Easier to Walk Away

"Easier to Walk Away"
"Easier to Walk Away"
Single by Elton John
from the album The Very Best of Elton John and To Be Continued...
B-side	"I Swear I Heard the Night Talking"; "Made for Me";
Released	26 November 1990
Length	4:22
Label	Rocket
Songwriter(s)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Don Was
Elton John singles chronology

"Easier to Walk Away" is a song written by the British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, performed by John. It is the second and final single released from the Rocket Record Company 2-CD retrospective The Very Best of Elton John, issued largely in overseas markets excluding the United States, where the more expansive box set To Be Continued... was issued. The song peaked at number 63 in the United Kingdom and entered the top 20 in Austria and France. A music video was made to promote the song composed of some John's videos from 1978 to 1990 and some stock footage from various decades.

Release

"Easier to Walk Away" peaked at No. 63 in the UK,^[2] No. 57 in Australia,^[3] No. 59 in Canada,^[4] No. 51 in Germany^[5] and No. 71 in the Netherlands.^[6] It had better success in Austria and France, peaking at No. 23 and No. 20, respectively.^[7]^[8]

Music video

The entire music video was shot in black and white. It shows John in various activities he was involved like attending Watford F.C. games and having fun backstage and various historical events in history.^[9]

It is also comprised some Elton John music videos from 1978 to 1990 (from how the video started):

"Healing Hands" (1989) (some clips repeated)
"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988)
"You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) (some clips repeated)
"Wrap Her Up" (1985) (some clips repeated)
"Paris" (1986) (some clips repeated)
"A Word in Spanish" (1988)
"Sacrifice" (1989)
"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983)
"Ego" (1978)

Personnel

Elton John – vocals and piano
Randy Jackson – bass guitar
Kenny Aronoff – drums
Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
Michael Landau – guitar
David Lasley, Harry Bowens, Donald Ray Michell, Sweet Pea Atkinson – backing vocals
James Newton Howard – synthesizers and arrangements
Michael Mason – Synclavier^[10]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Easier to Walk Away"
Chart (1990–1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	57
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[4]	59
France (SNEP)^[8]	20
Germany (GfK)^[5]	51
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[6]	71
UK Singles (OCC)^[2]	63
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)^[11]	11

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Easier to Walk Away"
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	26 November 1990	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Rocket	^[12]
Australia	28 January 1991	7-inch vinyl CD cassette		^[13]
Japan	25 February 1991	Mini-CD		^[14]

References

^ Elizabeth Rosenthal, His Song: The Musical History of Elton John.
^ ^a ^b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 146.
^ ^a ^b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1486." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^ "Elton John – Easier To Walk Away". YouTube. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ "Elton John Lyrics: Easier To Walk Away". Eltonography. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 November 1990. p. vii.
^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 28/01/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 53. 27 January 1991. p. 18.
^ "エルトン・ジョン | イージアー・トゥ・ウォーク・アウェイ" [Elton John | Easier to Walk Away] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 16 September 2025.

[1] Elizabeth Rosenthal, His Song: The Musical History of Elton John.

[uk-2] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

[ARIA-3] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 146.

[can-4] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1486." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 September 2025.

[ger-5] "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

[Dutch-6] "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

[aut-7] "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

[fra-8] "Elton John – Easier to Walk Away" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

[9] "Elton John – Easier To Walk Away". YouTube. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[10] "Elton John Lyrics: Easier To Walk Away". Eltonography. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[11] * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000

[12] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 November 1990. p. vii.

[13] "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 28/01/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 53. 27 January 1991. p. 18.

[14] "エルトン・ジョン | イージアー・トゥ・ウォーク・アウェイ" [Elton John | Easier to Walk Away] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 16 September 2025.

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v t e Elton John songs
Discography
1960s	"I've Been Loving You" (1968) "Skyline Pigeon" (1968) "Lady Samantha" (1969) "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
1970s	"Border Song" (1970) "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970) "From Denver to L.A." (1970) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) "Your Song" (1970) "Come Down in Time" (1970) "Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Madman Across the Water" (1971) "Indian Sunset" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972) "Rocket Man" (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972) "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972) "Crocodile Rock" (1972) "Elderberry Wine" (1972) "Daniel" (1972) "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972) "Teacher I Need You" (1973) "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973) "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Candle in the Wind" (1974) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) "Harmony" (1974) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975) "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975) "Island Girl" (1975) "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) "Pinball Wizard" (1976) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) "Crazy Water" (1977) "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977) "Ego" (1978) "Part-Time Love" (1978) "Song for Guy" (1978) "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) "Dear God" (1980) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981) "Nobody Wins" (1981) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981) "Blue Eyes" (1982) "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) "Ball and Chain" (1982) "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) "I'm Still Standing" (1983) "Kiss the Bride" (1983) "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) "Passengers" (1984) "Who Wears These Shoes? (1984) "Nikita" (1985) "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) "Wrap Her Up" (1985) "Heartache All Over the World" (1986) "Slow Rivers" (1986) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988) "Town of Plenty" (1988) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) "Through the Storm" (1989) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) "The One" (1992) "Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993) "True Love" (1993) "Shakey Ground" (1994) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) "Circle of Life" (1994) "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" (1994) "Be Prepared" (1994) "Hakuna Matata" (1994) "Believe" (1995) "Made in England" (1995) "When the Money's Gone" (1995) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996) "Live Like Horses" (1996) "The Madness of King Scar" (1997) "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) "Written in the Stars" (1999)
2000s	"Someday Out of the Blue" (2000) "I Want Love" (2001) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) "Original Sin" (2002) "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) "Electricity" (2005) "The Bridge" (2006) "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008) "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
2010s	"All of the Lights" (2010) "Good Morning to the Night" (2012) "Sad" (2012) "Home Again" (2013) "Looking Up" (2015) "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
2020s	"Ordinary Man" (2020) "Sine from Above" (2020) "The Pink Phantom" (2020) "It's a Sin" (2021) "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021) "Merry Christmas" (2021) "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021) "Hold Me Closer" (2022) "Never Too Late" (2024)
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