This song has such beautiful lyrics. I've always loved Paul Simon but this song I had mostly heard on the radio and just thought was a fun, light song about Graceland. It wasn't until I sat down and listened to it that I realized it was really about his divorce and being a single dad. "Losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart." Love that line. It's a very mature and sophisticated song. He paints such a beautiful picture of travelling with his son and his introspection after his marriage. The song to me is about him finally being able to let go. Graceland is a metaphor for his salvation, and the portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation.
"The portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation."
"The portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation."
Well-said; I think you're spot on!!
Well-said; I think you're spot on!!
Sure, "Graceland" may have started out as a placeholder word as he was drafting it musically, before he began the lyric. But then he did something only Paul Simon could; He took the one word and worked backwards to craft the imagery of trying to connect with his son over a vacation week to Graceland after his failed marriage.
Sure, "Graceland" may have started out as a placeholder word as he was drafting it musically, before he began the lyric. But then he did something only Paul Simon could; He took the one word and worked backwards to craft the imagery of trying to connect with his son over a vacation week to Graceland after his failed marriage.
Whether the trip to Graceland actually happened is irrelevant, the song does its job at evoking the emotion.
As a divorced dad, I remember it was difficult trying to connect one-on-one with my 9 y/o son, his little kid brain transitioning to adolescence. The double-meaning of Graceland, as a tourist spot and word signifying redemption/salvation highlights Paul's brilliance. Describing his divorce using the "civil war" oxymoron, wow perfect. IMHO, "We both will be received" maybe refers to his forgiving himself for the failed relationship. I wonder if Paul identified with the "human trampoline" as a fellow repeat rebounder, given this this was his second try at marriage.
I love the song musically, too. Zydeco meets a travelling country ditty. Empty enough to hear Kumalo & Phiri shine with those beautiful unison 16th note arpeggios. Funny, they are actually out of sync in places, but it's awesome they left it as-is.
This song has such beautiful lyrics. I've always loved Paul Simon but this song I had mostly heard on the radio and just thought was a fun, light song about Graceland. It wasn't until I sat down and listened to it that I realized it was really about his divorce and being a single dad. "Losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart." Love that line. It's a very mature and sophisticated song. He paints such a beautiful picture of travelling with his son and his introspection after his marriage. The song to me is about him finally being able to let go. Graceland is a metaphor for his salvation, and the portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation.
@jjim
@jjim
"The portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation."
"The portrait he paints of all the wandering pilgrims with their broken families travelling is just beautiful. We are all like him, lost and wandering and looking for salvation."
Well-said; I think you're spot on!!
Well-said; I think you're spot on!!
Sure, "Graceland" may have started out as a placeholder word as he was drafting it musically, before he began the lyric. But then he did something only Paul Simon could; He took the one word and worked backwards to craft the imagery of trying to connect with his son over a vacation week to Graceland after his failed marriage.
Sure, "Graceland" may have started out as a placeholder word as he was drafting it musically, before he began the lyric. But then he did something only Paul Simon could; He took the one word and worked backwards to craft the imagery of trying to connect with his son over a vacation week to Graceland after his failed marriage.
Whether the trip to Graceland actually happened is irrelevant, the song does its job at evoking the emotion.
As a divorced dad, I remember it was difficult trying to connect one-on-one with my 9 y/o son, his little kid brain transitioning to adolescence. The double-meaning of Graceland, as a tourist spot and word signifying redemption/salvation highlights Paul's brilliance. Describing his divorce using the "civil war" oxymoron, wow perfect. IMHO, "We both will be received" maybe refers to his forgiving himself for the failed relationship. I wonder if Paul identified with the "human trampoline" as a fellow repeat rebounder, given this this was his second try at marriage.
I love the song musically, too. Zydeco meets a travelling country ditty. Empty enough to hear Kumalo & Phiri shine with those beautiful unison 16th note arpeggios. Funny, they are actually out of sync in places, but it's awesome they left it as-is.