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And the sun was beating
On the soldiers by the side of the road
There was a bright light
A shattering of shop windows
The bomb in the baby carriage
Was wired to the radio, and
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry
It was a dry wind
And it swept across the desert
And it curled into the circle of birth
And the dead sand
Falling on the children
The mothers and the fathers
And the automatic earth
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all, oh, yeah
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry
It's a turn-around jump shot
It's everybody jump start
It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts
Medicine is magical and magical is art
Think of the boy in the bubble
And the baby with the baboon heart
And I believe
These are days of lasers in the jungle
Lasers in the jungle somewhere
Staccato signals of constant information
A loose affiliation of millionaires
And billionaires, and, baby
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all, oh, yeah
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry
OK, I admit that I don't get the Paul Simon Graceland vibe that is so prevalent amongst the listeners here and I certainly don't criticize anyone here for liking it but I draw the line at "one of the greatest sing-a-long songs" The Beatles are sing-a-longs. So is Motown. Your favorite guilty pleasure. Your favorite not so guilty pleasure. But this is not a sing-a-long song, much less one of the "greatest". Thank you.
Yes it is.
Distant constellations that are dying in a corner of the sky. These are days or miracle and wonder, don't cry baby, don't cry.
GREAT TUNE!! It sure grabs ME! PS: I'm not sure what a boo-boo is, LOL!
an astounding melange of music and verse. the zydeco makes me smile the most, but the whole thing is excellent.
I Agree. Completely!
When this album was about to b released, I was working as a freelance video editor. My agent booked me a gig editing the TV ads for it. One of the perks was an advance copy. I made a cassette and played it in my car to and from work for a couple of weeks! It was a revelation at the time. World music was still a new thing, and all the African rhythms and melodies were quite new for most people. I think it has stood the test of time, and I still listen to it. this track gets a 9.
Great story! Thanks!
OK, I admit that I don't get the Paul Simon Graceland vibe that is so prevalent amongst the listeners here and I certainly don't criticize anyone here for liking it but I draw the line at "one of the greatest sing-a-long songs" The Beatles are sing-a-longs. So is Motown. Your favorite guilty pleasure. Your favorite not so guilty pleasure. But this is not a sing-a-long song, much less one of the "greatest". Thank you.
Tell that to my kids! They are in their 30's and still jam to this album! :)
These are days of lasers in the jungle
Lasers in the jungle somewhere
Staccato signals of constant information
A loose affiliation of millionaires
And billionaires, and, baby"
All this in 1986!
We hear stuff like Amadou &Mariam, Habib Koite, and Youssou N'Doir today. But in 1986, we did not.
Simon definitely opened a door to music that most were not familiar with at the time. It was a revelation for me at the time.
I'll see your 6 and raise to a 9.
OK, I admit that I don't get the Paul Simon Graceland vibe that is so prevalent amongst the listeners here and I certainly don't criticize anyone here for liking it but I draw the line at "one of the greatest sing-a-long songs" The Beatles are sing-a-longs. So is Motown. Your favorite guilty pleasure. Your favorite not so guilty pleasure. But this is not a sing-a-long song, much less one of the "greatest". Thank you.
Where you draw your lines is generally your business, but don't confuse your lines with anyone else's.
OK, I admit that I don't get the Paul Simon Graceland vibe that is so prevalent amongst the listeners here and I certainly don't criticize anyone here for liking it but I draw the line at "one of the greatest sing-a-long songs" The Beatles are sing-a-longs. So is Motown. Your favorite guilty pleasure. Your favorite not so guilty pleasure. But this is not a sing-a-long song, much less one of the "greatest". Thank you.
I tend to agree. Let's face it, if it were really a sing-along, you'd probably hear Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the background, singing along, as they do on many songs on this album.
OK, I admit that I don't get the Paul Simon Graceland vibe that is so prevalent amongst the listeners here and I certainly don't criticize anyone here for liking it but I draw the line at "one of the greatest sing-a-long songs" The Beatles are sing-a-longs. So is Motown. Your favorite guilty pleasure. Your favorite not so guilty pleasure. But this is not a sing-a-long song, much less one of the "greatest". Thank you.
Yes, this whole album is soooo good for the external auditory meatus... one of the top ten albums of all time... everybody in my hotel room loves this song... we be dancing like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... hope life is grand for you, leathepea... time flies when we're having fun...
Honestly—and without any sarcasm or condescension—that has to suck.
This punched me in the head the first time I heard it. Still does:
There may not be much sarcasm, but that can seem pretty condescending. I got pretty tired of hearing this song incessantly thirty years ago, but it's a good tune. Nice to hear it after a long break.
Honestly—and without any sarcasm or condescension—that has to suck.
This punched me in the head the first time I heard it. Still does:
It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts
Medicine is magical and magical is art
Think of the boy in the bubble
And the baby with the baboon heart
And I believe
These are days of lasers in the jungle
Lasers in the jungle somewhere
Staccato signals of constant information
A loose affiliation of millionaires
And billionaires, and, baby
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all, oh, yeah
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/bubble-boy-40-years-later-look-back-at-heartbreaking-case/
I'd give this great song an honorary 10 merely to counter those who don't like it.
