Graceland
Willie Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Out in Memphis, Tennessee
Poor boys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
The child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland
She comes back to tell me she'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 she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said, "losin' 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 with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
Ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland
There is a girl in Austin, Texas
And she calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Tumbling in turmoil I say
"This is what she means"
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow
I'm going to Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
Some part of me wants to see
Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love and every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Graceland, Graceland
I'm going to Graceland
The lyrics to Willie Nelson's song Graceland are a haunting, introspective look at love and loss, and the search for meaning in the wake of heartbreak. The opening lines describe the beauty of the Mississippi Delta, shining like a National guitar, and lead into the singer's journey down the highway, through the cradle of the Civil War, ultimately to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. There, poor boys and pilgrims with families, including the singer and his nine-year-old daughter from his first marriage, hope to find solace and acceptance.
The second verse continues with the daughter returning to the singer to tell him she has left, a blow that the singer had anticipated but still stings nonetheless. He compares the feeling of losing love to a window in your heart that everyone can see has been blown apart, and the wind that rushes in is palpable to all. The chorus repeats the desire to go to Graceland, and the verses add layers of complexity and meaning to the singer's journey.
The final lines suggest that there may be no obligations now, that the singer may be free to explore his own motivations and see what he can find in Graceland. The repetition of the phrase "reason to believe" adds an almost desperate tone to the lyrics, as if the singer needs to convince himself that he will find something in Graceland that will heal his broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
The Mississippi Delta
Willie Nelson sees the Mississippi Delta shining like a National guitar.
Was shining like a National guitar
The Mississippi Delta is dazzling and brilliant.
I am following the river
Willie Nelson is taking a journey down the river.
Down the highway
Willie Nelson is traveling the highway.
Through the cradle of the Civil War
Willie Nelson is taking a trip through the region where the Civil War took place.
I'm going to Graceland, Graceland
Willie Nelson is excitedly planning to visit Graceland.
Out in Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
I'm going to Graceland
Willie Nelson is reiterating his excitement and intention to visit Graceland.
Poor boys and pilgrims with families
Willie Nelson is identifying that he is not the only one going to Graceland - there are others like him who hope to see the Elvis Presley estate.
And we are going to Graceland
Willie Nelson is emphasizing the point that he and others are heading to Graceland.
My traveling companion is nine years old
Willie Nelson is traveling with a nine-year-old child who is his child from his first marriage.
The child of my first marriage
The nine-year-old traveling companion is related to Willie Nelson from his first marriage.
But I've reason to believe
Willie Nelson has hope and optimism about his visit to Graceland.
We both will be received
Willie Nelson and his traveling companion will receive a warm welcome at Graceland.
In Graceland
Willie Nelson and his companion will experience the wonder and beauty of Elvis Presley's estate.
She comes back to tell me she's gone
Someone he knows comes back to tell Willie Nelson that a person has gone away.
As if I didn't know that
Willie Nelson already knew that the person was gone.
As if I didn't know my own bed
Willie Nelson is certain of his own knowledge, even about his own bed.
As if I'd never noticed
Willie Nelson is aware of the details in his surroundings and is observant.
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
Willie Nelson remembers the way the person he knew used to brush her hair away from her forehead.
And she said, "losin' love
The person he knew spoke about losing love.
Is like a window in your heart
Willie Nelson interprets losing love as a painful experience that leaves a hole in your heart.
Everybody sees you're blown apart
When you lose love, it affects you greatly and is visible to others.
Everybody sees the wind blow
People can see the devastation of losing love in your behavior and actions.
My traveling companions
Willie Nelson's traveling companions consist of ghosts and empty sockets.
Are ghosts and empty sockets
Willie Nelson's traveling companions are metaphors for a lack of companionship and loneliness.
But I've reason to believe
Willie Nelson still holds onto hope while feeling lonely and isolated.
We all will be received
Willie Nelson and his companions will be accepted at Graceland.
There is a girl in Austin, Texas
Willie Nelson references a girl he knows in Austin, Texas.
And she calls herself the human trampoline
The girl he knows calls herself the human trampoline, which could mean she bounces back after hardships.
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Willie Nelson often feels like he is falling or flying.
Tumbling in turmoil I say
During these highs and lows, Willie Nelson exclaims...
"This is what she means"
...and associates it with the girl in Austin who calls herself the human trampoline, believing she is connected to his personal experiences.
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
Willie Nelson is convinced that the girl from Austin would believe they are heading towards a positive destination in their lives, similar to Graceland.
For reasons I cannot explain
Willie Nelson does not fully understand why he wants to see Graceland.
Some part of me wants to see
Willie Nelson has an unexplainable desire to see Graceland.
Graceland
Graceland is a place of wonder and mystery for Willie Nelson.
And I may be obliged to defend
Willie Nelson may need to justify his decision to visit Graceland.
Every love and every ending
Willie Nelson may have to explain his personal experiences and choices to others, specifically those surrounding love and loss.
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Alternatively, Willie Nelson may not feel the need to defend his choices to anyone, as he has the right to make his own decisions about what he wants to do.
Maybe I've a reason to believe
Willie Nelson holds onto hope for the future and the belief that he will be accepted at Graceland.
We all will be received
Everyone will be welcomed at Graceland, including Willie Nelson and his companions.
In Graceland
Graceland holds a special, mysterious place in Willie Nelson's heart and mind.
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
A vocal exclamation from Willie Nelson.
Graceland, Graceland
Repetitive emphasis, continuing Willie Nelson's vocal exclamation.
I'm going to Graceland
Reiterating excitement and intention to visit Graceland.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind