The North

Elton John's song "The North" delves into the emotional and psychological impact of growing up in a harsh, cold environment. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the North as a place characterized by its cold, grey atmosphere, which casts a shadow over the narrator's life. This shadow symbolizes the bitterness and hardship that can come from living in such a place, where some people never get the chance to experience a better life. The North is depicted as a place that can make a person grow bitter, reflecting the struggles and challenges faced by those who live there.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on the changes in their life. The steel cloud that once followed them around, representing the constant presence of hardship and gloom, is no longer visible. This change signifies a shift in the narrator's life, as they have moved away from the North and its oppressive influence. The imagery of a farm in the rain and a little farmhouse evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler, more peaceful life. The young man's eyes looking south symbolize hope and the desire for a better future.

The North is personified as the narrator's mother, a figure that once provided a sense of identity and belonging. However, the narrator no longer needs this connection, as they have traded their roots and the dust of their past for a new life. The driven rain that washes them to a different shore represents the transformative power of change and the possibility of finding a new, more fulfilling life. The song concludes with the acknowledgment that while there is a North in all of us, the narrator's North can no longer hold them back, highlighting the theme of breaking free from the past and embracing new opportunities.