"Mrs. Robinson" - Meanspeed Review of Cognitive Tempo of Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel, shows 2 Speeds, 100s of Rhythms - average tempo=183 1/3 bpm
Meanspeed Summary
song title="Mrs. Robinson"
performer=Simon & Garfunkel
composer=Paul Simon
Album=Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
Recording Source=iTunes® by Apple®
Download hardware=Apple® iBook G4
Intellectual Rights=SONY® MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC., 1972
File=m4p
Size=3.6 MB
Bit Rate=128 kbps
Sample Rate=44.100 kHz
Volume=(-7.9 dB)
Profile=Low Complexity
Channels=Stereo
FairPlay Version=2
Special Event=from Paul Simon's soundtrack for the film "The Graduate"
Beats Calibrated=4,128
Beats per trial=688
Total Time Elapsed=2,027.13 seconds
Mean Time per Trial=225.237 seconds
average beat length=0.327 seconds
Average Standard Tempo/Mean speed=183.3 beats per minute
I had the idea to calibrate this song while I was, excuse the phrase, sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon. I was, as mentioned in the song, literally 'going to a candidate's debate' with ubiquity in the mediasphere and the blogosphere - going full out, watching Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama make compelling cases for themselves. I was also thinking about the past, making it all rose-colored and great, as the brain has a way of releasing most pain memory.
This is a tricky song, in terms of rhythm. I propose on the top that the speed of the beat be counted with eighth notes rather than the usual quarter notes. Why is this 'tricky'? Because the rhythm works on two speed levels. The more driving, pronounced rhythm is the faster, hard driving "du du du du du du, du du du du du, du du du du"s [sp] which open up the vocal as beat. Behind the hard driving 183.3 beats per minute is the half speed quarter note rhythm section groove, where bass drum and snare drum notes are literally playing at half the speed of Paul Simon's twice-as-fast acoustic guitar and Garfunkel's similarly twice-as-fast "du du du du du du du du du du du du du du" [sp]s. Playing with the rhythm of the speed as the verse turns into the bridge and then the chorus - though one woman's bridge is another man's chorus! - Paul Simon was an innovator that was to be seen in the songs of the Police and the ground breaking percussion composition of drummer Stewart Copeland. Sting gets *complete* songwriting credit on some songs where Stewart's drum compositions are more important, or at least *as* important as the guitar playing as that of an Andy "Andrew" Summers.
I was curious as to what the song *meant* - because if I posted the lyrics and pointed to where each beat comes by number, I would be breaking the law in front of the cyberworld and beyond, so I do not do that. I am not beyond checking out the supposedly legal sites out these that get the clandestine "kevin" to send in the lyrics illegally, songmeanings.net illegally republishes them for profit, and laugh in Paul Simon's face. I'd love to see that team over there laugh to his *actual* face - then again, they don't seem the type that with whom Paul would spend any time talking.
The slideshow was prepared by Sophia St. John Newman - one of her finest!
Here are opinions taken, uh, used for educational purposes for, courtesy of the collective moral thinkers at songmeanings.net - sent to us by "pat" - so we, like, have no legal claim on any of the stuff pat sent us. It is interesting stuff, though! Thanks!
Used under the fair use doctrine, © 2008, songmeanings.net:
MRS. ROBINSON MEANS TO THESE 76 PEOPLE –
by SomthinCorporat on 05-01-2002 @ 12:03:37 AM
What does this song mean? I don't quite know. Did Mrs.Robinson do something bad? Who is she? And why do they talk about DiMaggio in the end?
by geirkbend on 05-01-2002 @ 08:50:58 PM
I don't really think it has any special meaning.