Including S&G? I don't think so. Not by a long shot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Plastic_Bubble
Song title is likely a reference to the subject matter of an early John Travolta movie.
- phrophetic maybe
Not sure about the title of the song. Makes me think about —->
- phrophetic maybe
Not sure about the title of the song. Makes me think about --->
Apparently both Simon and his wife Edie Brickell were arrested on the same charge this weekend (either domestic violence or disorderly conduct, depending on which reports you believe), but his name is splashed all over the headlines while hers isn't. Seems legit.
Great inside information from both of you. I will definitely check them out. This effort seems to mean even more to me as time marches on...
"A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man"
I saw the "Graceland" concert in Frankfurt with all the South African musicians and singers: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri on guitar. Midconcert Miriam Makeba came out alone on stage and in a high, lilting, almost little-girl voice said, "I want to thank Mr. Simon for inviting me to perform with him." She spoke slowly, pausing after words for effect, enunciating carefully with a British-South African accent. She continued in her high voice. "I hope someday I can invite Mr. Simon to perform with me"—again she paused and then shifted into a deep otherworldly register, so that you felt it, and shouted, "IN A FREE SOUTH AFRICA." For a second the audience was stunned, before cheering erupted. The memory of her voice still sends chills down my spine.
There's a documentary film on the Graceland tour and album. Hope it makes it here.
https://www.paulsimon.com/us/video/under-african-skies-graceland-documentary-trailer
Very interesting story, thank you for this!
Everybody in my churches loves this song... and this entire album... this album is one of the top ten of all time...
I was a lieutenant in the Army stationed in Germany when "Graceland" appeared. These lines from "You Can Call me Al" would play in my head as I wandered about
"A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man"
I saw the "Graceland" concert in Frankfurt with all the South African musicians and singers: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri on guitar. Midconcert Miriam Makeba came out alone on stage and in a high, lilting, almost little-girl voice said, "I want to thank Mr. Simon for inviting me to perform with him." She spoke slowly, pausing after words for effect, enunciating carefully with a British-South African accent. She continued in her high voice. "I hope someday I can invite Mr. Simon to perform with me"—again she paused and then shifted into a deep otherworldly register, so that you felt it, and shouted, "IN A FREE SOUTH AFRICA." For a second the audience was stunned, before cheering erupted. The memory of her voice still sends chills down my spine.
There's a documentary film on the Graceland tour and album. Hope it makes it here.
https://www.paulsimon.com/us/video/under-african-skies-graceland-documentary-trailer
"A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man"
I saw the "Graceland" concert in Frankfurt with all the South African musicians and singers: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri on guitar. Midconcert Miriam Makeba came out alone on stage and in a high, lilting, almost little-girl voice said, "I want to thank Mr. Simon for inviting me to perform with him." She spoke slowly, pausing after words for effect, enunciating carefully with a British-South African accent. She continued in her high voice. "I hope someday I can invite Mr. Simon to perform with me"—again she paused and then shifted into a deep otherworldly register, so that you felt it, and shouted, "IN A FREE SOUTH AFRICA." For a second the audience was stunned, before cheering erupted. The memory of her voice still sends chills down my spine.
There's a documentary film on the Graceland tour and album. Hope it makes it here.
https://www.paulsimon.com/us/video/under-african-skies-graceland-documentary-trailer
Ah nice: Costanza & the bubble boy..."It's Moors you idiot!"
MojoJojo wrote:
Did something happen to the bubble boy?
Playing a rather unusual Trikitixa accordian with an extended lower range.
Accordians are ... ummmm .. strange. I had a girl friend once who played one in the junior high school band and she told me it was very "exciting". I recall watching her rather preturberant nipples thrust outward as if they were tiny redwoods climbing toward the sky, where heavenly delights might dwell.
But what did I know, I was only 14 at the time.
OTOH, there is a Roland Accordian synth modification which might be interesting to play around with ....
This whole album is good for the ears, not a bad track at all.
My kids grew up with this. They still love it. Ages 20-28
Great music transcends time and age
Ah nice: Costanza & the bubble boy..."It's Moors you idiot!"
MojoJojo wrote:
It was a slow day
And the sun was beating
On the soldiers by the side of the road
There was a bright light
A shattering of shop windows
The bomb in the baby carriage
Was wired to the radio
. . .it seemed like another world way back then.
Yeah, everybody uses cell phones to blow things up now-a-days.
It was a slow day
And the sun was beating
On the soldiers by the side of the road
There was a bright light
A shattering of shop windows
The bomb in the baby carriage
Was wired to the radio
. . .it seemed like another world way back then.
wrangler wrote:
This song is soooo good for the ears...
This whole album is good for the ears, not a bad track at all.
I, too, CANNOT BELIEVE that Graceland is not a regular source of faves for RP listeners.
More Graceland, more Saints, and (some) Capeman. (and everything else Simon)
Could not have said it better myself. I hear PS is kind of a mean guy though...somehow, I just dont care when other artist who are jackasses with great music just get under my skin.
Great album, less-than-great song.
Great. Just great, with a capital G. And the entire album is a Gem, might well candidate for the best album of the 20th century.
I was wondering the same thing. This entire album is of incredible quality.
Not my favorite either. That's why I only gave it a 9.
This album has aged extremely well.