United Kingdom, March 30 -- Sir Elton John hopes to live for another 20 years.

The 78-year-old musician - who has sons Zachary, 14, and 11-year-old Elijah - with husband David Furnish - admitted he doesn't like talking about his own mortality but was still taken by surprise when he "lost it" and broke down in tears while recording new song 'When This Old World Is Done With Me', which tackles the subject.

He told Rolling Stone UK: "I lost it for 45 minutes. It's all on film. I just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.

"When you're 77 years of age and you have a family, and two children, there's only a certain amount of time you've got left.

"Hopefully, I've got at least another 20 years.

"But when you're actually confronted on a song, it's l...