It was made for a movie,or at least used in the soundtrack. Maybe it's something with the theme in the movie? I don't know for sure
by spliphstar on 05-01-2002 @ 08:56:24 PM
this song is from the movie The Graduate, staring ann bancroft and dustin hoffman. long story short: guy meets girl, guy wants girl, girl engaged to other guy, so first guy has affair with girl's mother, Mrs. Robinson. Famous quote: "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?" it's a classic, and they are actually doing it on Broadway, but i'm not really interested in seeing kathleen turner naked.
by Bite Me on 05-13-2002 @ 12:34:23 PM
I hate the way they try to reference the Beatle song "I Am the Walrus" with "Coo coo ca-choo." It's supposed to be, "Goo goo g'joob," dammit!
by glamorous*sunrise on 05-17-2002 @ 01:07:25 PM
yeah, it's just about having an affair with a woman old enough to be your mom... i don't really understand all the details of the lyrics. the first part sounds like she's in some sort of institution (the files and the grounds), but the second part sounds like she's at home (the pantry and the sofa). i saw the movie three years ago and can't remember if the lines are specific to the film. the beatles reference is kind of lame, but simon and garfunkel are still one of my favorite "oldie" groups.
by radar3141 on 05-23-2002 @ 07:25:46 AM
this is of course about the grad. it was writen for it. but the part with DiMaggio is very clear. this song is all about the bad things people do and when they ask "where have you gone joe dimaggio?" they are not really asking for him, but rather for good values that he represented to america that seem to have been lost.
by midnightclown on 05-27-2002 @ 04:55:42 AM
This song isn't about the affair in the movie. Well, I guess it is, but it's more or less about Mrs. Robinson trying to live a life she can't. She still living as if she's young and carefree, and it's contrasted by mentioning what people her age may do, settle down, find religion, etc. Joe DiMaggio is both an example of former American value, but of that of her own generation. Joe DiMaggio and Mrs. Robinson are nearly the same age. He has retired by now, and faded from the spotlight, because he can't keep doing all the things he did as a youth(baseball), and because he no longer is there to be a role model for America's youth. But hey, that's just my opinion... and this is my brother's nickname. Oops...
by LeChatNoir on 07-02-2002 @ 04:40:49 PM
its about a lady in a mental institution....why else would one sroll the grounds...and its a secret that the robinsons have....she was crazy....MENTAL INSTITUTION!!!
by samanthas137 on 07-12-2002 @ 01:47:24 AM
The song can only be loosley fitted to the movie. This woman is in some kind of rehab center. either mental or alcohol (hide it). She is probably using alcohol to hide from growing old, and changing.
by eldermcguigan on 08-06-2002 @ 10:08:24 PM
Although I've never seen the movie, I am almost convinced that Mrs. Robinson is using marijuana or something.
"Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It's a little secret, just the Robinsons' affair
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids"
I think perhaps it is two voices in her head along with what going on in the world. Therefore she's been commited.
by 5ra on 08-11-2002 @ 07:58:22 PM
and where does Jesus fit in?
by VikingLoki on 08-19-2002 @ 05:21:34 PM
This song is about the state of the nation in the late 60's. Ms. Robinson is an archetype of the generation that could no longer uphold the "perfectness" of the '50s no matter how good their intentions. (hence why Jesus loves you, there were lots of wrongs committed with the best of intentions) The entire older generation of the 60's was in a sort of institution, desperately trying to maintain an unmaintainable false image. Hide it from the kids, they'll rip off the covers and expose everything. Government is not helping, anyway you lose. Also, an excellent note from the movie: Notice how after they "succeeded" in toppling the establishment's expectations they sat in the back of the bus looking like they had no clue about what to do next? That was 60's youth, and that conflict with one side wrong and the other side confused and directionless is what this song is about.
by holtdiggity on 08-24-2002 @ 04:38:19 AM
VikingLoki is absolutly correct on what this song means. It is on the soundtrack for Forest Gump, and a lot of the lyrics relate to the time period and the heppenings in the movie.
by WhiteMagic on 03-15-2003 @ 03:15:29 AM
Great Movie and great song! If you havent seen "The Graduate" Go see it! I just saw it at school! It rocked!!!!
by HostileApostile21 on 03-17-2003 @ 10:14:47 PM
The Graduate is a great movie i must admit...and this song is great too
by MelissaOK on 03-23-2003 @ 04:48:31 AM
I don't think coo-coo-cachu was meant to be a beatle's reference- simon is too origional for that - and the whole song is for the graduate - but unlike what spliphstar said - ben (dustin hoffman) first has the affair with mrs robinson and then falls in love with her daughter, elaine. mrs robinson is angry and jealous so she tells elaine that ben raped her. elaine tries to break it off but ben starts stalking her - its really showing how crazy mrs robinson is - about the rape and trying to make her life better by ruining someone else's.
