Elton John - Long Way from Happiness (Early/Demo Version) With Lyrics!

An early demo version of the song "Long Way from Happiness" from Elton John's 1997 album "The Big Picture."
Listening to these words & melody makes me wonder what the songwriting process was in this track. Taupin isn't known for doing rewrites very often, but it seems that in this case he must have heard this version and then revised the lyrics as they turned out on the album track. I wonder how much the two of them collaborated on this song. Usually they are known for their completely "two rooms" approach, not really collaborating, but simply doing their separate parts of the process.
I also get the feeling that this was a more personal song between them. The words, especially in this early version, seem like they could be a letter from Taupin to Elton at the time of his recovery. Much of the Big Picture album is about recovery. I suppose it could be an open letter to anyone who needs help. It's probably the scene in the Rocketman movie when Bernie visited Elton in rehab that made me identify these lyrics as being a pledge of Bernie's support and help to Elton.
In any case it's a powerful and thoughtful lyric about encouraging a friend to get help and get healthy.