It Ain't Gonna Be Easy

Infobox Song
Name = It Ain't Gonna Be Easy
Type = Song
Artist = Elton John
Album = A Single Man


track_no = 5
Released = October 16, 1978
Recorded = January-September 1978
Genre = Rock, Blues
Length = 8:27
Label = MCA (US/Canada)
Rocket Records
Writer = Elton John, Gary Osborne
Producer = Clive Franks, Elton John
prev = "Big Dipper"
prev_no = 4
next = "Part-Time Love"
next_no = 6

It Ain't Gonna Be Easy is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Gary Osborne. It is one of his longest songs recorded, and is the fifth track off his 1978 album, "A Single Man". It also ends side one.

Musical structure

The song opens with a bluesy electric guitar intro accompagnied by piano notes. It then goes into the first verse, which features piano, still heavily focused on blues. The rhythm section keeps a steady beats, making the song seem dark and empty, much in style with the moaning lyrics. For the second verse, a string section appears, baring resemblance to his older songs. After the main song, the song continues another four-five minutes, in which a mix between guitar and piano solos appear. One of the themes in the solo is much reminiscent of the piano performance in another one of John's older songs, "Sixty Years On". At the end of the song, John sings some of the highest falsettoes of his later period.

Lyrical meaning

The song describes a man whose girlfriend is leaving him, saying that it's not going to be easy. He has also experienced her cheating on him which devastates him and makes him belive he cannot trust her. There are only three verses in this song though it is more than eight minutes long, and they are repeated during in the later parts. They become more and more wailing and melancholic, giving the impression that the man might end up in depression after the break-up.

It has rarily, if ever, been performed live, and is not a popular song among fans.

Personnel

*Elton John - piano, vocals
*Tim Renwick - guitars
*Clive Franks - bass
*Steve Holly - drums
*Ray Cooper - percussion
*Paul Buckmaster - orchestral arrangements