Elton John’s hit single “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is from the Seventies. It was released in 1973 as the title track’s second single from his seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
John wrote the music with his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics. The recording took place at Château d’Hérouville in France during a remarkably productive period for the pair. The song’s lyrics use imagery from The Wizard of Oz, especially the yellow brick road, to express a desire to leave behind celebrity, luxury, and an artificial lifestyle.
The single became one of Elton John’s signature recordings. It reached the top 10 in both the United Kingdom and the United States and has remained a staple of his concert repertoire. Its piano-led ballad style contrasts with the album’s more energetic tracks, helping it stand out even within one of John’s most celebrated records.
A frequent mix-up is placing the song in the 1960s because John began achieving international fame then. However, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” belongs specifically to the 1970s, with its release in 1973.