Kiki Dee

Released: November 27, 1973

Songwriter: Jackson Browne

Producer: Elton John Clive Franks

Though Adam was a friend of mine, I did not know him well
He was alone into his distance
He was deep into his well
I could guess what he was laughing at, but I couldn't really tell
Now the story's told that Adam jumped, but I've been thinking that he fell

Together we went traveling, as we received the call
His destination India, and I had none at all
Well, I still remember laughing with our backs against the wall
So free of fear, we never thought that one of us might fall

I sit before my only candle, but it's so little light to find my way
Now this story unfolds before my candle
Which is shorter every hour as it reaches for the day
But I feel just like a candle in the way
I guess I'll get there, but I wouldn't say for sure

When we parted we were laughing still, as our goodbyes were said
And I never heard from him again as each our lives we led
Except for once in someone else's letter that I read
Until I heard the sudden word that a friend of mine was dead

I sit before my only candle, like a pilgrim sits beside the way
Now this journey appears before my candle
As a song that's growing fainter the harder that I play
That I fear before I am a fade away
But I guess I'll get there, though I wouldn't say for sure

Though Adam was a friend of mine, I did not know him long
And when I stood myself beside him, I never though I was as strong
Still it seems he stopped his singing in the middle of his song
Well I'm not the one to say I know, but I'm hoping he was wrong

I'm holding out my only candle, thou

Pauline Matthews better known as Kiki Dee, is an English singer.

She kicked around Britain as a white soul singer for the better part of the late ‘60s and early '70s – even becoming the first British Caucasian signed to Motown – before hooking up with Elton John, who signed her to his Rocket Records label and produced her first notable hit, “I’ve Got the Music in Me.”

In 1976, at which time John was the biggest pop star in the world, he wrote and duetted with Dee on the single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” which promptly topped the charts all over the world. It did not, however, make Dee a long-term star, though she scored a couple of subsequent hits in England and turned to the stage with some success, especially by starring in Blood Brothers in the West End.

more tracks from the album

Loving & Free

From the album

Loving & Free (1973)

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