The team of John and Taupin joined Dick James 's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968 , and over the next two years wrote material for various artists , among them Roger Cook and Lulu . Taupin would write a batch of lyrics in under an hour and give it to John , who would write music for them in half an hour , disposing of the lyrics if he could not come up with anything quickly . For two years they wrote easy-listening tunes for James to peddle to singers . Their early output included a contender for the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 , for Lulu , called " I Ca n't Go On ( Living Without You ) " . It came sixth of six songs . In 1969 John provided piano for Roger Hodgson on his first released single , " Mr. Boyd " by Argosy , a quartet that was completed by Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson
Eurovision Song Contest 1969
Eurovision Song Contest 1969
Elton John