Synopsis

Set against a nostalgic 1950s backdrop, the video follows two young lovers whose romance is interrupted when the man is called away for National Service. While he endures military life and the loneliness of separation, she waits at home, preserving the memory of their relationship. Elton John performs the song in the ornate Rivoli Ballroom, with the performance footage woven into the couple's story. The narrative eventually resolves with the lovers reunited, echoing the song's themes of distance, longing, and emotional endurance.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed at London's Rivoli Ballroom, a location whose period interiors reinforce the video's 1950s setting. Additional military footage was shot at Colchester Garrison in Essex.

• The song was released as the first single from Elton John's 1983 album "Too Low for Zero." It marked the return of the classic Elton John Band lineup, which had not appeared together on one of his singles since 1975.

• Stevie Wonder plays the harmonica solo on the recording, adding a soulful counterpoint to the song's soft-rock arrangement.

• The production followed immediately after work on another Elton John video. After returning to England, the crew traveled by bus to the location and filmed through dawn, leaving very little time for rest before the footage was edited.

• "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" became one of John's major 1980s successes, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.

• The video's straightforward period melodrama was a strong match for the song's lyrics, turning an otherwise personal account of separation into a compact wartime romance.