He’s 77. He’s had both knees replaced, a hip replaced, and he’s survived more scandals than most people have birthdays. Yet, Elton John is still out here making us care about a new song. Specifically, the track "Never Too Late," which serves as the title anthem for his 2024 Disney+ documentary.
It's a weird thing, really. Most legacy artists just coast. They play the hits. They cash the checks from the Las Vegas residencies and go home to their mansions. But Elton isn't most people. This song isn't just another credit at the end of a movie; it’s a collaboration with Brandi Carlile that feels like a heavy, honest sigh of relief.
The Reality Behind the Never Too Late Lyrics
Most people hear the title and think it’s just another "live your dreams" cliché. It’s not. If you actually listen to the lyrics of "Never Too Late," you realize it’s much more about the exhaustion of the road.
Elton has spent over 50 years on stage. That's a lot of glitter. A lot of glasses. A lot of cocaine in the early days, and a lot of loneliness. When he sings about it never being too late, he isn't talking about starting a career. He's talking about finding peace at home. He’s talking about David Furnish and their kids.
Basically, it's a song about domesticity winning over fame.
Brandi Carlile wrote the lyrics after watching an early cut of the documentary. She saw the footage of Elton at his absolute lowest—bloated, angry, and high—and compared it to the man she knows now. She told Variety that she wanted to capture the "tenacity" of a man who decided to change his life when most people would have just given up and faded away.
Why Brandi Carlile Was the Only Choice
You couldn't just put a pop star on this track. It wouldn't work. Imagine Dua Lipa trying to harmonize on a song about aging and regret? No. It needed Brandi.
She has this grit in her voice that matches Elton’s weathered, lower-register baritone. Since Elton’s surgery and age have deepened his voice, he doesn't hit those "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" falsettos anymore. He sounds like a man who has lived. Brandi treats him like a peer, not a monument.
Their chemistry is real. They first bonded over the Jewel Box set and then "Finish Line" from The Lockdown Sessions. By the time they got to "Never Too Late," the shorthand was already there. They recorded it quickly because, honestly, when you have that much talent in a room, you don't need forty takes.
The Documentary Connection
The song "Never Too Late" acts as the emotional anchor for the film Elton John: Never Too Late, directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish.
The movie follows the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, but it constantly cuts back to 1970–1975. That’s the era when Elton was becoming the biggest star on the planet while simultaneously losing his mind.
The contrast is jarring. You see the young, frantic Elton at Dodger Stadium in 1975, then you see the older, calmer Elton returning to that same stadium in 2022. The song bridges that gap. It tells the listener that the guy in the sequins survived the storm.
It's Not Just About Elton
The song has started to resonate with a much wider audience than just Elton superfans. On TikTok and Instagram, you see people using the audio for "late bloomer" content.
- People finishing degrees at 60.
- Athletes coming back from injury.
- Parents finally finding time for their hobbies after the kids leave.
That’s the hallmark of a great song. It starts as a specific story about a British rock star and ends up being about everyone else.
Honestly, the music industry is obsessed with youth. Everything is about the next 19-year-old with a viral clip. Having a 77-year-old man release a track that actually says something meaningful about the passage of time is refreshing. It’s a reminder that art doesn't have an expiration date.
The Sound: Modern But Not Trendy
Andrew Watt produced this. If you follow music, you know Watt is the guy who "fixed" the sound of the Rolling Stones and Ozzy Osbourne recently. He knows how to make old legends sound expensive and crisp without making them sound like they’re trying to be "young."
The piano is front and center. It’s that classic Elton "honky-tonk" style, but slowed down. It’s melodic. It’s warm. It doesn't use the aggressive synths that dominate the charts.
It feels like a 1970s session recorded with 2024 technology.
What the Critics Got Wrong
Some reviews claimed the song was too sentimental. They called it "standard biopic fare."
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Those critics are missing the point.
Sentimentalism is only a problem if it's unearned. Elton John has earned the right to be sentimental. He nearly died a dozen times. He lost most of his friends to the AIDS crisis. He spent years not speaking to his mother. If he wants to sing a song about how happy he is to be alive and loved, let him.
The song isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It's trying to close a circle.
The Impact on His Legacy
Does this song change Elton’s standing in music history? Probably not. He’s already the GOAT to many. But it does provide a better ending than "Candle in the Wind 1997."
It shows a man who is "complete."
The documentary and the song together act as a final bow. Even though he says he might still record music, he’s done with the road. He’s done with the circus. "Never Too Late" is his way of saying he’s finally okay with the silence.
Misconceptions About the Release
There was some confusion online about whether this was a "new" Elton John album. It isn't. It’s a standalone single for the film.
There was also a rumor that it was an old unreleased track from the Captain Fantastic era. False. This was written and recorded specifically for the documentary project. The themes are too modern, too reflective of his current life as a father, to have been written in the 70s.
Back then, Elton didn't think he’d live to see 40, let alone 70.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you want to truly appreciate what's happening with this track, don't just stream it on a crappy phone speaker.
- Watch the documentary first. You need the visual context of his 1975 breakdown to understand why the 2024 lyrics matter.
- Listen to "Finish Line" (the Stevie Wonder collab) right after. It's the spiritual sibling to "Never Too Late."
- Pay attention to the vocal layering in the final chorus. Brandi Carlile’s harmonies are doing a lot of heavy lifting to support Elton’s aging vocal cords, and it’s a masterclass in vocal production.
- Check out the official music video, which uses hand-drawn animation to blend Elton's past and present. It adds a layer of "storytelling" that the audio alone lacks.
The song is a reminder that the "final act" of a career can be just as interesting as the beginning. It just requires a little more honesty and a lot less ego. Elton John has plenty of the former and has finally learned to manage the latter. It really is never too late.