The song is named after the Kodak 35mm film Kodachrome. For the week ending May 19, 1973, "Kodachrome" made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart and five weeks later, the song moved to number nine, just ahead of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando and just behind "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" by George Harrison. The song then became a major hit in the United States, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as the Billboard adult contemporary chart, but it was not released as a single in Britain because, according to American Top 40 host Casey Kasem, the British Broadcasting Corporation would not play the trademarked name.
Kodachrome
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
Give us the greens of summers
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
If you took all the girls I knew when I was single
And brought 'em all together for one night
I know they'd never match my sweet imagination
Everything looks worse in black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome, mm
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Okay
The opening lyrics of Kodachrome by Paul Simon depict a reflection on his high school education, which he calls “crap” and wonders how he can think at all having learned it. Despite his lack of formal education, he can still “read the writing on the wall” and see the truth in the world around him. This can be interpreted as a criticism of the education system, suggesting that practical knowledge and experience are equally, if not more, important than traditional academic learning.
The chorus of the song, focused on the Kodachrome film brand, is guilty pleasure nostalgia. The “nice bright colors” and “greens of summers” that Kodachrome brought to photos made them appear dream-like and romantic, conjuring up the idea of a perfect, sunny day. This romanticized vision matches the line “Everything looks worse in black and white,” in which Simon claims that his memories of past girlfriends were idealized by his own imagination. The chorus’ emphasis and repetition of “I got a Nikon camera / I love to take a photograph” highlights the power of photography to create and manipulate how people remember moments in their life.
Combined, the song is about the power of visual media, memory, and education. Simon critiques the education system, while also acknowledging the joys and nostalgia that come from captured visual memories. It's an ode to the power of photography over reality, as well as the struggle between personal reality and romanticized nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
Reflecting on the unimportant things taught in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all
Questioning the value of high school education
And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none
Acknowledging that formal education didn't define his success
I can read the writing on the wall
Able to recognize trends and patterns in life
Kodachrome
Referencing the Kodak brand of color film
They give us those nice bright colors
The use of color film provides enhanced visual appeal
Give us the greens of summers
Green is representative of lively growth and prosperity
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
The vibrancy of colors can create a happier perception of the world
I got a Nikon camera
Brand placement, mentioning his preferred camera
I love to take a photograph
Expressing passion for capturing moments
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Pleading to not have the joy of color photography taken away
If you took all the girls I knew when I was single
Hypothetically imagining all past relationships in one place
And brought 'em all together for one night
Continuation of the hypothetical scenario
I know they'd never match my sweet imagination
Realizing that memories can be more idealistic than reality
Everything looks worse in black and white
Implying color photography is more aesthetically pleasing
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Repeating earlier plea to keep color photography available
Leave your boy so far from home
Expressing a desire for independence and freedom
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome, mm
Reemphasizing the importance of color photography
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Final plea to maintain the happiness that color photography provides
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jaberosier9853
When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
Give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
If you took all the girls I knew when I was single
And brought 'em all together for one night
I know they'd never match my sweet imagination
Everything looks worse in black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome, mm
Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away
Okay
@topnotch99
First memory of this song: Summer 1972 or 1973. It’s on the AM radio. I am 12 and in the backseat of my mom’s 1965 Pontiac Safari station wagon. It’s hot. It’s summer. No a/c so the windows are all down. We are crossing the Savannah River into Georgia and downtown Savannah. I can still smell the paper mills and swampy acrid smell. We are on a long drive back to Miami. No interstates. This song blew me away. I can still smell that paper mill and see that bridge in my mind when I hear this song. Everything’s going to be ok.
@willard2729
Well said...I have a picture in my mind and I've never been there.
@christophers.o622
Mark Martin that song was in the summer of 1973 during the time I used to love summer, and now I hate summer where I live at in Arizona. Iended up there because of the Clinton military base closures in California, Colorado,Florida.
@toddroberson1663
Very vivid memories of this song for me so well. 11 years old first noticing girls at Westwood Swim Club in Indianapolis. A girl named Lisa and i went out in the woods by the club singing this song and made out by a stream called Eagle Creek. We could hear the chorus floating out from the club loudspeaker into the woods. She let me touch her boob. In fact, I think she put my hand on her boob.
Thanks Paul!
@19boulder11
I live in Savannah right now listening to this as I smoke a cigar on my balcony.
@ricarleite
THAT'S a great memory. My memory of this song sucks. It reminds me of the Coneheads movie.
@vivievei6298
I’m a black 27 year old from the hood of Detroit😭😭😂😂🤣🗣. And i fucking love this song. I guess because i loved watching coneheads and this song always had me dancing. Makes me feel euphoric!
@arthurmorgan7642
You see, that's what I mean. It doesn't matter where what when and how your raised, you can still have a different opinion then the majority of the people in that neighborhood listening to rap. Most stereotypes aren't true you know (I'm as white as white can physically be btw)
@kenperk9854
Roger Hawkins of the legendary Swampers didn't play the drums on this song. He played a cracker box! Talk about musical geniuses, the Swampers were! They didn't make a movie Called Muscle Shoals for nothing. Watch it and learn more about music history than you thought possible.
@michaelderoche5661
It don't matter if you are a sister roll with it!! That's what it's about!