Graceland
Paul Simon Lyrics

The Mississippi Delta
The region located near the Mississippi River

Was shining like a national guitar
It was a beautiful sight to behold

I am following the river
The singer is following the Mississippi River

Down the highway
The artist is traveling on a highway

Through the cradle of the Civil War
The artist is traveling through the area where the American Civil War began

I'm going to Graceland, Graceland
The singer is excited to go to Graceland

Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland is located in Memphis, Tennessee

I'm going to Graceland
The artist is repeating their excitement about going to Graceland

Poor boys and pilgrims with families
The artist is traveling with poor families and religious pilgrims

And we are going to Graceland
The artist and their companions are all going to Graceland

My traveling companion is nine years old
The singer is traveling with a young child

He is the child of my first marriage
The child is the product of the artist's previous marriage

But I've reason to believe
The singer has hope or faith in something

We both will be received
The singer and the child will be welcomed at Graceland

She comes back to tell me she's gone
The singer's ex-lover returns to say goodbye

As if I didn't know that
The artist already knew that their lover was leaving

As if I didn't know my own bed
The artist is aware of their own situation

As if I'd never noticed
The singer is pretending not to have seen signs of the looming breakup

The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
The singer remembers a particular gesture their lover would make

And she said, "losing love Is like a window in your heart Everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody sees the wind blow"
Losing love is a painful experience that everyone can see and feel

And my traveling companions Are ghosts and empty sockets
The artist is surrounded by emptiness and loss

I'm looking at ghosts and empties
The artist is confronted with memories of the past

But I've reason to believe
The singer still has hope or faith in something

We all will be received
The artist and their companions will be welcomed at Graceland

There is a girl in New York City Who calls herself the human trampoline
The singer remembers someone in NYC who is full of life and energy

And sometimes when I'm falling, flying Or tumbling in turmoil I say "Whoa, so this is what she means"
The singer remembers this girl when they are going through difficult times

She means we're bouncing into Graceland
The girl's words mean that life is always moving forward and heading towards something better

And I see losing love Is like a window in your heart Well, everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody feels the wind blow
Losing love is a painful experience that is visible to everyone

Ooh, ooh, ooh In Graceland, in Graceland
The artist repeats their excitement about going to Graceland

I'm going to Graceland For reasons I cannot explain
The singer is going to Graceland for a reason they can't quite put into words

There's some part of me wants to see Graceland
The singer is drawn to Graceland for some unknown reason

And I may be obliged to defend Every love, every ending
The artist may have to justify or explain their past relationships and breakups

Or maybe there's no obligations now
Perhaps the artist no longer feels obligated to explain themselves

Maybe I've a reason to believe
The artist still has hope or faith in something

We all will be received In Graceland
The singer and their companions will be welcomed at Graceland

Whoa, oh, oh In Graceland, in Graceland, in Graceland
The artist repeats their excitement about going to Graceland