Yellow Brick Road

When my husband was likely five years old, his family home burnt to the ground. The source of the fire was never confirmed, likely a really good party, or a a really good fight – or both. His memories are filled with smoke, his father’s embrace, a goldfish presented as a confusing saved emblem of the how misunderstood grief can be.

From the den of the family next door, he watched his house in flames through their bay window, while the 70’s classic, Emergency 911 played on the television. Misfitten clothes were gifted, a mother went away somewhere to recover – these images all remain vivid. But perhaps the most brilliant memory was the accompaniment of his descent down the burning stairway in his father’s arms. The treasured vinyl on the turntable stridently sent the chorus of Elton’s “Yellow Brick Road” echoing through his vanishing childhood home.

Is it any wonder, that on the eve of this World Cup in Doha, that this is the song he plays on his Doha piano before kick off swallows him whole?

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, ah, ah

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
Ah, ah

What do you think you’ll do then?
I bet they’ll shoot down the 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, ah, ah

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