The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, John’s writing partner. They were inspired by Taupin’s first trip to America. John and Taupin are from England, and this was the first album they wrote after spending time in the US. Taupin and John spent a lot of time together in the ’70s; Bernie traveled with the band would usually stand by the soundboard during shows.

The “Blue jean baby, LA Lady, seamstress for the band” sure sounds it’s Maxine Feibelmann, who was Bernie Taupin’s girlfriend when he wrote the song and who became his first wife in 1971. She traveled with the band on their early tours, often sewing together the costumes and fixing their clothes. Plus, on the Madman Across The Water album, it says, “With love to Maxine” under the credits for this song. Elton John even said at one point that Bernie wrote it about his girlfriend.

Well, Taupin says that the song was not about Maxine. Here’s the story he tells: “We came to California in the fall of 1970, and sunshine radiated from the populace. I was trying to capture the spirit of that time, encapsulated by the women we met – especially at the clothes stores up and down the Strip in L.A. They were free spirits, sexy in hip-huggers and lacy blouses, and very ethereal, the way they moved. So different from what I’d been used to in England. And they all wanted to sew patches on your jeans. They’d mother you and sleep with you – it was the perfect Oedipal complex.”

Taupin adds that the “tiny” was poetic license, although these women were all petite. And “Tiny Dancer” sounds a lot better than “Small Dancer” or “Little Dancer.”