by Featherfeat on 01-29-1967 @ 10:50:52 AM
Yeah, its not a reference from the beatles, the songs were released pretty close. Google was no use in finding "coo coo ca-choo".
by StarryEyedTears on 04-17-2003 @ 06:58:45 PM
good call viking - the first logical thing i read there.. but for everyone who tried to relate it to the graduate - uh, the song was written way before the movie but it does apply completely and thats why it was used, they changed the name of the mother to Mrs. Robinson to fit with the song. they're trying to hide everything - the lost values of the 50's the new ideas of the 60's and the affair (this is a Robinsons AFFAIR) can later be applied to the movie.. however you look at it, its still a crazy good song..!
by Karl on 05-10-2003 @ 02:44:08 PM
Great song. Alright so I read it's from a movie, but still. The rather absurd thought struck me: could Mrs. Robinson be Helen Robinson, Tom Robinson (the wrongfully accused and executed man)'s wife from the book 'To kill a mockingbird' by Harper Lee? After all, "heaven holds a place for those who pray."
by DancesWithSheep5 on 06-21-2003 @ 08:34:17 AM
Actually, I read a bio of Simon and Garfunkel, and they were asked by the producers of The Graduate to make some songs for it.. one of the songs was "Mrs. Robinson," but an incomplete version.. the complete version you see here was released after The Graduate was out and successful..
"Mrs. Robinson" wasn't written directly to the movie.. but, if it makes any difference, it was at least meant to refer to the older woman--whose name is Mrs. Robinson--with whom Ben has an affair. It's a loveless affair.. Ben, a recent college grad who believes he has no future, is trying to search for meaning in the world and he has an affair with Mrs. Robinson because it gives him something to do. Mr. Robinson is Ben's father's business partner, and Ben's father pushes Ben to date the Robinsons' daughter Elaine, against the wishes of Mrs. Robinson. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and when Ben falls in love with Elaine, Mrs. Robinson unleashes her wrath...
In any case, I'm no expert... but the movie and the song are both brilliant. Scenes and ideas from The Graduate have been copied and remade in countless movies, television shows and other various productions; they say sometimes that all (or at least most) of the best ideas have already been taken
by regan_89 on 06-27-2003 @ 07:38:37 AM
no idea what this song means. dont really care (lol how ignorant) all i know is i love it! im only 16... so ive got no clue about the graduate or that era.. but yeh i still love this song
by talac_121 on 07-01-2003 @ 04:20:17 AM
lol. This song is actually about a woman--Mrs. Robinson--who has a drinking problem. The first lines,
"We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home"...deal with the meetings Mr.s Robinson has to attend at an rehab center. The other lines, like, "Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It's a little secret, just the Robinsons' affair
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids"...talk about the drinking problem that Mr.s Robinson has and that she was forced into treatment because of her problem. At least, thats my take on it.
by sebastianquilt on 04-16-2004 @ 06:27:22 AM
Talac is right,
LISTEN TO ME PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This song is about a woman with a problem and is in an institution,. IT HAD NOTING TO DO WITH THE MOVIE THE GRADUTE , only that it appeared in it. It was written in 66' and Paul was asked if it could be used in The Graduate he redid it and said sure. THATS ALL!!! Listen to it!!!
Also, from Pauls MOUTH-- "Joe Dimaggio? Well I put that there because since she is a bit crazy I thought why not have her blurt out something COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to anything."
K FOLKS!!! And it makes sense because the line after that is
"What's that ya say Mrs. Robinson, joltin Joe has left and gone away! HEY HEY HEY!! HEY HEY HEY!
ALSo, Paul was not trying to mimic Lennon in I am the Walrus! He is too original for that like someone pointed out!.
THANK YOU! NO MORE COMMENTS HERE PLEASEE!!!!!
by LittleBriddie on 04-17-2004 @ 09:45:06 PM
sebastianguilt, just because you think you have discovered "the truth" about this song does not mean that the rest of us cannot post here. After all, the question is "What does this song mean TO YOU?" The song may not have been written for "The Graduate", but it was reformulated for it, so there is nothing wrong with trying to draw connections between the two. To me, though, this song is brilliant in its ability to get people happy and singing when the lyrics are quite dark. If the song is about being in an institution, then the first verse ("We'd like to help you learn to help yourself") is quite mocking of the methods use to help people overcome problems, whether pertaining to alcohol, drug, or mental instability. In the same vein, the references to Jesus and Heaven are also sarcastic, poking fun at the institutions in this country that are supposed to help people, but instead are often corrupt and unhelpful. Finally, the references to "hiding" something is metaphorical, refering to keeping secrets rather than drugs or alcohol in the house. Simon suggests putting "it in your pantry with your cupcakes" as a riff on the people who pretend to be good and holy but who are only hiding behind the facade. It's about being someone you aren't and not being honest. I love this song. It's beautiful and timeless.
by ctxcolormoniter on 05-04-2004 @ 05:25:10 PM
Truth - My grandma is the original 'Mrs. Robinson' mentioned in this song, it about her...actually, that is not true, i just said it to hack off sebastianguilt. I have no idea what this song is about.
by terrel on 07-02-2004 @ 08:46:09 PM
you know the lemonheads dont this song aswell?
by WillyWiluhps on 10-03-2004 @ 06:10:38 AM
Aren't they going to remake the movie? I heard that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were going to do it, but I could be wrong.
by yamahasixstring on 10-24-2004 @ 07:36:16 PM
Ok in response to Sebastian whatever, the song is about the movie. Paul Simon actually wrote all the music for the film, and this was the only song specifically written for it. It wasn't so much about the film as about the culture of the subjects. It was simply meant, as was the film, to reflect the youth culture of the late 60's. Don't let the fact that Paul Simon wrote the song for The Graduate take away from it though, its still a great song.
by JeffKaos71 on 11-25-2004 @ 12:30:06 AM
I have heard Paul say in an interview that when he was writing this song he really wanted to use Mickey Mantle in the lyrics not Joe Dimaggio. He said that Mickey Mantle was who he grew up with rooting for and he was a HUGE Mantle fan. but it didn't fit as well as Joe Dimagio because of the amount of syllables. "where have you gone Mickey Mantle" just doesn;t sound right.
He said this in an interview right after Joe Dimaggio died 5 years ago so he wasn't kidding around either.
by JeffKaos71 on 11-25-2004 @ 12:33:01 AM
Dimaggio was a little miffed when he heard this, since he was still very much alive even though he retired from baseball in 1951
by RestingPlace on 12-15-2004 @ 11:29:26 PM
If you read the insert of the movie 'The Graduate' you will find that Mr. Simon had been writing a song entitled 'Mrs. Roosevelt' (pardon any misspellings) a as a social commentary regarding life and times in his era. He was apporached about the movie and adapted 'Mrs. Roosevelt' to the picture, renaming it 'Mrs. Robinson'. Therefore, I think i t is a mixture between the social commentary Mr. Simon was shooting for and 'The Graduate'.
by leillar on 12-20-2004 @ 06:38:48 AM
The part beginning "We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files" seems out of place... I suspect along the theme of old age/values, they are talking about a nursing home. Thinking it's some sort of mental asylum or AA meeting, doesn't seem quite justified in relation to the rest of the song.
by fantomfathom on 12-31-2004 @ 04:22:37 PM
it's just a good song
by GrungyBeatle on 01-06-2005 @ 05:20:50 AM
Somehow I think this song is about a Nun preaching to "Mrs. Robinson" saying "Jesus loves you more than you will know..." at a convalescent home. Hence the line: "Heaven holds a place for those who pray" and "we'd like to know a little about you for our files" might denote that Mrs. Robinson is in the process of becoming a Nun also. The "Robinsons affair" must mean she's hiding something that wouldn't be allowed, I don't know maybe a drug. Oh my gosh, this sounds alot like the movie Girl Interuppted. How crazy?...
by zippygetshigh on 02-02-2005 @ 05:20:02 PM
wow all your comments are really interesting i never knew it could be about an alcholic woman bla bla bla. i do get the image of a desperate woman when i hear it kinda going through a 'no one will love me now im 50' mid life crises. Its really really good i didnt realise how good it was until i listened to it the other day on vinyl and i hadnt heard it for AGES :D oh and the lemonheads version is really good too well i like it anyway
by A Lack Of Color on 03-15-2005 @ 02:46:26 AM
I think the jesus thing comes with the familiarity of a housewive.
Maybe a cross necklace that she wears.
"Hide it in your pantry"
"it" could be the affair itself. Once again painting the awesome image of a milf
by Final straw on 03-24-2005 @ 05:17:26 PM
This song is sooooo good. Its about a woman who has an affair with a young man and no1 knws. "most of all youv got 2 hde it from the kids".
From the film the graduate and if u have seen american pie u will hear that some one has covered it and it is played wen stifllers mom gets with finch.
by green_day_FREAK on 04-03-2005 @ 10:55:27 PM
RestinPlace said something right : the song was originally named "Mr. Roosevelt" and was about Theodore Roosevelt...but i don't know about the rest...
it's a great song...i have the "Live in Central Park" version (the whole CD...) it's very good...
by The Hollow Soul on 04-18-2005 @ 10:15:42 AM
The Jesus part infers she doesn't need to kill herself over what she had done (whatever it is)
by starangel on 05-08-2005 @ 10:12:06 AM
It was originally going to be called Mrs. Roosevelt, but Mike Nichols asked Pul to change it for the movie so he did.
Besides that, it's easy to draw paralells between the song and movie. In the movie, mrs. Robinson is growing older (Trivia: She's actually only 5 years older than Hoffman!) and unstable. She wants to be young, so she instigates an affair with a son of her friend's.
Now the Mrs. Robinson in the movie is obviously questionable mentally and seems to have a problem with drink, and I think if you read the lyrics over with this in mind, you may come to the conclusion that she is in a Mental Institution or a Rehabilitation Centre. I did, and I think I'm pretty close to the truth.
The DiMaggio reference in my mind means Mrs Robinson (possibly while under prescribed drugs) is calling out from a hospital bed, 'Where have you gone Joe Di Maggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you' as a symbol of what is good in America, and as a symbol of my generation. THe nurse is trying to comfort her and tells her that Joltin' Joe has left and gone away, and the hey-hey-hey's are tying to comfort Mrs. R when she gets upset at this news.
Just a theory of course, anyone got any other thoughts (besides the obnoxious sebastianguilt)?
By the way, regan89, I know you're only 16 so the Graduate was before your time, but hey, I'm 14 and I loved it! I recommend you give it a try.
by sparticus150 on 05-29-2005 @ 06:19:38 AM
ur all wrong. this song refers to the JFk administartation. JFK could be both our best and wrst president. rumors of his affair with marylin monroe. "most of all u have to hide it from the kids" refers to this. also joe dimaggio was one of marylin monroes husbands. JFK then had marilyn monroe killd, when his reputation was at stake.
by gabirox on 06-13-2005 @ 07:09:36 PM
Whenever I hear this I thought of a lady at a drug rehab center...though, this song comes before the Graduate right? Because the whole: "Put it in the pantry with your cupcakes" doesn't really fit...unless, "it" is the affair. I think the rehab idea fits better.
by padrino on 07-20-2005 @ 08:43:09 PM
I've seen The Graduate and get all the tie-ins, but sparticus150 made an interesting reference. What if Mrs. Robinson is really referring to Marylin Monroe? I doubt that's the meaning, but it does make for an interesting comparison when you re-read the lyrics with Marylin in mind. She was someone that was adored by many but had her demons.
by Mashleh on 07-21-2005 @ 09:31:45 PM
I think it is social commentary. It is intertextual and it was also added to, to suit the movie the Graduate. It is about journey and how 'Mrs Robinison" deals with her journey... it could mean marilyn munroe and JFK, Marilyn got her slef into some hot water when she got involved wiht the kennedy's whether or not they had her assasinated is speculation, but they definately thought she was getting too close for comfort...
by famous_one on 07-22-2005 @ 06:56:53 PM
lol WillyWiluhps, i hope you said that to be funny cuz it was like flippoin hilarious :)
what i think this song means a bunch of different things at once...like different parts mean different things & everyone has basically posted all i was thinking about so yeah. great but kind of disturbing song.
by findsomepeace on 08-12-2005 @ 10:53:13 PM
i always thought she was an alcoholic or something "Hide it in a hiding place...you've got to hide it from the kids."
by ChildInTime on 08-15-2005 @ 01:39:38 PM
Love the intro of this song; it's so magical, with the acoustic guitar and when simon & garfunkel go 'ti ti ti to to to'.
Lovely !
This song makes me calm down.
O yeah, S & G sing this song wonderfully !! Their voices are so sweet !
by SaveFerris on 12-13-2005 @ 02:22:02 AM
i still think it's about the movie.
i'm watching it right now for the billionth time.
:)
by IDs_Ego on 01-12-2006 @ 10:53:13 PM
I've heard that the original title was "Mrs. Roosevelt", -as in First Lady Elanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D Roosevelt. The lyrics like "Going to the candidates' debate" make a lot more sense that way. The second stanza could be referring to moving into the White House, and the "it's a little secret / hide it from the kids" could refer FDR's long-term affair with his mistress, (in fact, he died with her, not Elanor) which was kept from the general public.
Baseball hero Joe DiMaggio came a full decade later, I don't see any connection to the Roosevelt part, but maybe Simon was referring to a loss of innocence. Maybe the original lines were different? But this song seems a little more coherent when you lookat it as a song to Elanor Roosevelt.
by Acey_Dearest on 01-23-2006 @ 02:32:29 AM
I remember reading somewhere that Joe DiMaggio was always annoyed by the song, something to the effect of "Why are they mentioning me?" and he never understood it.
Woman has affair, woman tries to hide it, and the singer mocks.
by wennabee on 02-01-2006 @ 01:54:22 PM
Blimey, this one stirred up a few thoughts didn't it! In the film 'The Graduate,' the song doesn't appear in its entirety. They actually sing 'stand up tall Mrs Robinson, god in heaven smiles on those who pray.' I think that is a beautiful piece of verse.
The Graduate is definitely in my all time top ten.
by ramonesrokmysox on 02-06-2006 @ 03:16:17 AM
every1 relates this song to the graduate well it was redone 4 tha graduate but its real meaning is about marlyn monroe she has a drinking problem cheks into a rehabilitation center under the name mrs. robinson the part that say she has to hide it from the kids obiously means she has to hide the alchol and y do they mention joe u ask?well apparently marlyn wouldnt talk so duh the media turned to her husband at that time "where have u gone joe demagio our nation turns its lonly eyes 2 u" that would b the real meaning enough crap about the graduate
by ramonesrokmysox on 02-06-2006 @ 03:18:35 AM
o and wen it says...What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away
(Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey)
he left her because of tha drinkin problem
by IDs_Ego on 02-08-2006 @ 10:16:56 PM
I mentioned that "Mrs. Robinson" was originally intended to be titled "Mrs Roosevelt", as in First Lady Elanor. In this day and age, Joe Di is best known for dating Marylyn Mnoroe and hawking Mr. Coffee in the 70's. However, he also had a legendary hitting streak in 1941, putting him right smack into the Roosevelt era. But he didn't exactly "leave and go away" after that, of course.
by hearts2ashes on 03-12-2006 @ 04:20:51 PM
this song is such a sarcastic social commentry. i love it. it's def abt a time in the past where everyone tried to be clean and perfect, but in reality, they were just as fucked up, they just hid it well.
"Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes" - best line. like i said, i love the sarcasm
by archietdb on 03-22-2006 @ 07:30:40 PM
Damn it people!! Can't you see? Agreed with others that it is not about the graduate, it is however not about a loon or a drunk. Paul Simon originately wrote it about "Mrs. Roosevelt." (FACT) He changed it to "Mrs. Robinson" for the movie. He may have written this about Eleanor Roosevelt. Some of the lyrics support this such as "We'd like to help you learn to help yourself. Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes " and "Going to the candidates debate." - Roosevelt was a female rights and black rights activist, always helping everyone but herself during the Great Depression.
As with the reference to Dimaggio - he was a reference to the stars gone by - he had finished his baseball carreer.
