Artists
Bruce Hornsby – lead vocals, piano
George Marinelli Jr. – guitar
Joe Puerta – bass
John Molo – drums
John “J.T.” Thomas – keyboards (additional)
Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Produced by Bruce Hornsby & Gus Dudgeon, engineered by Larry Millas, with assistant engineers Scott Ahaus and Ken Wishner, mixed by Gus Dudgeon and Tuffy. Released as a track (6:10) on the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (Mercury Records in the UK on 14 October 1991, Polydor in the US on 22 October).
A cover of the title track from Elton John’s 1971 album Madman Across the Water, Bruce Hornsby‘s version opens the Two Rooms tribute album, and a Discogs reviewer picked it as one of the record’s highlights alongside Eric Clapton’s “Border Song,” Sting’s “Come Down in Time,” and Phil Collins’s “Burn Down the Mission.” It is notable for being co-produced by Gus Dudgeon, who had produced Elton John’s original recording, giving the tribute a direct link to the 1971 sessions. Hornsby’s band for the track includes his former bandmate John Molo on drums and George Marinelli Jr. on guitar, and former Ambrosia bassist Joe Puerta.
Bruce Hornsby – Madman Across The Water Lyrics
I can see very well
There’s a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There’s a joke and I know it very well
It’s one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word, I’m a madman, don’t you know
Once a fool had a good part in the play
If it’s so would I still be here today?
It’s quite peculiar in a funny sort of way
They think it’s very funny everything I say
Get a load of him, he’s so insane
You better get your coat, dear, it looks like rain
We’ll come again next Thursday afternoon
The In-laws hope they’ll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you’re after
Another glimpse of the Madman across the Water
I can see very well
There’s a boat on the reef with a broken back
And I can see it very well
There’s a joke and I know it very well
It’s one of those that I told you long ago
Take my word, I’m a madman, don’t you know
The ground’s a long way down but I need more
Is the nightmare black or are the windows painted?
Will they come again next week, can my mind really take it?
We’ll come again next Thursday afternoon
The in-laws hope they’ll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you’re after
Another glimpse of the Madman across the Water
To listen to other songs from the the Teleskop 21 program click here.