It is no secret that when Elton John sings, people don't understand the words.
Sometimes, it's because Bernie Taupin's lyrics are weird and only representational of coherent trains of thought. But mostly, it's because Sir Elton has trouble enunciating important sounds...like consonants.
A prime example is the song "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." It's a fine melody and attempts to express a longing for a simpler life, but when you replace what Bernie wrote with what people hear Elton singing, things quickly go awry.
When are you gonna come down?
When are you gonna calm down?
When are you going to land?
When are you going to learn?
I should have stayed on the farm
I shoved that stake in my arm
I should have listened to my old man
Shoveled glitter into my can
You know you can't hold me forever
You know your cap told me more better
I didn't sign up with you
I giggle hiccup with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
I'm not a pheasant for your hands to hold on
This boy's too young to be singing the blues
"Da boing do yada," me's singing the blues
So goodbye yellow brick road
So goodbye, Penelope Rose
Where the dogs of society howl
Where the dogs are, though I can't see how
You can't plant me in your penthouse
Your cat locked me in your penthouse, or
You can't have me as your pen pal
I'm going back to my plough
I'm going back to my cow
Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Back to just howlin' around in the world, or
Back to the hidey-hole out in the woods
Hunting the horny-back toad
Punt with a horny, old sow
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Oh, I find that my eyes, all putrified
Beyond the yellow brick road
Belong to hollow brick role
BESIDES...
Shouldn't the whole thing have been more about The Wizard of Oz?
Ahh...a lost opportunity indeed.
