<Li> "Social Disease" </Li> <Li> "Harmony" </Li> <P> "Candle in the Wind" is a threnody with music and lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin . It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier . </P> <P> In 1997, John performed a rewritten version of the song as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales . This version of the song was released as a single and reached No. 1 in many countries, proving a much greater success than the original, officially being listed as the second best - selling single of all time, behind Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". </P>

Who was the song candle in the wind written about