Friday, April 18, 2008

Losing love is like a window in your heart

Speaking of lyrics, Paul Simon may be my favorite wordsmith, with "Graceland" and "Hearts and Bones" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" representing real high points for Top 40 pop lyrics. Consider just one example:
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
in Memphis, Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
poorboys and pilgrims with families
and we are going to Graceland

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

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 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
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
and 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 in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow

In Graceland, 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've a reason to believe
we all will be received in Graceland

In Graceland, Graceland, Graceland
I'm going to Graceland

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