Artists
Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals
Aldo Nova – guitar
Phil X – guitar
Tim Harrington – bass
Tico Torres – drums
David Bryan – keyboards
Howie Bertolo – keyboards
Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Aldo Nova & Obie O’Brien, with Phil Nicolo as additional engineer. From Two Rooms (1991).
A cover of the song from Elton John’s 1971 album Madman Across the Water, and a deeply personal pick for Jon Bon Jovi, who has called “Levon” his favourite song of all time and Elton John his idol. He brought in his own Bon Jovi bandmates Tico Torres and David Bryan, plus producer Aldo Nova, who later returned the favour by working with Elton John on the Young Guns II soundtrack. Reviews were mixed, with some critics finding the harder rock treatment out of step with the original.
Jon Bon Jovi – Levon Lyrics
Levon wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus
‘Cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spends his days counting
In the garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said God is dead
And the war’s begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leaving Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said God is dead
And the war’s begun
Alvin Tostig has a son today
To listen to other songs from the the Teleskop 21 program click here.