Empty Garden (Hey, Hey, Johnny)
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Recorded by Elton John, 1982

What happened here as the New York sunset disappeared?
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain

And what's it for, this little empty garden by the brownstone door?
And in the cracks along the sidewalk, nothing grows no more
Who lived here?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed
We're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace

And I've been knocking, but no one answers
And I've been knocking most of the day
Oh, and I've been calling, oh, hey, hey, Johnny
Can't you come out to play?

And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear
Who lived there?
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain
And with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name

And I've been knocking, but no one answers
And I've been knocking most of the day
Oh, and I've been calling, oh, hey, hey, Johnny
Can't you come out to play?