Amazing song though! Ageless!
by queenofhearts on 03-29-2006 @ 06:59:00 PM
This song was originally called Mrs Roosevelt and was written about Eleanor Roosevelt but they changed it to Mrs Robinson for The Graduate. It really isn't about the film at all.
by queenofhearts on 03-29-2006 @ 07:13:12 PM
Oh and Joe DiMaggio is a metaphor for better times. It takes place in the 30s and 40s when the depression and world war two hit so they're saying "where did the good times go", the good times being the 1920s.
by queenofhearts on 03-29-2006 @ 07:15:07 PM
Both of the about facts are true and not speculation. The Mrs Roosevelt thing is from Jeopardy and Simon and Garfunkel explained the Joe Dimaggio thing on their own because he was confused by it.
by blasphemy on 06-11-2006 @ 08:17:43 AM
I'm not entirely sure about the meaning of this song, but it sounds to me like they are talking about alcoholism or drug use and going to rehab.
by Deladeus on 06-27-2006 @ 06:43:26 PM
I'm not quite sure what I think about the lyrics of this song. I am caught between thinking it's about some kind of addiction and thinking that its a metaphor for the lost innocence of the '50's. It fits both ways. Whichever idea you stand by you have to admit, it's a great song.
by PEACE maker on 07-04-2006 @ 05:52:23 AM
mrs robinson was and older woman that seduced younger college men in an old movie called the graduate or something like that. i love this song it is deffinatly one of my all time favs. AUG 4th is mrs. robinson day.
by mryjane on 07-29-2006 @ 08:12:01 PM
This is only an opinion, but the meaning that I have extracted from this song is that Mrs. Robinson has a family, she has had an affair with someone a lot younger than her. she gets around in search of her lost youth her want to feel younger. She needs forgiveness (Jesus loves you more than you will know / heaven holds a place for those who pray)
Her husband is aware of what is going on, but realizes that she needs some help (just the robinsons affair /most of all you have to keep it from the kids) Mrs. Robinson is a very confused woman with a lot of secrets(hide it in your pantry with your cupcakes)
Just my opinion......everyone is entitled to theirs :)
by Prisoner.I.Was on 09-04-2006 @ 03:17:34 PM
This song was actually called 'Mrs Roosevelt' but they changed it for the movie, hence why this is about being a mental institution.
by AnInvertedLove on 09-24-2006 @ 01:22:38 PM
I'm going with the social commentary interpretation of the song. It just doesn't really fit too well with the Graduate or with some addiction problem for me. The Joe DiMaggio thing works much better as a metaphor for the picture perfect facade covering (or predating) the tumultuous reality.
by spicer1629 on 10-03-2006 @ 12:05:31 AM
Prisoner: yes this song was originally called Mrs Roosevelt, but only because it was actually written about Eleanor Roosevelt, but when the final version was recorded, it was changed to Mrs. Robinson to fit with the movie The Graduate. As for Joe DiMaggio: His name was used simply because it fit better than any other name (it had the correct number of syllables). Those lines were used to exemplify how the media alters and misrepresents how we percieve our heroes, especially since at the time presidential scandals appeared in the news quite often (a reference back to Eleanor Roosevelt, who is (in case you didn't know) the wife of president Franklin D. Roosevelt). This song doesn't actually have anything to do with the movie, other than the fact that it appeared in it.
by tranquilasadove on 10-18-2006 @ 08:26:12 AM
I'm not really sure what to say about the song being about Mrs. Roosevelt. In it's own cotext, the song seems to be about the loss of innocence of the post-war traditions to the unstable times of the 1960's. Joe Di Maggio represents the older, more wholesome times after World War II while Mrs. Robinson is an example of how the traditions have been perverted and ruined. For instance, rather than being a faithful wife and mother, she's had an affair. Another instance of this is how she seems to not have an interest in Jesus and just what could be called "common decency".
It's a great song though. Really sums up the state of things. Quite insightful.
by Aikidog on 10-30-2006 @ 07:45:09 AM
I think even if this song was written about a Mrs. Roosevelt it still works very well.
