Go to main content

Song About "Graceland" Chosen National Recording Registry

March 08, 2007 | Other
Every year the Librarian of Congress chooses a variety of sound recordings to include in the National Recording Registry. The recordings are nominated by members of the public and a panel of music, sound and preservation experts, the library's National Recording Preservation Board. This year one of the chosen songs is the Paul Simon hit "Graceland".
Source:Elvis Information Network
Kenneth wrote on March 09, 2007
this song has nothing to do with elvis or his house called graceland.
SuziB wrote on March 09, 2007
The chorus is: I'm going to Graceland, Graceland. In Memphis Tennessee. I'm going to Graceland. Now, have many Gracelands are there in Memphis exactly. Yes it's a metaphor but it still mentions Graceland.
Steve V wrote on March 09, 2007
Kenneth - The song mentions Graceland, Memphis Tenn. I'd say it has something to do with Elvis, no?
Lefty wrote on March 10, 2007
I heard an interview with Paul Simon where he said that Graceland as described in the song is both the residence of Elvis Presley and a mythical, magical place of acceptance. The song speaks of travelers on their way to Graceland. Paul Simon toured Graceland, and he credits Elvis as being one of the major influences in his musical career. If you ever get a chance to see the Paul Simon movie, One Trick Pony, you'll note that the auto-biographical main character in the film wanted to grow up to be just like Elvis. Simon's Graceland, both song and album, is great on many levels. It was a good choice for the National Recording Registry.
Jazz wrote on March 11, 2007
Paul Simon said this on Oprah's show... I hope it helps. Even with a copy of Paul Simon's lyrics, Oprah and Gayle couldn't agree on the meaning of his song, "Graceland." Who did they find to settle their dispute? The songwriter himself! "Let me see if I can clarify the issue a little bit," Paul says. "Oprah, you're right. The song is about a real trip that I took to Graceland. It's not really autobiographical, although there are elements that are. It is about a trip there with a father and his 9-year-old son trying to find some kind of solace from a loss of love." Before Oprah can gloat, Paul says that Gayle's interpretation is also right! "The song is also about Africa," he says. "The song was made in South Africa, and the musicians were South African. … The South Africans were going through a time when they went through the reconciliation with their past, and in that way, that's what the father was looking for in his trip to Graceland and hoping to find there. So in a sense, you're both right!" Now that the spat is settled, Gayle says she's never discussing "Graceland" ever again!