Elton John Reveals New Song About Mortality Brought Him to Tears
Icon Opens Up About Emotional Recording Experience Ahead of Album Release
Elton John is set to release his collaborative album with Brandi Carlile, Who Believes in Angels?, on April 4, 2025. In a recent episode of the Smartless podcast, released on March 25, coinciding with John’s 78th birthday, he candidly discussed how recording one particular song left him in tears, highlighting the emotional weight of his own mortality.
The song in question, When This Old World Is Done With Me, struck a deep chord with John, prompting him to break down for 45 minutes during its recording. “I wrote a song at the end of the album and I just get the lyrics, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics called ‘When This Old World Is Done With Me.’ And so I’m writing the verse, like, ‘Oh, this is really pretty.’ And then I get to the chorus and of course it’s about my death,” he recalled during the podcast.
John, who has openly faced challenges in recent years including sight loss, explained how, at his age, thoughts of mortality have become more poignant. “When you get to my age, which is near 100, you think, ‘How much time have I got left?’” he mentioned, reflecting on the pressures and responsibilities of family life with his husband, David Furnish, and their two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
Brandi Carlile, who witnessed John’s heartfelt reaction during the recording, echoed the feelings shared by the artist. “I want everybody to see it because it’s really human, like deeply flawed and embarrassing. And the kind of shit that you do when you forget that there is a camera on is what’s really interesting,” she said. Carlile added that John’s voice started to shake toward the end of the chorus, demonstrating the emotional intensity of the moment.
This recording session was captured as part of the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, released in October 2024, which chronicles John’s creative process in making the album. As John noted, allowing camera crews into this phase of his musical career marks a significant step in his journey as an artist. It’s the first time he has permitted such intimate footage to be shot during an album’s recording, setting the stage for a meaningful portrayal of his emotional state.
In discussing the album, John characterized the process as one of the toughest experiences of his career, yet also one of the most rewarding. He described working with Carlile as creating “one of the greatest musical experiences” of his life. “The whole process hit hard on both sides of the spectrum,” he described, underscoring the challenging yet fulfilling nature of their collaboration.
So far, fans have been treated to the album’s title track as well as the single “Swing for the Fences,” both of which showcase the unique musical chemistry between the two artists.
Looking ahead, John and Carlile are gearing up for a special performance at London’s Palladium on March 26, 2025. This intimate show is set to be broadcast in the U.S. on CBS on April 6, followed by streaming on Paramount+.
As Elton John reflects on his incredible career, approaching his 78th milestone, the emotional resonance captured in Who Believes in Angels? presents a powerful commentary on life, love, and the inevitable passage of time. With themes deeply rooted in the fragility of life, John’s latest work continues to touch fans around the world, inviting them to connect with the human experience through his music.
