"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was written by Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics) and performed by John. It is the title track of the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, recorded in May 1973 at Château d'Hérouville in France and produced by Gus Dudgeon. Released as the album's second single in autumn 1973, it reached No. 1 in Canada, No. 2 on the US Hot 100, No. 6 in the UK and No. 4 in Australia and Ireland. The title refers to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, and Taupin's lyrics draw on his childhood on a farm in Lincolnshire and a longing to return to one's roots. The song is a ballad with orchestral bridges, arranged by Del Newman, and John is joined on piano and vocals by Davey Johnstone (guitar), Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums). Critics were generally positive, and the track has been covered widely, including by Billy Joel, who duetted with John live. John also named his farewell tour after it.
