Graceland
Erin Bode Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The Mississippi Delta
Was shining like a national guitar
I am following the river, down the highway
Through the cradle of the Civil War

I'm going to Graceland, Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poor boys and pilgrims and families
We are going to Graceland

And my traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland

He comes back to tell me he's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way he brushed her hair from his forehead

And he said losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow

I'm going to Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poor boys and pilgrims and families
We are going to Graceland

And my traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland

There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Whoa, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland

And I see losing love
Is like a window into your heart
And everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow

In Graceland, in Graceland
I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love, every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I have reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland





Whoa-oh-oh-oh, in Graceland, Graceland, Graceland
I'm going to Graceland

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Erin Bode's song Graceland are full of vivid imagery and poignant reflections on love, loss, and the human experience. The opening lines describe the Mississippi Delta as "shining like a national guitar" while the singer follows the river down the highway, passing through the cradle of the Civil War. The singer's destination is Graceland, a holy site for lovers of Elvis Presley, where "poor boys and pilgrims and families" all go to pay their respects.


The singer is accompanied by a nine-year-old child, the product of their first marriage. Despite this potentially complicated family situation, the singer believes that they will both be received in Graceland. As they travel, the child tells the singer that someone they both love has died, and explains that losing love is like a window in your heart, leaving you visible and vulnerable, vulnerable to the wind blowing.


The final verse introduces a girl in New York City who "calls herself the human trampoline," comparing the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of falling in love and experiencing loss to bouncing around on a trampoline. Despite not being able to explain why, the singer feels drawn to Graceland and believes that everyone, regardless of their background, will be received there. Overall, the song Graceland explores themes of loss, love, and the importance of human connection, all set against a backdrop of Americana nostalgia.


Line by Line Meaning

The Mississippi Delta
Refers to a region in Mississippi that is notable for its rich musical history, particularly in blues and rock and roll.


Was shining like a national guitar
Describes the Mississippi Delta's stunning beauty that resembles a guitar used in national music that is shining brightly.


I am following the river, down the highway
Indicates the singer following the Mississippi River, tracing its path through the highway.


Through the cradle of the Civil War
Refers to the south of the United States, particularly Mississippi, as also being the site of major battles during the Civil War.


I'm going to Graceland, Graceland
The singer is headed to Graceland, a mansion in Memphis once owned by Elvis Presley.


Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Tennessee that is known for its rich musical history, particularly in blues, rock and roll, and soul.


Poor boys and pilgrims and families
Refers to the diverse group of people heading to Graceland, including those who are not rich, those on a pilgrimage, and those with their families.


We are going to Graceland
Reiterates the group's destination.


And my traveling companion is nine years old
The singer's companion is a child from her previous marriage, who is still young and innocent.


He is the child of my first marriage
Further explains the relationship between the singer and her traveling companion.


But I've reason to believe
The singer has hope that she and her companion will be welcomed at Graceland.


We both will be received
The singer and her traveling companion will be accepted upon arrival in Graceland.


He comes back to tell me he's gone
The singer's former lover comes back to remind her that he has left.


As if I didn't know that
The singer is aware of the departure of her former lover.


As if I didn't know my own bed
The singer is aware of the changes that have occurred in her life, such as her former lover leaving.


As if I'd never noticed
The singer is not surprised by her former lover's departure since she has seen the signs leading to it.


The way he brushed her hair from his forehead
Describes a moment of intimacy between the singer's former lover and another woman, signifying his departure from the singer's life.


And he said losing love
The singer's former lover provides insight into the impact of lost love.


Is like a window in your heart
Losing love opens up the heart to pain and vulnerability.


Everybody sees you're blown apart
The sadness and pain from losing love is visible to those around the person affected.


Everybody sees the wind blow
The impact of lost love is apparent to everyone and cannot be ignored.


And my traveling companions
The singer's companions on her journey to Graceland.


Are ghosts and empty sockets
Metaphorical descriptions of the people who are with the singer, suggesting that they are either dead or not fully present.


I'm looking at ghosts and empties
The singer is surrounded by people who are not fully present, suggesting a feeling of loneliness.


But I've reason to believe
The singer is hopeful that everyone, including herself, will be accepted in Graceland.


We all will be received
The group will be welcomed upon arrival in Graceland.


There is a girl in New York City
Introduces a new character in the story, a girl in New York City.


Who calls herself the human trampoline
Describes the girl's nickname, highlighting her exuberance and energy.


And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
The singer thinks of the girl in moments of tumultuous feelings, like falling or flying.


Or tumbling in turmoil I say
The singer thinks of the girl during times of chaos and confusion.


Whoa, so this is what she means
The singer's interpretation of the girl's nickname when applied to herself and her feelings.


She means we're bouncing into Graceland
The girl's nickname symbolizes the hope and energy that drives the singer towards Graceland.


And I see losing love
The singer reflects on the theme of lost love again.


Is like a window into your heart
Being heartbroken makes one vulnerable and able to see inside oneself.


And everybody sees you're blown apart
The brokenness that comes with lost love is visible to all around the person affected.


Everybody feels the wind blow
The impact of lost love is apparent to everyone and affects people in different ways.


For reasons I cannot explain
The singer is not able to fully articulate the reasons for going to Graceland.


There's some part of me wants to see Graceland
The singer has an inexplicable desire to see Graceland.


And I may be obliged to defend
The singer may have to justify her decision to go to Graceland.


Every love, every ending
The singer may have to justify past romantic relationships and their endings.


Or maybe there's no obligations now
The writer considers that there may no longer be any obligations to justify her decisions.


Maybe I have reason to believe
Despite the uncertainty the singer might be facing, she still holds on to hope.


We all will be received
The final line reinforces the singer's hope that they will all be welcomed in Graceland.


Whoa-oh-oh-oh, in Graceland, Graceland, Graceland
The singer repeats the word 'Graceland' multiple times, underscoring its significance and meaning.


I'm going to Graceland
The final line of the song reiterates the singer's destination and suggests a feeling of hope and excitement.




Contributed by Bentley J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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