Indian Sunset
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Indian Sunset
| cover =
| alt =
| type = Song
| artist = Elton John
| album = Madman Across the Water
| released = 5 November 1971
| recorded = 14 August 1971 at DJM Studios
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Symphonic rock|progressive rock}}
| length = 6:45
| label = DJM
| writer =
- Elton John
- Bernie Taupin
| producer = Gus Dudgeon
}}
"Indian Sunset" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water.
Background
{{quote|It's a story, it's not a protest song, which many people think it seems to be.|John before performing the song at BBC studios{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz0PbAYv2Po |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Jz0PbAYv2Po |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Elton John – Indian Sunset (1971) Live at BBC Studios|last=Philip Anness|date=4 January 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}}}
The song chronicles the story of an unnamed American Indian warrior on the verge of defeat from the white man.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-25 |title=The 10 best Elton John deep cuts |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-10-best-elton-john-deep-cuts/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}} Taupin was inspired to write the lyrics after seeing the Frederic Remington painting, "The Scout: Friends or Foes?".{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} It contains numerous inaccuracies, most notably the line about Geronimo being shot by U.S soldiers. In reality, the Apache warrior died of pneumonia at the age of 79.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
John told Rolling Stone in 2011 that this song was one of his favourites to play live: "I do 'Indian Sunset' with Ray Cooper. Nobody knows that song at all, it's an obscure track from Madman Across the Water, and it gets a standing ovation every night. It's a six-minute movie in a song."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-rolling-stone-interview-elton-john-100053/|title=The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John|last=Scaggs|first=Austin|date=17 February 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=6 September 2018}}
Sampling
In 2004, the song was sampled in an Eminem-produced Tupac Shakur song entitled "Ghetto Gospel". It topped the charts in United Kingdom, Australia, Czech Republic, Ireland, and Scotland. It also become a Top Ten and Top 20 hit on some countries.{{cite news|url=http://www.roxboroghreport.com/2015/06/10-years-on-from-2pac-elton-johns.html|title=10 Years On From 2Pac & Elton John's 'Ghetto Gospel' – The Genius of Eminem|last=Roxborough|first=Tim|date=28 June 2015|publisher=Roxborough Report|access-date=29 December 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Elton John songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs with music by Elton John
Category:Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Category:Song recordings produced by Gus Dudgeon
Category:Songs about Native Americans
{{1970s-rock-song-stub}}