You see if you remember in the movie, the guy and the girl escape on the bus. That was it. Now imagine for instance if they got married. Ol' Mrs. Robinson would have gone nuts. The kids they mention in the song are not HER kids but her grandkids, who can never be told why Grandma is in mental institution. If you read it like that it makes PERFECT sense. Its sort of like a "what happened later" type of song................
by alwaysanole on 11-01-2006 @ 04:04:46 PM
I find it ironic they refer to Joe Dimaggio for his "good values" considering it is well documented that he beat the shit out of Marylin Monroe on a regular basis.
by SnwBorder52 on 02-09-2007 @ 07:55:45 AM
The song is about an elder lady entering into a retirement home, not a mental institution. She isn't crazy, just old.
Thats the literal meaning of it, if you want metaphorical, go with Vikingloki's explanation.
by AntBMSU on 02-20-2007 @ 08:18:10 PM
Thats exactly right. Have you guys actually listened to Bookends?
by Shelza on 02-23-2007 @ 02:34:29 PM
This is my theme song....I love it!!! It really has no meaning to it except the pact that it is a great song.
by peaceandcandyfloss on 04-20-2007 @ 05:05:10 PM
hmmm i watched this documentary that the director of the graduate spoke in...
basically he said they asked paul simon to write the lyrics but he only wrote the chorus at that time. the director (Mike Nichols) then told Paul Simon he should write the rest of it for commercial reasons but for some reason he had doubts about it and didn't. then when the movie came out he saw that it had made a huge hit and wrote the rest of the song, making it a big hit too... and if you don't believe me go out and find the dvd of the graduate. its on the special features...
and its not about marijuanna! or drugs!
and its not making a reference to the Beatles song!
hmm i think its just generally about Mrs Robinson being trapped in a situation, not being able to connect with anyone and so, on a level, is a bit insane...
by peaceandcandyfloss on 04-20-2007 @ 05:14:42 PM
it was originally a song called mrs roosevelt. paul simon had started working on it and sort of threw it out/put it aside and when he was under pressure to write a song for mike nichols, art garfunkel remebered mrs roosevelt and so they changed it to mrs robinson and only used the chorus. as i said before...
by askhams on 05-14-2007 @ 03:03:38 AM
I think there are two threads running through song. SOme about Mrs. Robinson, and some about MR Hoffmans character. 'We like to know a little about you for our files','going to the candidates debate', 'take a strole around the grounds'. Thats all about his first week at university. Graduate, uni, it does exactly what it says on the tin!
by supersonicemt on 10-18-2007 @ 03:49:39 PM
TO me this song is talking about back then, when Prayer was on the verge of being not allowed in schools. Mrs Robinson is secretly praying, and she can't tell "the kids" (her students) because they might tlel on her - and basically that6 God is going to bless her for going against the flow and praying.
by heartinakiln on 10-29-2007 @ 10:00:15 PM
it is about mrs roosevelt.
"Going to the candidates debate"
what else could that refer to?
"Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home"
the white house grounds maybe?
it may have other meaning though as well. but that's what it always strikes me as being about. i think someone told paul simon to change the lyric from roosevelt to robinson somewhere before it was made, and he did.
by [music is life] on 11-13-2007 @ 08:17:22 PM
i know i'm about three & a half years too late in saying this, but sebastianguilt, come on...
i agree with Little Briddie - "what does this song mean to -you-"? i'm sure you're very happy that you're the first person who's uncovered the real meaning behind this song, but your self-congratulation is neither wanted nor needed here, thank you. a little less of the "THANK YOU! NO MORE COMMENTS HERE PLEASEE!!!!!" would be appreciated :).
but anyway! Mrs. Robinson. what an interesting song! it's so chirpy and has such lovely harmonies but i'd only really thought about the more sinister meaning today, anI i've been listening to S & G since i was very small! i think it is about not being truthful to yourself and hiding behind a facade rather than drugs or alcohol problems but i think the mental institute idea is interesting. more thoughts please!
by candyluna on 11-30-2007 @ 01:20:12 AM
WELL...what have the artist said about the song?
Labels: Anne Bancroft, Art Garfunkel, clean hands doctrine, Dustin Hoffman, Mike Nichols, Paul Simon, songmeanings.net, The Graduate
posted by Ian Andrew Schneider at
1/29/2008 03:42:00 PM -
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