Bernie Taupin, the legendary lyricist behind Elton John’s most iconic songs, has released a new solo album titled The Sea Has No Mercy. Recorded in Nashville at producer Frank Liddell’s home, the project marks a significant departure from Taupin’s previous solo efforts, as he wrote not only the lyrics but also the music for the first time.
Taupin reflects on his unusual position in popular music history. Despite being half of one of the most successful songwriting partnerships ever—responsible for the vast majority of lyrics on Elton John’s 300 million records sold—he has maintained relative anonymity compared to his famous collaborator. He attributes this partly to John’s extraordinary public profile and flamboyance, which has allowed Taupin to preserve his privacy in a way few entertainers can. He lives in a small community near Santa Barbara where he is regarded as a friend rather than a celebrity.
The new album showcases Taupin’s vocal abilities, which have deepened with age into a weathered timbre suited to the reflective, sometimes grouchy tenor of the material. The musical palette spans folk, country, and ambient textures, with occasional experimental turns. Taupin describes the album as a late-life manifesto and notes it contains considerable ranting, which he believes is appropriate at his stage of life. He cites his 2023 autobiography Scattershot as inspiration for pursuing something entirely personal and selfish creatively.
Taupin’s previous solo ventures—including albums in 1971, 1980, and 1987, as well as a 1990s band called Farm Dogs—were marked by ambivalence about pursuing a solo career. This project represents a genuine commitment to self-expression on his own terms, moving beyond his earlier co-writing successes outside the John partnership, such as Heart’s “These Dreams” and Starship’s “We Built This City.”
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