Saturday tunes: "High as a kite by then"

I seem to remember the story going like this:

Bernie Taupin flashed on the two lines "She packed my bags last night, preflight / Zero-hour nine a.m." as he was driving through the British countryside. When he got home, he quickly worked out the rest, called his writing partner Elton John, and something like 45 minutes later the song was done.

There was a time when I guess I was secretly sort of appalled and even jealous of a sweet set-up like that. Then one day I realized that Taupin's controlling deal wasn't with Elton or their record label.

I mean, come on: A gazillion-selling classic like "Rocket Man," in 45 minutes? Who in hell has the juice to make that happen?

The deal was with Satan. And one day the Prince of Darkness, the Father of Lies, would present his bill.

Watch Taupin introduce this performance of "Rocket Man" through clenched teeth and tell me that the Cloven-Hoofed One hadn't just shown up in the green room about five minutes before the cameras rolled to collect what was his.

(Hat tip to The Skirt.)