Levon

"Levon"
Single by Elton John
from the album Madman Across the Water
B-side	"Goodbye"
Released	November 29, 1971
Format	vinyl record (7")
Recorded	February 27, 1971 at Trident Studios
Genre	Rock
Length	5:22 (album version) 6:12 (album version) ? 4:21 (special single edit) ?
Label	Uni (US/Canada) DJM Records
Writer(s)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972)
Music sample "Levon"

For individuals known as King Levon, see King Leo (disambiguation).

"Levon" is a song written and recorded by Sir Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is from John's fourth album Madman Across the Water and was recorded on February 27, 1971. The song reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

History

Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics for "Levon", was inspired by The Band's co-founder, drummer, and singer Levon Helm to name the title character after him. The Band was apparently Elton John's and Bernie Taupin's favourite group in those days. The "Alvin Tostig" mentioned in the song (Levon's father) is, according to Taupin, merely fictional.

Elton John and his civil partner, David Furnish, named their son "Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John", in part as he was born on Christmas Day 2010 (as Levon was in the song).

Notable covers and performances

"Levon" has since been covered by several artists, including Jon Bon Jovi (who covered the song on the tribute album Two Rooms and claims that "Levon" is his favourite song of all time and that he looks up to Elton John as his idol) and Billy Klippert.