Is this recent Elton John song "The Drover's Ballad" a Billy Joel Rip-off? (lyrics, sixties)

[RD5050]

Just saw the movie Australia, and I was totally surprised when I heard this song at the end of the movie by Elton John, called The Drover's Ballad:


YouTube - Sir Elton John - The Drover's Ballad from Australia Movie

To me, it sounds a lot like Billy Joel's "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid"

Billy Joel's song begins ....

BILLY JOEL - THE BALLAD OF BILLY THE KID LYRICS

From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia
Rode a boy with a six-gun in his hand
And his daring life of crime
Made him a legend in his time
East and west of the Rio Grande

Well, he started with a bank in Colorado
In the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid
And his age and his size
Took the teller by surprise
And the word spread of Billy the Kid

I completely expected to see Billy Joel's name mentioned in the credits for creating the melody for this song.

I know Elton John performed in concert many times with Billy Joel, so I would have to think that Billy Joel knows about this song.

[Frog127]

nah. sorta close but.............. nah.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_-b...eature=related

[kevxu]

The music sounds like any one of kerjillion folk hero ballads. Listen to some old Odetta Gordon folk recordings from the late Fifties and early Sixties - you'll hear the same tune. Even if Billy Joel put his name on it, its old old stuff basically.