Elton John

Released: May 19, 1975

Songwriter: Bernie Taupin Elton John

Producer: Gus Dudgeon

[Verse 1]
I can hound you if I need to
Sip your brandy from a crystal shoe
In the corner
In the corner
While the others climb reaching dizzy heights
The world's in front of me in black and white
I'm on the bottom line
I'm on the bottom line
I'd have a cardiac if I had such luck
Ooh! Lucky losers, lucky losers landing on skid row
Landing on skid row
While the Diamond Jims and the Kings road pimps
Breath heavy in their brand new clothes
I'm on the bottom line
I'm on the bottom line

[Chorus]
And I gotta get a meal ticket
To survive, you need a meal ticket
To stay alive, you need a meal ticket
Feel no pain, no pain, no regret, no regret
When the line's been signed, you're someone else
Do yourself a favor, the meal ticket does the rest

[Verse 2]
Shake a hand if you have to
Trust in us and we will love you anyway, anyway
Don't leave us stranded in the jungle
With fifty percent that's hard to handle
Ain't that so?
Ain't that so?

[Chorus]
And I gotta get a meal ticket
To survive, you need a meal ticket
To stay alive, you need a meal ticket
Feel no pain, no pain
No regret, no regret
When the line's been signed, you're someone else
Do yourself a favor, the meal ticket does the rest
Meal ticket

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge]
(Gotta get a meal ticket)

[Chorus]
And I gotta get a meal ticket
To survive, you need a meal ticket
To stay alive, you need a meal ticket
Feel no pain, no pain
No regret, no regret
When the line's been signed, you're someone else
Do yourself a favor, the meal ticket does the rest

[Outro]
Meal ticket
Meal ticket
Meal ticket
Meal ticket
Meal ticket

Elton John is a British singer, pianist and composer whose unique blend of pop and rock styles turned him into one of the biggest music icons of the 20th century. Elton has sold more than 250 million albums, making him one of the best-selling musicians ever.

He excelled in music from a young age, attending the prestigious Academy of Music on a scholarship at just eleven years old. In 1970 he released his first self-titled album, making him a huge international star.

Some of his most famous hits include “Crocodile Rock”, “Philadelphia Freedom” and “Take the Long Way Home”.

more tracks from the album

Elton: Jewel Box

From the albums

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
Elton: Jewel Box (2020)

Elton John popular songs

(Gotta Get a) Meal TicketElton John

Elton John

Elton: Jewel Box