a son! I know it’s four years belated but your dads legacy is continuing 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I’m reading his book at this moment(Me Elton John) this song was mentioned. Never heard of it. This man amazes me. I recommend reading this book. He’s very real with what’s gone on in his life
I totally agree that this is Elton John's most underrated song! Years ago, as a lay person in my church, I gave a sermon which I entitled, The power of Love and I used this song in it. I think it made the sermon that much more effective!
This song from Aaron's heart, his life, his song --- hits us, the lyrics, the music, down deep, our lowest to our highest, but it doesn't change who we are now, because we are all of it. The sum of all things is now, and what it took to make us who we are. Thank you, Aaron, for baring your life open before all who will hear and know. Some will, but many won't. God bless Aaron and his family. They are all beautiful souls, some no longer with us, and some remain. Legends, Treasures, all. ⚜️💜⚜️💚⚜️💛⚜️
Song's meaning has completely changed for me this week, as my father died a few days ago. Now, it has a whole new meaning. I used to think that the song was for 'others' but realize it's for any son who ever felt 'less than', in the eyes of their dad. Me, being a gay son, thought myself a clear disappointment. 18 months ago we spoke, and my dad, 'Papa' we call him, was content, No regrets. I sought a song to sing at his memorial, and this is it. Thank you for posting it w/ lyrics. So glad.
This is a 7 year old comment, but I still want to say big hugs!! I am so sorry about your dad passing! One never really gets over the pain completely of a loved one "moving on", so I 'm sure you still feel it from time to time. It is almost like this song was written for you! I am gay also, and even though I've told my dad about myself, we haven't' really talked about it since; that was 25 years ago. I'm just glad he and I have a good relationship. I am so glad you and he made peace! and that you got to sing this at his memorial! I am sure there was not a dry eye in the room! Big hugs!
I lost my dad to AIDS in the early 90s. I only met him a handful of times, the last time at the VA hospital right before he passed. You can imagine what he looked like, an image that is seared into my mind. All I wanted was to grow up, find my dad and I guess make him be a dad. I know, nieve even for a teenager. As frosting on the cake he died on my 16th birthday, forever crushing the only thing I ever really wanted. I would trade almost anything to have 1 real conversation with him. I miss and love a man I never knew.
‘..that kind of understanding sets me free..’ sung in a crescendo. To every gay man in primitive judgemental times (either in the past or sadly even today) the moment you finally come out to those you hold dear, no matter how they react, is a moment of intense liberation. I moved in with the love of my life in November 1991 and literally the first television news we watched together announced the death of Freddie Mercury. This song, aside from its sheer beauty, has incredible resonance for us both nearly 30 years later. Love to Freddie and love to Elton and Bernie, the first inspiring the second two to create the most beautiful song ever written.
Indeed it is. Empty Garden, Candle in the Wind, All Quiet on the Western Front, and this are all my favorite ballads of his and all of them move me. But not like this one does!
Damn. No matter how many times I hear this song I cry like a baby. Memories of my Dad (1928-1993). Even after twenty years sometimes I still catch myself reaching for the telephone.
this song is probably one of the most beautiful songs ever written ... its one of my favorites .. I think of millions of people who have died of HIV... they will never be forgotten
My father has had cancer for 11 years, but the past couple of months hes really gone down hill, losing alot of weight and now unable to walk ever again. But he fights on and always speaks positively, hes my biggest inspiration. I was born late in life. I was born when my father was 50, i am now 20 and my father is 71, even tho ive only had 20 years with him, hes been my best friend from day one. God bless you Dad.
It is a beautiful song. It was made for a movie called "And The Band Played On." If you ever have the chance to, I strongly recommend seeing it. It makes so much more sense.
Crystal Jackson Yea i actually remember that movie,i believe it came out in 1993 starring Mathew Modine and other big names i cannot remember.It was based on the AIDS virus as it appeared for the first time in the 80s,great movie indeed i probably seen it 4 times back in the 90s,im trying to find it online again to watch it one more time....it brings me great memories from that time love that fricking movie.
I saw it originally as part of a school teaching program and it was very, very poignant. The movie broke my heart, but also made me aware of how ignorant people could be, and just how far we've come in medical sciences, thank god. And I agree, I love that movie, beautiful story!
