Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Wynners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
At its core, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a song about finding one's true self and rejecting the trappings of fame and fortune. The singer, who is clearly a reluctant participant in the glamour and excess of celebrity life, is announcing their intention to leave it all behind and return to a simpler existence.
The opening lines of the song, "When are you gonna come down/When are you going to land," suggest a feeling of detachment from reality, as if the singer is floating above the world looking down. They then express regret for not staying on the farm and following the advice of their old man. The next lines, "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," reveal that the singer feels trapped and exploited by the celebrity lifestyle, and that they are unwilling to continue living this way.
The chorus, "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," reinforces this idea of rejecting materialism and returning to a simpler life, far removed from the "dogs of society" and the opulence of the penthouse.
Line by Line Meaning
When are you gonna come down
Asking when the person will acknowledge the reality of the situation
When are you going to land
When will they face the consequences of their actions
I should have stayed on the farm
Regretting not sticking to one's roots and humble beginnings
I should have listened to my old man
Recognizing the wisdom and experience of previous generations
You know you can't hold me forever
Asserting independence and freedom from control
I didn't sign up with you
Refusing to take responsibility for another's mistakes or misdeeds
I'm not a present for your friends to open
Objecting to being used or displayed for the benefit of others
This boy's too young to be singing the blues
Rejecting the idea that one must suffer to make good music or create art
So goodbye yellow brick road
Leaving behind the illusory path of fame and fortune
Where the dogs of society howl
Acknowledging the harsh reality of the world and its struggles
You can't plant me in your penthouse
Refusing to be owned or controlled by those in power or with wealth
I'm going back to my plough
Returning to a humble and simple way of living
Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Embracing the natural world and its simplicity
Hunting the horny back toad
Embarking on a practical and down-to-earth pursuit
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Coming to a resolution about what is truly important in life
Beyond the yellow brick road
Looking for a path that is genuine and sincere
What do you think you'll do then
Challenging the other person to face the future with honesty and integrity
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
Predicting the consequences of the other person's actions or choices
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
Suggesting that the other person will need alcohol to cope with reality
To set you on your feet again
To recover from a difficult situation
Maybe you'll get a replacement
Imagining that the other person will try to find a substitute for what they have lost
There's plenty like me to be found
Pointing out that one's worth and uniqueness cannot be replaced
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
People who are struggling and have little resources
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground
Suggesting that the other person is no better off than anyone else, and must compete for survival
So goodbye yellow brick road
Reaffirming the decision to leave behind the illusions of fame and fortune
Where the dogs of society howl
Acknowledging the realities of society and its struggles
You can't plant me in your penthouse
Resisting the temptation to be owned or controlled by those with power or wealth
I'm going back to my plough
Returning to a humble and simple way of life
Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Finding peace and simplicity in nature
Hunting the horny back toad
Pursuing practical and realistic goals
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Making a firm and honest decision about what is important in life
Beyond the yellow brick road
Pursuing a genuine and sincere path in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind