Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)

"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Part Two" is a song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the album Reg Strikes Back.

Contents

• Track listing
• Personnel
• References

It was released as a 12" single in 1988 (only in U.S.). The single did not include the basic version from Reg Strikes Back album.

The song is about New York City and is a continuation of the song "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" from the 1972 album Honky Château. Although the song follows the same meaning of its predecessor, it has a very different tempo and instrumental arrangement, and is in many ways a more complex song, with a variety of key changes and unusual chords throughout the song. There is also a brief homage to the Beatles' song "Drive My Car" that can be heard during the horn solo at 2:18, where Elton and the backup singers interject "beep beep, beep beep, yeah!".

Although not a particularly popular song, some critics judged it "most intriguing" song or "brightest moment" of the album. Elton John played both versions of the song sequentially in concerts from the release of "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Part Two" in 1988 through to 1993.