Yes indeed,is a very well done film.The end gets me every time so sad when "the last song" starts playing and it shows Arthur Ashe and many others that died due to the Aids virus....powerful film and beautiful story.
Rest in peace Ryan No more pain baby boy .I will never forget your contagious beautiful laugh you had . 1971 _1990. Till we meet again .Tell Ronnie hi for me xo
If you're talking about Ryan White he was an Angel. I wish I could have been his body guard. I was my brothers keeper I lost him in 94..still CRY daily..
I lost my closest brother to AIDS. I HELPED MY MOTHER TAKE CARE OF HIM.IT DAMN NEAR DESTROYED ME . HEARTBROKEN WATCHING HIM DISSOLVE. . BUT IM GLAD I WAS THERE FOR HIM BECAUSE THE REST OF MY BROTHERS DIDNT COME AROUND DUE TO FEAR AND IGNORANCE..I CRY AND LOOSE IT OFTEN FLOOD GATE OF TEARS.I LOST MY MOM 2 YEARS AGO I FEEL LIKE A NUMB BUT SAD LOST ORPHAN..JUST NUMB YET MISSING THEM BEYOND MEASURE.
Many on this site, I don't think they where old enough to remember the crisis, when we go to 3-4 and at time 5 funerals a week. This song just break my heart and makes me remember people once here that are now gone due to the virus and the tears flow like a river.
I was probably around 8 when "And The Band Played On" and this was one of the defining moments of growing up as a 1980s kid, and the best end credits of a film...ever. This is why Elton John is my favorite musician after Lou Reed.
I know this song is about a young man dying of AIDS, but I can’t help but think of my dad who passed two years ago. So much emotion in the song, couldn’t hold back the tears.
A touching song for so many of us who lost friends. Family and lovers over the decades. I pray our latest generation stays safe. We want you around for years to come.
It will soon be 30 years since my father died... but he has never left me. I think of him every day, and he will live on as soon as I live. This song seems to me to be the most beautiful and moving song ever written about a father - son relationship. I love you, Dad - I never told you, but I know you knew that. I will always love you.
brought tears to my eyes, so touching, so sincere and so loving. There is something very deeper than the language conveys, perhaps its the pang of love that so melonchalicly echoes melting even the most Iron willed Pretentious exterior. May God Bless Sir Elton John and you to putting this video.
This song reminds of my Wife who passed away 2 years this month from Cancer, at age 30 years old. I still think about her every day. Rip Livia 06/17/1980- 01/09/2011
My precious son I love you and miss you so much I cry every day for you I go to sleep crying I wake up crying and in two days from now will be the hardest day of my life it's the day we bury you and say our farewells until we meet again Rest In Peace my son...I love son
I can't stop my tears falling,everytime i heard this song,My Dad passed away without hearing it to me that I loved Him!Wherever you are Dad,I'm shouting and saying it to the whole world that i really loved you !!!
The song was written by two people. Elton's inspiration was Ryan White and so he wrote the music. Bernie Taupin's inspiration was Freddy Mercury and he wrote the lyrics. They were not in the same place at the same time when the song was written. Elton sent the music to Bernie who faxed him back a set of lyrics. You are both right.
I had heard somewhere that This was written by Elton and Bernie as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, who's father had disowned him when he came out as a Gay man. He did get together with Freddie before his tragic death. It may not be true but I feel it fits the bill. RIP Freddie Mercury, long may you sing to the angels
According to everything I've read about that period of Freddie's life, his father didn't actually disown him. Freddie never felt comfortable to come out to his parents, nor did he tell them he had AIDS. They did visit him regularly as his condition worsened; they knew he was dying, but they never spoke of the cause. That tells me they knew what he had, and how could they not? It's a beautiful song, that anyone can take to heart in their own situation.
@@lt.finglefubledingler1972 Yeah he was actually, before he had sex with men, he was in a long term relationship with Mary Austin, he use to call her his common law wife.
@@omarcogle1965 Nope. Mary was the one who admitted to not having sexual contact, And you're disgusting for even thinking tha tmatters to our community.
