Graceland (song)

"Graceland" is the title song of the album Graceland, released in 1986 by Paul Simon. The song features vocals by The Everly Brothers. The lyrics follow the singer's thoughts during a road trip to Graceland after the failure of his marriage. Actress and author Carrie Fisher, Simon's ex-wife, said that the song referred in part to their relationship.

Reception
Billboard said that "Remarkable supporting players from his South Africa sessions make Simon's multiple-meaning musings into something subtly exotic."

The song won the 1988 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It was the lowest-charting song on any of the world music charts to win Record of the Year until the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss US non-charting song "Please Read the Letter" won the same award in 2009.

It was listed at #485 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs in 2004.

A cover by Willie Nelson peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1993.

An acoustic version of the song was included as a track on The Unplugged Collection, Volume One.

Personnel

 * Paul Simon – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar (uncredited)
 * Ray Phiri – guitar
 * Demola Adepoju – pedal steel
 * Bakithi Kumalo – fretless bass
 * Vusi Khumalo – drums
 * Makhaya Mahlangu – percussion
 * The Everly Brothers – guitars, additional vocals