"Graceland" | ||||
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Single by Paul Simon | ||||
from the album Graceland | ||||
B-side | "Hearts and Bones" | |||
Released | November 1986 | |||
Recorded | November 1985 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:48 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul Simon | |||
Producer(s) | Paul Simon | |||
Paul Simon singles chronology | ||||
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"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.
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.
Chart (1986–87) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report) | 62 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 35 |
Canada (RPM) | 70 |
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 14 |
Ireland (IRMA) | 27 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 79 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 37 |
UK Singles (OCC) | 98 |
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) | 38 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 81 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Paul Simon songs | |
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Discography | |
The Paul Simon Songbook | |
Paul Simon | |
There Goes Rhymin' Simon | |
Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin' | |
Still Crazy After All These Years | |
Greatest Hits, Etc. |
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One-Trick Pony |
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Hearts and Bones |
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Graceland | |
The Rhythm of the Saints | |
You're the One |
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Surprise |
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So Beautiful or So What |
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Stranger to Stranger |
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Featured singles | |
Other songs | |
Authority control databases |
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