LOS ANGELES, California —

The lyrics of some of Elton John’s biggest hits — “Rocket Man,” “I’m Still Standing,” and the Princess Diana funeral version of “Candle in the Wind” — are going up for auction as the British musician’s longtime collaborator clears out his archives.

Songwriter Bernie Taupin, the man behind more than 40 of John’s hit songs, is selling a collection of his original lyrics, as well as colorfully illustrated versions of songs like “Bennie and the Jets” and “Yellow Brick Road,” Julien’s Auctions said on Monday.

Taupin’s typed and annotated rewritten lyrics of “Candle in The Wind,” which John performed at Princes Diana’s funeral in London in 1997, are expected to fetch about $10,000-$15,000 at the November auction in New York.

The song was originally written in 1973 as an ode to Marilyn Monroe but the 1997 version, dedicated to “England’s Rose,” is the second-biggest selling physical single of all time.

Taupin is also auctioning an original program for Diana’s funeral, along with hand-drawn, illustrated lyrics to songs including “Daniel” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.” — Reuters