Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ( song ) - wikipedia Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ( song ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' Single by Elton John from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road B - side `` Screw You '' Released 15 October 1973 Format Vinyl record ( 7 '' and 12 `` ) Recorded May 1973 at Château d'Hérouville, France Genre Soft rock glam rock Length 3 : 11 Label MCA DJM Songwriter ( s ) Elton John Bernie Taupin Producer ( s ) Gus Dudgeon Elton John singles chronology `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' ( 1973 ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( 1973 ) `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' ( 1973 ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( 1973 ) `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road track listing Side One `` Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding '' `` Candle in the Wind '' `` Bennie and the Jets '' Side Two `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' `` This Song Has No Title '' `` Grey Seal '' `` Jamaica Jerk - Off '' `` I 've Seen That Movie Too '' Side Three `` Sweet Painted Lady '' `` The Ballad of Danny Bailey ( 1909 -- 34 ) '' `` Dirty Little Girl '' `` All the Girls Love Alice '' Side Four `` Your Sister Ca n't Twist ( But She Can Rock ' n ' Roll ) '' `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' `` Roy Rogers '' `` Social Disease '' `` Harmony '' `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' is a ballad performed by musician Elton John. Lyrics for the song were written by Bernie Taupin and the music composed by John for his album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Its musical style and production were heavily influenced by 1970s soft rock. It was widely praised by critics, and some critics have named it John 's best song. The song was released in 1973 as the album 's second single, and entered the Top Ten in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It was one of John 's biggest hits, and surpassed the previous single, `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '', in sales and popularity quickly following its release. In the US, it was certified Gold on 4 January 1974 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the RIAA. The Yellow Brick Road is an image taken from the 1939 film adaptation of Lyman Frank Baum 's The Wizard of Oz. In that film, Dorothy and her three misfit friends are instructed to follow the yellow brick road in search of the Wizard of Oz, only to find that they had what they were looking for all along. The road leads to the Emerald City in the land of Oz, often referred to as a metaphor for `` The road that leads to life 's fantasies '' or `` The road that leads to life 's answers. '' The lyrics describe wanting to go back to a simpler existence after living what the narrator thought was the good life, but realizing he had simply been treated like a pet. The Wizard of Oz was reportedly the first film that Elton John 's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin had ever seen, and he used the imagery in the lyrics relating to his own life as his desire to `` get back to ( his ) roots ''. Contents 1 Critical response 2 Chart performance 3 B - side 4 Live 5 Personnel 6 Chart performance 6.1 Weekly singles charts 6.2 Year - end charts 7 In popular culture and cover versions 8 References 9 External links Critical response `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' received generally positive response from music critics. Janis Schacht of Circus describes it as `` delicate and beautiful ''. Allmusic writes that the song is `` a vocal triumph '' and a `` pinnacle of its style ''. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 380 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Chart performance In Canada, the single reached No. 1 on the RPM 100 national singles chart on 22 December 1973 and held the position for one week, making it John 's third No. 1 in the year 1973 in that country ( following `` Crocodile Rock '' and `` Daniel '' ). In the US, it rose to No. 7 and spent 18 weeks on the charts. In Ireland, it reached No. 4 ; in the UK it peaked at No. 6. B - side The song 's flip side is a song called `` Screw You '', though the US release re-titled the song `` Young Man 's Blues '' so as not to offend American record buyers. Live John 's One Night Only : The Greatest Hits Live at Madison Square Garden had this song done as a duet with Billy Joel. `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' is still regularly included in John 's live performances, although since 1997 he has transposed the key of the song downward ( from F major to E-flat major ) due to no longer being able to sing its high falsetto chorus. On 12 November 2010, he performed the song live at Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Personnel Elton John -- piano, vocals Davey Johnstone -- Leslie electric guitar, backing vocals Dee Murray -- bass, backing vocals Nigel Olsson -- drums, backing vocals Del Newman -- orchestral arrangement Chart performance Weekly singles charts Chart ( 1973 - 74 ) Peak position Australia KMR Canadian RPM 100 Top Singles German Singles Chart 49 Irish Singles Chart Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 23 New Zealand ( Listener ) Norway ( VG - lista ) 9 South African Singles Chart 7 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Cash Box Top 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 7 Year - end charts Chart ( 1973 ) Rank Canada 41 Chart ( 1974 ) Rank Australia 