# In 1986, Paul Simon wrote a lyric he could never change. Now, he admits it makes no sense

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1986-paul-simon-wrote-a-lyric-he-could-never-change-now-he-admits-it-makes-no-sense/
- Published: 2026-11-02T18:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T18:22:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1986-paul-simon-wrote-a-lyric-he-could-never-change-now-he-admits-it-makes-no-sense/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Simon thought “I’m going to Graceland” made little sense.
- He could not get the lyric out of his head.
- The phrase came to represent a personal journey.

## Summary

Paul Simon says the lyric “I’m going to Graceland” initially seemed to make little sense in a song about travelling and finding new places. He repeatedly thought he would replace it, but the phrase stayed with him and became central to the song, capturing the idea of a personal journey.

The article places the song in the making of Simon’s 1986 album *Graceland*, which was shaped by collaboration with South African musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Simon built songs around their rhythms and performances, blending musical styles; he later came to hear the title lyric as a symbol of journeys and destinations that can mean different things to different people.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.