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Elton John knows Tumbleweeds Trivia Quiz

"Tumbleweed Connection", a "different" sort of Elton John album, is still a without-a-doubt classic. But how much can you remember about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by tournavy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tournavy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
273,702

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
738

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who did Elton identify with in "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun"? Hint

Reno

Danny Bailey

Jesse James

Robert Ford

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Question 2 of 10

2. "Where To Now St. Peter" is without a doubt one of the best songs on the album, but what type of story is Elton/Bernie telling here (i.e. what is the song's meaning)? Hint

Baptism

Death / the Afterlife

The End of the World

Good versus Evil

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the song "My Father's Gun", where can Elton NOT bury his father? Hint

"In so-called 'promise land'"

"In any northern lands"

"Where any Yankee stands"

"Where fool's gold was panned"

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Question 4 of 10

4. "Amoreena" was featured prominently in which 1970s film? Hint

The Deer Hunter

Dog Day Afternoon

The Godfather

Serpico

5. As can probably be guessed, lyricist Bernie Taupin had a fascination with the "Old West" / Civil War era in American history. He also seemingly had a thing for violence and guns in particular. How many songs on the album either have the word "gun"/"guns" or mention a particular type of gun? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. How old is Elton's grandmother in "Country Comfort"? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which is the only song on the album with lyrics NOT written by Bernie Taupin? Hint

Country Comfort

Love Song

Amoreena

Talking Old Soldiers

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Question 8 of 10

8. In "Burn Down the Mission", what type of animals are 'out today'? Hint

Sheep

Squirrels

Birds

Cattle

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 2003, "Rolling Stone" magazine created a list of the 500 greatest albums of all time (that part is true). "Tumbleweed Connection" is Elton John's highest-ranking album on that list.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. What song, originally written for the "Tumbleweed Connection" album, was held from the final cut and would feature prominently on a later album? Hint

Madman Across the Water

No Shoestrings on Louise

Honky Cat

Into the Old Man's Shoes

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Dec 08 2024 : Guest 136: 5/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who did Elton identify with in "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun"?

Answer: Reno

Danny Bailey and Robert Ford are both mentioned in later Elton John songs. As far as the correct answer goes ("Now I know how Reno felt, when he ran from the law"), I couldn't discover who the "Reno" was, or if he indeed was even a real person! Anyone who knows, please message me to satisfy my curiosity!

Updated: The Reno gang (including William Reno) wreaked havoc in the Midwest in the 1860s. They committed the first (and second and third) train robberies in U.S. History. Thanks to tonydal and wikipedia for the correction!

2. "Where To Now St. Peter" is without a doubt one of the best songs on the album, but what type of story is Elton/Bernie telling here (i.e. what is the song's meaning)?

Answer: Death / the Afterlife

The song paints a picture of a man killed in an unnamed war, and the journey taken to get to his final resting place (presumably heaven, with St. Peter waiting at the pearly gates).

3. In the song "My Father's Gun", where can Elton NOT bury his father?

Answer: "Where any Yankee stands"

The correct answer holds the only true lyrics; the other three choices were all made up by me. Bernie Taupin sticks to his fascination with cowboys, the Old West, and the Civil War with this story of a son joining the Confederate Army with his father's old gun.

4. "Amoreena" was featured prominently in which 1970s film?

Answer: Dog Day Afternoon

The song plays all during the opening credits of the film, and is in fact the only music heard throughout the movie!

Answer: 4

Feels like more, but in fact it is only four on this particular album: "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun", "Son of Your Father" ("...with a shotgun in his arms..."), "My Father's Gun", and "Where To Now St. Peter?" ("...beyond the rifle range"). Look throughout Bernie and Elton's song repertoire and you will find MANY more references.

6. How old is Elton's grandmother in "Country Comfort"?

Answer: 84

"Well she's really going fine for 84". She needs some help fixing her barn, but hey, wouldn't you at her age?

7. Which is the only song on the album with lyrics NOT written by Bernie Taupin?

Answer: Love Song

"Love Song", written by Lesley Duncan, was then sung as a duet between her and Elton. It lacks the "edginess" of Bernie's lyrics at this stage in his career, but is a welcome addition to a somewhat "harsh" album.

8. In "Burn Down the Mission", what type of animals are 'out today'?

Answer: Squirrels

A great example of unintentional funny lyrics:

"Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today
My wife cried when they came to take me away"

Must be some big squirrels.

9. In 2003, "Rolling Stone" magazine created a list of the 500 greatest albums of all time (that part is true). "Tumbleweed Connection" is Elton John's highest-ranking album on that list.

Answer: False

"Tumbleweed" was actually his lowest-ranked album on the list. Though Elton had a streak of seven consecutive number one albums in the early to mid 1970s, and continued to create hits for the rest of his career (still ongoing!), he has only six albums in the top 500, none ranked higher than 91.

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" #91
"Greatest Hits" #135
"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" #158
"Honky Chateau" #357
"Elton John" #468
"Tumbleweed Connection" #463

10. What song, originally written for the "Tumbleweed Connection" album, was held from the final cut and would feature prominently on a later album?

Answer: Madman Across the Water

"Madman Across the Water" became the titular track from Elton's next album (not counting the "Friends" movie soundtrack). "Honky Cat" would be the title track of the following album, "Honky Chateau". "Into the Old Man's Shoes" was indeed recorded during the Tumbleweed sessions and held off the final album, but it did not reappear until the CD re-release of "Tumbleweed Connection". "No Shoestrings on Louise" is a song with a country/southern feel, but it had already been released on Elton's previous album, "Elton John".

Source: Author tournavy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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