25 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 72 In popular culture and cover versions This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2014 ) The song is featured in Stephen King 's 1981 novel Roadwork. The song was performed by Camile Velasco on the third season of American Idol for the Elton John theme night ; she was eliminated after her performance. The band Keane ( with Faultline ) covered the song for the Help : A Day in the Life compilation around 2005. Australian artist Sarah Blasko recorded an acoustic version of the song, which can be found on Triple J 's 2006 Like a Version ( vol. # 2 ). Rapper RZA stated that he listened to the song `` at least ten times a day '' while making the film The Man with the Iron Fists. On rapper Raekwon 's 2009 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, RZA, a close friend of John 's, sampled the song on the track `` Kiss the Ring ''. John has allowed few other instances of sampling of his music. On 13 November 2010, Matt Cardle sang `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' on Elton John night of Series 7 of The X Factor in the UK. There is a Dream Theater version of this song, yet it has not been officially released. Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter released a cover version of the song. Sara Bareilles often covers the song live and released a piano & solo voice, down - tempo version on Brave Enough : Live at the Variety Playhouse as the concert - ending track. The song was featured in David O. Russell 's film American Hustle and the film 's soundtrack. It also features in the 1990s British television series `` Our Friends in the North '' and Thomas Vinterberg 's 2016 film `` The Commune ''. Additionally it is featured in Lars Von Trier 's film `` Breaking the Waves ''. The song was used in a wordless montage sequence in the fifth season finale of The Americans. Progressive rock band Transatlantic covered this song on their 2014 album Kaleidoscope, on disc 2 of the special edition. An instrumental version of the song as featured on an episode of Japanese variety show AKBingo !, during comments about `` heart - warming '' story from Ali Takajo 's grandfather. Country singer Hunter Hayes covered the song for the 40th Anniversary deluxe edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In July 2008, Ben & Jerry 's created a limited - batch ice cream flavor, Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road, in honor of an Elton John performance in Vermont. Sales proceeds were donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Rock band Queens of the Stone Age covered the song for the 2018 tribute album Revamp : Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. John announced his farewell tour `` Farewell Yellow Brick Road '' in 2018 with a title that plays off this song. References ^ Jump up to : Mason, Stewart. `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 11 June 2006. Jump up ^ `` Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ''. Superseventies.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Rolling Stone Magazine 's Top 500 Songs Page 4 ''. MetroLyrics. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Chart History ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 30. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 284 / 6. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` A Q&A With Elton John ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016. Jump up ^ Steffen Hung. `` Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ''. Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Elton John -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - search listener ''. Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Elton John -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` '' Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' on the South African Singles Chart ``. Springbok Radio. Retrieved 25 September 2010. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Elton John Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Elton John Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada ''. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ Steffen Hung. `` Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s ( ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts ) ''. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1974 / Top 100 Songs of 1974 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Video News ''. CNN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Dream Theater - International Fan Clubs Christmas CD 1998 - Once In A Livetime Outtakes ( CD ) ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ Sepinwall, Alan ( 2017 - 05 - 31 ). `` ' The Americans ' Ends Its Penultimate Season On An Anti-Climactic Note ''. Uproxx.com. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ Mansfield, Brian. `` Fall Out Boy, Hunter Hayes cover Elton John for reissue ''. USA Today. Retrieved 8 October 2014. Jump up ^ Curran, John ( 2008 - 07 - 16 ). `` Ben & Jerry 's makes ' Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road ' ''. Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/miley-cyrus-lady-gaga-set-for-elton-john-tribute-album-w517890 Jump up ^ `` ' Farewell Yellow Brick Road ' tour announced - Elton John ''. Elton John. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 19. `` BBC : The Official UK Charts Company ''. United Kingdom sales chart. Retrieved 11 June 2006. `` Billboard ''. Billboard Hot 100 airplay and sales charts. Retrieved 11 June 2006. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Top Of The World '' by Carpenters Canadian RPM 100 number - one single 22 December 1973 Succeeded by `` The Most Beautiful Girl in the World '' by Charlie Rich Preceded by `` Top of the World '' by Carpenters Cash Box Top 100 number - one single 8 December 1973 Succeeded by `` The Most Beautiful Girl in the World '' by Charlie Rich Elton John songs 1960s and 1970s `` Skyline Pigeon '' ( 1968 ) `` I 've Been Loving You '' ( 1968 ) `` Lady Samantha '' ( 1969 ) `` It 's Me That You Need '' ( 1969 ) `` Border Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Rock and Roll Madonna '' ( 1970 ) `` From Denver to L.A. '' ( 1970 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1970 ) `` Your Song '' ( 1970 ) `` Friends '' ( 1971 ) `` Levon '' ( 1971 ) `` Tiny Dancer '' ( 1972 ) `` Rocket Man '' ( 1972 ) `` Honky Cat '' ( 1972 ) `` I Think I 'm Going to Kill Myself '' ( 1972 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters '' ( 1972 ) `` Crocodile Rock '' ( 1972 ) `` Elderberry Wine '' ( 1972 ) `` Daniel '' ( 1972 ) `` Teacher I Need You '' ( 1973 ) `` Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding '' ( 1973 ) `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' ( 1973 ) `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' ( 1973 ) `` Step into Christmas '' ( 1973 ) `` Candle in the Wind '' ( 1974 ) `` Bennie and the Jets '' ( 1974 ) `` Harmony '' ( 1974 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1974 ) `` The Bitch Is Back '' ( 1974 ) `` Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds '' ( 1974 ) `` Philadelphia Freedom '' ( 1975 ) `` I Saw Her Standing There '' ( 1975 ) `` Someone Saved My Life Tonight '' ( 1975 ) `` Island Girl '' ( 1975 ) `` Grow Some Funk of Your Own '' ( 1976 ) `` I Feel Like a Bullet ( In the Gun of Robert Ford ) '' ( 1976 ) `` Pinball Wizard '' ( 1976 ) `` Do n't Go Breaking My Heart '' ( 1976 ) `` Cage the Songbird '' ( 1976 ) `` Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word '' ( 1976 ) `` Bite Your Lip ( Get Up and Dance ! ) '' ( 1977 ) `` Crazy Water '' ( 1977 ) `` The Goaldiggers Song '' ( 1977 ) `` Ego '' ( 1978 ) `` Part - Time Love '' ( 1978 ) `` Song for Guy '' ( 1978 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Mama Ca n't Buy You Love '' ( 1979 ) `` Johnny B. Goode '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` Little Jeannie '' ( 1980 ) `` Sartorial Eloquence ( Do n't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More ? ) '' ( 1980 ) `` Dear God '' ( 1980 ) `` Whatever Gets You thru the Night '' ( 1981 ) `` Nobody Wins '' ( 1981 ) `` Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever '' ( with Kiki Dee, 1981 ) `` Blue Eyes '' ( 1982 ) `` Empty Garden ( Hey Hey Johnny ) '' ( 1982 ) `` Ball and Chain '' ( 1982 ) `` All Quiet on the Western Front '' ( 1982 ) `` I Guess That 's Why They Call It the Blues '' ( 1983 ) `` I 'm Still Standing '' ( 1983 ) `` Sad Songs ( Say So Much ) '' ( 1984 ) `` Passengers '' ( 1984 ) `` Nikita '' ( 1985 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' ( 1985 ) `` Wrap Her Up '' ( 1985 ) `` Take Me to the Pilot '' ( 1988 ) `` I Do n't Wanna Go on with You Like That '' ( 1988 ) `` Town of Plenty '' ( 1988 ) `` Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters ( Part Two ) '' ( 1988 ) `` Healing Hands '' ( 1989 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` Club at the End of the Street '' ( 1990 ) `` You Gotta Love Someone '' ( 1990 ) `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( 1991 ) `` The One '' ( 1992 ) `` Runaway Train '' ( 1992 ) `` The Last Song '' ( 1992 ) `` Simple Life '' ( 1993 ) `` True Love '' ( 1993 ) `` Shakey Ground '' ( 1994 ) `` Ai n't Nothing Like the Real Thing '' ( 1994 ) `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' ( 1994 ) `` Circle of Life '' ( 1994 ) `` Believe '' ( 1995 ) `` Made in England '' ( 1995 ) `` When the Money 's Gone '' ( 1995 ) `` You Can Make History ( Young Again ) '' ( 1996 ) `` The Madness of King Scar '' ( 1997 ) `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' ( 1997 ) `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' ( 1997 ) `` Written in the Stars '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` I Want Love '' ( 2001 ) `` This Train Do n't Stop There Anymore '' ( 2002 ) `` Original Sin '' ( 2002 ) `` Are You Ready for Love '' ( 2003 ) `` Ghetto Gospel '' ( 2005 ) `` Electricity '' ( 2005 ) `` The Bridge '' ( 2006 ) `` Joseph, Better You than Me '' ( 2008 ) `` Tiny Dancer ( Hold Me Closer ) '' ( 2009 ) Related articles Albums discography Videography Book : Elton John Category : Elton John Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goodbye_Yellow_Brick_Road_(song)&oldid=841075619 '' Categories : 1973 singles Elton John songs Songs with music by Elton John Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin Song recordings produced by Gus Dudgeon Pop ballads Rock ballads 1970s ballads DJM Records singles MCA Records singles Hidden categories : EngvarB from October 2014 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2012 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Articles needing additional references from July 2014 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from October 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Suomi Svenska 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 13 May 2018, at 22 : 44. 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Question: what do the lyrics to yellow brick road mean
Answer: wanting to go back to a simpler existence after living what the narrator thought was the good life, but realizing he had simply been treated like a pet