“Graceland” is a duet between Willie Nelson and Paul Simon, featured on Nelson’s 1993 album Across the Borderline, released by Columbia Records. Originally written and performed by Simon for his acclaimed 1986 album Graceland, the song initially peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1987. Nelson’s version, though not issued as a single, stands out as a compelling cross-genre collaboration that showcases his interpretive depth. Lasting 4 minutes and 43 seconds, the track narrates a symbolic journey to Elvis Presley’s Memphis home, with the refrain: “I’m going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.”
Recording sessions took place in 1992 at Pedernales Recording Studio in Austin, Texas, with Simon, Don Was, and Roy Halee sharing production duties. The Family band—featuring Mickey Raphael on harmonica, Jody Payne on guitar, and Bobbie Nelson on piano—was joined by virtuoso fiddler Mark O’Connor. The arrangement marries Nelson’s country sensibilities with Simon’s global musical influences, led by Raphael’s harmonica and layered rhythmic guitar work, staying true to the song’s narrative core. Across the Borderline eventually climbed to No. 15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold over 300,000 copies by 1995, according to RIAA figures.
The collaboration was sparked by a joint performance at the 1992 Farm Aid benefit, where Simon and Nelson shared the stage for “Graceland.” Inspired by the chemistry, they decided to bring the track into the studio for Nelson’s next project. Simon, who had long respected Nelson’s storytelling style, co-produced the track with the goal of uniting their distinct musical voices. They later performed the song together on Saturday Night Live in 1993—joined by O’Connor and Was—and again during a televised CBS special celebrating Nelson’s 60th birthday. As noted in a 2019 Rolling Stone article, the partnership was a defining moment on Across the Borderline, underscoring Nelson’s ease in blending genres while staying authentic.
In addition to Simon’s original 1986 recording, “Graceland” has been covered by various artists, including The Mavericks, who offered a country-pop version in 1995 on Music for All Occasions, per SecondHandSongs. Nelson and Simon’s duet inspired a live cover by the Zac Brown Band during a Nashville benefit in 2011, which was captured in a widely shared YouTube video. The song has made appearances in popular media as well—it was used in a road trip scene in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, and performed in a 2020 episode of The Masked Singer. Posts from Paul Simon’s official X (formerly Twitter) account in 2021 and 2023 reminisced about their 1992 Farm Aid performance, highlighting the track’s enduring appeal.
“Graceland” was a highlight of Nelson’s set at his 1993 Fourth of July Picnic in Austin, Texas, and a live rendition from a 1993 Austin City Limits episode was later released on the 2010 album Live at Austin City Limits: 1993. The song also featured at Farm Aid 1994 in New Orleans and was later included in the 2019 PBS documentary Willie Nelson: Cross-Genre Legends, which explored his legacy of genre-defying collaborations. Today, “Graceland” remains a notable part of Nelson’s live performances, often appearing alongside other collaborative tracks that reflect his musical openness and storytelling finesse.
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Lyric
The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar
I am following the river down the highway
Through the cradle of the Civil WarI’m going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
I’m going to Graceland
Poor boys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to GracelandMy 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 GracelandShe 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 foreheadAnd she said losing love is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you’re blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blowI’m going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
I’m going to Graceland
Poor boys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to GracelandAnd 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