The song is about a boy who is dying of AIDS with his father by his side. Elton's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, explained: "We didn't go for the obvious. I tried to do something lyrically that would thaw the intolerance of not understanding. That's why I used the idea of a father coming to terms with his son's status in life and his sexuality, but unfortunately understanding too late. If you can melt a little intolerance along the way, I'm happy with that." Both John and Taupin were staunch supporters of efforts to understand and eradicate AIDS. Around this time, Taupin produced a show called Commitment to Life, which raised money to fight the disease.
This was featured in the final scene of the movie chronicling the early days of the AIDS Epidemic, And The Band Played On (originally a book by Randy Shilts). The scene is a video collage of famous people and moments in AIDS History.
When this hit the Top 40 in the beginning of 1993, it gave Elton John 23 consecutive years with a chart hit, breaking Elvis Presley's old record of 22.
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