What does the song by Elton Jon mean that mentions the boy with red shoes?

Answer by  wanderer (23)

The song is about AIDS, and the government's failure to fund research in it's earlier days. President Ronald Reagan would not fund research for AIDS. The line, "That old man wouldn't listen" refers to Ronald Reagan. Elton John did not have AIDS himself, but he was very active and passionate about fighting AIDS.

Answer by  jessgirl2 (319)

According to Elton John, it's about a dancer with AIDS. The lyrics say "it's all in my head, the boy in the red shoes is dancing by my bed", meaning that he's reminiscing about his youth as a dancer while he's lying in bead dying of the disease.