Peak
1
Weeks
15
Score
3,332
Chart Year
1975
With a jaunty, Caribbean-inflected melody, the lyrics to this one often slip by. The song is about a Jamaican prostitute in New York City. The story is vague, but in the chorus, Elton asks, "What you wanting with the white man's world?" and tells her, "Black boy want you in his island world." Seems she is trapped there, unable to leave with the man who wants to take her home. It's a case of Elton John taking the song in a musical direction that belies the lyric delivered to him by Bernie Taupin. On November 1, 1975, this went to #1 in America, giving Elton his fifth chart-topper there. It knocked off Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood," a song Elton sang on that was released on his Rocket label. Those spacey sounds in the instrumental break were done with a Mellotron and an ARP Synthesizer, both played/programmed by James Newton Howard. Other instrumentation on the track: Davey Johnstone - guitars, banjo Caleb Quaye - acoustic guitar Kenny Passarelli - bass Ray Cooper - congas, tambourine, marimba (sounds kind of like steel drums, evoking the island) Roger Pope - drums Kiki Dee, known for duetting with Elton on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" the following year, was among the backup singers along with Passarelli, Johnstone, Quaye and Ann Orson. Elton plays lots of crowd-pleasing hits at his concerts, but this one rarely made his setlist. The last time he performed it was 1990. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were rejected by Liberty Records, but a few months later formed one of the most prolific songwriting teams in history. Their 1975 album Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy was the first album ever to debut at #1 in America, and the next album, Rock Of The Westies, also broke in at #1, even though "Island Girl" was the only hit from the record.
I see your teeth flash, Jamaican honey so sweet Down where Lexington cross 47th Street Oh she's a big girl, she's standing six-foot three Turning tricks for the dudes in the big city Island girl What you wanting with the white man's world? Island girl Black boy want you in his island world He want to take you from the racket boss He want to save you, but the cause is lost Island girl, island girl, island girl Tell me what you wanting with the white man's world Well she's black as coal, but she burn like a fire And she wrap herself around you like a well-worn tire You feel her nail scratch your back just like a rake, oh oh He one more gone, he one more John who make the mistake Island girl What you wanting with the white man's world? Island girl Black boy want you in his island world He want to take you from the racket boss He want to save you, but the cause is lost Island girl, island girl, island girl Tell me what you wanting with the white man's world Island girl What you wanting with the white man's world? Island girl Black boy want you in his island world He want to take you from the racket boss He want to save you, but the cause is lost Island girl, island girl, island girl Tell me what you wanting with the white man's Tell me what you wanting with the white man's Tell me what you wanting with the white man's
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 11, 1975 | 49 | 77 |
| 2 | Oct 18, 1975 | 36 | 90 |
| 3 | Oct 25, 1975 | 8 | 118 |
| 4 | Nov 1, 1975 | 1 | 125 |
| 5 | Nov 8, 1975 | 1 | 125 |
| 6 | Nov 15, 1975 | 1 | 125 |
| 7 | Nov 22, 1975 | 4 | 122 |
| 8 | Nov 29, 1975 | 3 | 123 |
| 9 | Dec 6, 1975 | 6 | 120 |
| 10 | Dec 13, 1975 | 16 | 110 |
| 11 | Dec 20, 1975 | 16 | 110 |
| 12 | Dec 27, 1975 | 32 | 94 |
| 13 | Jan 3, 1976 | 32 | 94 |
| 14 | Jan 10, 1976 | 41 | 85 |
| 15 | Jan 17, 1976 | 62 | 64 |