July 27, 2021 . Anyone ? All walks of Life - Listening to a Song that Touches the Soul . Here We are All ..... Just look at the WORLD’s Society , Look at All the Things they have Happened ...... We Need to be Kind to one / Have Patience for All again walks of Life . No matter who are You , What Status or Wealth or even Poor . GOD so Loved the World John 3:16. Read it GOD loves All . Just need a to make a change . Just saying. Amen 🙏
8 years ago today, my life changed forever. Watched my dad go home. Has been a bigger challenge than I thought possible. But still sober and fighting. Love an miss you dad. See you soon 🥺
I don't see it that way. Sure the fact the son is dying is sad but he has come to grips with it. The fact his father came to see him is not sad in the least. It is a testament to love. We all know our children generally are closer to their mothers, it is the way it is, but too many people don't consider how much we fathers love our children. We might love differently but it is no less deep. When my son is happy, I am happy, when he is sad, or hurt, I feel his pain.
This is a masterpiece.......What a beautiful song, I dedicate to my husbands son who lived to feel this love. Elton John was our favorite singer and when we drove for his bone marrow transplant (which was batched), we had eleven cd's in our car playing to get there, this was one and many more of Elton John. I kept them playing for five years before I removed them from our car. I love this song.
Hi THIS song makes me cry every time I HEAR IT it always takes me BACK TO THE day's my dad WAS ALIVE AND ALL THE GREAT TIMES I SPENT WHILE HE WAS ALIVE BLESS YOU ELTON JOHN FOR BRINGING BACK MY DADS memory THOUGHT THIS SONG
Makes me remember my good friend Mike Fain.I played it after I heard he died of AIDS.Beautiful soul who wrote beautiful poems and had a great sense of humor.
I listen to song and I think my son I haven't seen or spoken to in four years. I see myself as the one dying and being the one who misjudged love between a father and his son
I used to work for an AIDS organization and I remember the stories I would hear how parents wouldn't come to the end to be with their children and this song just breaks my heart because so many times it was true.
Beautiful but heartbreaking, this should be dedicated to all fathers to love and cherish their children regardless the sexual orientation, love your kids for their heart. I always get emotional when I hear this song and all the people who are shunned for something that's like breathing, with out breath you die, same thing.
I remember the first time I listened to this song.....I ended with tears in my eyes....Elton sings with all his heart in this particular song.....very deep.
Beautiful song which encapsulates a whole generation of beautiful young men who, not only had to deal with a terrible disease, but ostracism, bigotry, ignorance and isolation. A masterpiece in my opinion ❤️💛💖💚🧡💜💙
since i was a small child, my father hated me, he beat me and was so very cruel, and i really did just want a father to love me. i hear this song and i close my eyes and dream that when he or i were to die, we could tell each other that we love each other
My real dad was a alcoholic and was abusive. He hit me before and he also hit my mother and broke her jaw. He was drunk all the time. My parents divorced and had a stepdad who passed away several years ago. I have no dad anymore. Don’t know what happened to my real father, but it’s best to stay away from him.
This song makes me cry too. I found out who my birth father was, and after talking to him a few times and him telling me how proud he was to have me as a daughter, he cut off contact. It's been over 6 years since I last talked to him. I'm not a "son," but I guess I did misjudge the love of my "father."
In the end...it's not the end...because it's the only thing that really matters...love lives on...May your father's love carry you forward all the days of your life.
One time in the early 2000s, I was at UCSD hospital in the emergency room. I was wheezing from asthma. I was also very angry about waiting for 7 hours to be seen. And it was obvious I was angry. I was also suicidal at the time, though I never told anyone. I was put in a room with an older man who was dying from full-blown AIDS. His partner refused to be with him at the hospital because he didn't like hospitals and didn't care. The man was thirsty but having severe problems breathing. The nurse said she couldn't get him anything because the doctor hadn't seen him yet. I went to the cafeteria and bought him apple juice, because it also helps alleviate breathing problems. I came back into the room and gave it to him. He couldn't open the bottle so I did it for him. When the nurse came back into the room, she saw him drinking it. She asked him how he got it and he said "that young man bought it for me. She said "that's so nice" and started crying. I didn't realize how much of a profound effect I had on people. He and I talked for a while and I looked out for him. The next day I called to check on him and discovered he had died. This song started playing on an MP3 CD that I had a few minutes later. I cried as it played.
