In some respects, Rocket Man is a song of fragments. It’s a short song with four short verses and lots of air to give it an ambient feel of space. But it’s not poetry. I’d rather not be regarded as a poet. Unfortunately, I’ve borne that cross for years. Leonard Cohen is probably the only lyricist who can be called a poet. Some say Bob Dylan, but I think the songs Dylan has written that are regarded as poetry are more avant-garde, possibly in the Allen Ginsberg realm.
Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin Tells the Story Behind 1972’s ‘Rocket Man’ by Marc Myers (Wall Street Journal: April 4, 2018)