About The Song
“Nikita” is a song by English musician Elton John from his 19th studio album, Ice on Fire (1985). It was released as the album’s lead single on 4 October 1985, charting at number three on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number seven in the United States, and reaching the top 10 worldwide, topping the charts of eight countries. The song features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar.
In the song, John describes his crush on a person called Nikita, an East German border guard patrolling the Berlin Wall whom he cannot meet because he is not allowed into East Germany. Though the name Nikita can refer to women in other languages, it is a male name in Russian. In interviews, John has said that he was aware of Nikita being a male name in Russian
The song is composed in the key of G major in 4/4 time. The song employs a verse-chorus-verse format, with the second chorus being shorter than the first, plus an instrumental bridge mechanically-themed breakdown halfway through the second chorus.
John played “Nikita” during the album’s tour in 1985 to 1986 and again in the 1988–1989 Reg Strikes Back Tour plus the 1998 leg of The Big Picture Tour. John continued to perform the song in mid-2000s, however the song was only played on his solo concerts ever since.
Video
Lyrics
Hey Nikita, is it cold
In your little corner of the world?
You could roll around the globe
And never find a warmer soul to know
Oh, I saw you by the wall
Ten of your tin soldiers in a row
With eyes that looked like ice on fire
The human heart, a captive in the snow
Oh, Nikita, you will never know
Anythin’ about my home
I’ll never know how good it feels to hold you (hold you)
Nikita, I need you so
Oh, Nikita, is the other side
Of any given line in time
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row
Oh no, Nikita, you’ll never know
Do you ever dream of me?
Do you ever see the letters that I write?
When you look up through the wire
Nikita, do you count the stars at night?
And if there comes a time
Guns and gates no longer hold you in
And if you’re free to make a choice
Just look towards the west and find a friend
Oh, Nikita, you will never know
Anythin’ about my home
I’ll never know how good it feels to hold you (hold you)
Nikita, I need you so
Oh, Nikita, is the other side
Of any given line in time
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row
Oh no, Nikita, you’ll never know
Oh, Nikita, you will never know
Never know anythin’ about my home
I’ll never know how good it feels to hold you
Nikita, I need you so
Oh, Nikita, is the other side
Of any given line in time
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row
Oh no, Nikita, you’ll never know
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row
(Nikita)
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row, woo-ooh-hoo-ooh
(Nikita)
Countin’ ten tin soldiers in a row
(Nikita)