British songwriter Bernie Taupin has collaborated with Elton John for about a decade and has written many great lyrics for him.
As a rule, he offered ready-made words to Elton, and he composed music for them, but this was not always the case. They created the popular song Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word together.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
It happened in 1975 in Los Angeles. Bernie Taupin has detailed the history of the song on his website:
The interesting thing about Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word is that it was one of the rare occasions when Elton played me the melody that inspired the lyrics, as opposed to the usual way things always came first. Once he was fooling around at the piano, playing something, and then he asked me what I thought about it. It all happened almost instantly: the title and the first couple of lines came to my mind as if they were already there and just needed a little push.
This is a very simple thought, but I think it visits everyone at one time or another in life. That absolutely idealistic feeling that people experience when they want to save something, but, in fact, they already understand deep down that everything is over. It’s the heartbreaking, ugly side of love that you wouldn’t wish on anyone if you didn’t know you’d inevitably have to face it someday.
In interviews given by Taupin, he repeatedly emphasized that Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word was born thanks to a melody that Elton John accidentally composed and a line that flashed through Bernie’s head, which later became the title and key phrase of the song.
Release and achievements
In 1976, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word was released as a single from the album Blue Moves. It peaked at number six in the US and number 11 in the UK. The song was later included on several of Elton John’s official best-of compilations.
Clip Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest
The music video for Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Elton John can be seen below.
In 2002, he recorded Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word with the Blue boy band. The new version of the song captivated the audience and topped the British charts. Watch the video clip Sorry Seems to Bet the Hardest Word – Elton John and Blue.
Interesting Facts
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word may have been the last song Ray Charles managed to record. In the spring of 2004, he performed it in a duet with Elton John for his album Genius Loves Company, and on June 10, the great musician died.
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Lyrics by Elton John
What did I got to do to make you love me?
What did I got to do to make you care?
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake to find that you’re not there?
What I got to go to make you want me?
What did I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it’s all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
It’s sad, so sad
It’s a sad situation.
And it’s getting more and more absurd.
It’s sad, so sad
Why can’t we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.
What do I do to make you want me?
What did I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it’s all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
It’s sad, so sad
It’s a sad situation.
And it’s getting more and more absurd.
It’s sad, so sad
Why can’t we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Lyrics by Elton John
What must I do to make you love me?
What should I do to make you care?
What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake up and realize that you’re not there?
What should I do to make you want me?
What must I do to make you hear me?
What do I say when it’s over?
Seems sorry is the hardest word
Sad, so sad
It’s a sad, sad situation
And she’s getting more and more ridiculous
Sad, so sad
Why can’t we discuss it?
Oh it seems to me
I think “sorry” is the hardest word
What should I do to make you want me?
What must I do to make you hear me?
What do I say when it’s over?
Seems sorry is the hardest word
Sad, so sad
It’s a sad, sad situation
And she’s getting more and more ridiculous
Sad, so sad
Why can’t we discuss it?
Oh it seems to me
I think “sorry” is the hardest word
