If somebody were to ask me to name the great songs on Paul Simon’s Graceland, I’d quickly run off a string of titles: ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,’ ‘Under African Skies,’ ‘Crazy Love Vol. 2,’ ‘Graceland.’
Then I’d take a breath and keep going with ‘The Boy in the Bubble,’ ‘You Can Call Me Al,’ ‘That Was Your Mother,’ ‘Homeless,’ ‘I Know What I Know,’ ‘All Around the World.’
The last song I’d mention, and one I might even forget it if put on the spot, is ‘Gumboots.’ And ‘Gumboots’ is a freaking amazing song.
I rarely pull out a classic CD like Graceland to listen to in my car because I’m usually cycling through newer music. But I did recently, listening to it through for the first time in a long time. I wasn’t surprised to discover that I still know every word by heart, and every nuance of the music.
What struck me this time through was ‘Gumboots.’ Maybe it felt like something new because it’s the Graceland track with the lowest profile. Whatever the reason, for three minutes it sounded like the best song ever made.
In a taxi heading downtown
Rearranging my position
On this friend of mine who had
A little bit of a breakdown
I said breakdowns come
And breakdowns go
So what are you going to do about it
That’s what I’d like to know
You don’t feel you could love me
But I feel you could
It was in the early morning hours
When I fell into a phone call
Believing I had supernatural powers
I slammed into a brick wall
I said hey, is this my problem?
Is this my fault?
If that’s the way it’s going to be
I’m going to call the whole thing to a halt
You don’t feel you could love me
But I feel you could
You don’t feel you could love me
But I feel you could
I was walking down the street
When I thought I heard this voice say
Say, ain’t we walking down the same street together
On the very same day
I said hey Senorita that’s astute
I said why don’t we get together
And call ourselves an institute
You don’t feel you could love me
But I feel you could
You don’t feel you could love me
But I feel you could
Meet Me In Montauk 
Great song from an album that really never gets old. I may have also not immediately listed this song, but mostly because I don’t associate its title with the song. For me, it’s the “I Was Having this Discussion…” song:)
I agree with Dana; this is a song I would cite as one of the very best on the album but never by a name I don’t associate with it at all. “You don’t feel you could love me, but I feel you could” may be one of the singularly most simple but provocative lines ever uttered in a Paul Simon song. And that’s saying something!
I
I love this album and never tire of listening to it. I love every song on it including this one.