What is the meaning of this song?

Question

I've listened to this song many times and I just don't get it.

The song is:

Elton John Yellow Brick Road

Answer 1

If you remember the story of The Wizard of Oz, the yellow brick road was a rather fantastical journey that didn't really take them anywhere useful, since they found they'd already had what they were looking for all along.

So the narrator is talking about leaving someone and all that wealth in the penthouse to go back to the simple country life he came from, and where he reckons he should have stayed.  He is saying his future lies "beyond the yellow brick road" (just like Dorothy's did), back in the country, away from all this.  He is wondering how the person will take it when he leaves. "I bet that'll shoot down your plane" - he's saying the person will be surprised, maybe down for a while, but they'll get over it, and maybe find a replacement.  There are many other people who have little money and would like to be a part of this wealth.

Some think it may be somewhat autobiographical, since Elton's song writer lives in the country and has a much simpler lifestyle than Elton.

______________________________________...

SONG LYRICS

When are you gonna come down

When are you going to land

I should have stayed on the farm

I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever

I didn't sign up with you

I'm not a present for your friends to open

This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road

Where the dogs of society howl

You can't plant me in your penthouse

I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods

Hunting the horny back toad

Oh I've finally decided my future lies

Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then

I bet that'll shoot down your plane

It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics

To set you on your feet again

Maybe you'll get a replacement

There's plenty like me to be found

Mongrels who ain't got a penny

Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

Answer 2

I like both answers above. Both writers took time and have some great points.

I feel it is the case of the grass is always greener on the other side.

The person had things fine where they were (I should have stayed on the farm - I should have listened to my old man).

The singer here has moved up into the fast lane (a different place - a different crowd that he is now involved with) and now he yearns for the life that he used to know.

Answer 3

You do mean "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", yes?

All "Song Poems" are a matter of definition, however . . . .

This Song  refers to someone who was looking for the "Gold Of The City(ies)" (the proverbial Yellow Brick Road) and found that the life there was not at at all what he thought it would be.

He (she?) therefore longs back to the country, their home and the place of his (her) origins.

Eg: Back to the howling old owl in the woods

("So I can go") Hunting the horny back toad

Oh I've finally decided my future lies

("there") Beyond the yellow brick road

Yearning to leave the life where he (she) no longer (nor their friends) have to: "Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground"  Eg. a more genuine life where begging for approval is not necessary.

I admit that this is only my interpretation, but I do think that Elton would agree with me.

JohnW