Artists
Elton John – lead vocals, piano, harpsichord
Skaila Kanga – harp
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangement, conductor
Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, engineered by Robin Geoffrey Cable, recorded at Trident Studios, London, January 1970. The second track (2:32) on Elton John (DJM Records, 10 April 1970).
A short, delicate ballad built on Elton John’s harpsichord and Skaila Kanga’s harp, wrapped in Paul Buckmaster’s orchestration. Gus Dudgeon has said the album was first conceived as a set of polished demos for other artists to consider, and an earlier 1969 piano demo of this song was later issued on a Record Store Day bonus LP. The song was replaced by “Rock and Roll Madonna” on the German Hansa pressing, and Elton also played it on the 1970 live album 17-11-70.
Elton John, Bernie Taupin – I Need You To Turn To Lyrics
You’re not a ship to carry my life
You are nailed to my love in many lonely nights
I’ve strayed from the cottages and found myself here
For I need your love your love protects my fears
And I wonder sometimes and I know I’m unkind
But I need you to turn to when I act so blind
And I need you to turn to when I lose control
You’re my guardian angel who keeps out the cold
Did you paint your smile on, well, I said I knew
That my reason for living was for loving you
We’re related in feeling but you’re high above
You’re pure and you’re gentle with the grace of a dove
And I wonder sometimes and I know I’m unkind
But I need you to turn to when I act so blind
And I need you to turn to when I lose control
You’re my guardian angel who keeps out the cold
To listen to other songs from the the Teleskop 22 program click here.