Kodachrome

General CommentKodachrome is a brand of film that is used to produce slides (through the K-14 process). At one point (a couple decades ago), it was THE medium to use for people wanting the best color and archival capacities. Not necessarily anymore, though, since the E6 process has matured.

Anyway, so many great thoughts in this song... I love this line, "And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none." How brilliant --- the emphasis on his lack of education is exaggerated by his incorporation of bad grammar.

I agree with firenexus - he's begging his "mother" (who, in herself, is probably symbolic for the nuturing elements of the universe) not to take away the memories that he's exaggerated in his mind. The real events would probably never match the importance and details that his imagination has given them. Like when you think about a great lovemaking experience with a girl from your past. It always seems to have been more magical than it probably was at the time.

One other thing I like about this metaphor -- "bring them together for one night," can almost be seen as the way you view slides in a slide projector. "Bring them together," like you would have a box of slides, with all the pretty pictures neatly stacked, one-after-the-next.

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General CommentWhen I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all

Best lyrics ever. This song is about how nostalgia doesn't match reality but we still prefer nostalgia and memory.

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General CommentI always took mamma as being his girl. He's telling her not to take his kodachrome, metaphorically his good thoughts of her. As he states in the 2nd verse, he knows once things go sour, he'll never look back at her as fondly as he looks at her now. The first verse seems to me to be saying something more like, "hey i might not be a genius, but i think i can see when things are going to shit". IMO he basically equates kodachrome to love or the though of being in love. When you're in love, it makes you think all the world is a sunny day. He wants to take a picture to try to capture that moment and those good feelings.

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General CommentI have to say i always thought that Kodachrome was a euphemism for weed. I see now that it probably isn't but I'm pretty let down by that. Without thinking of it as a euphemism it sounds like a cheesy TV ad.

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General CommentI'm surprised no one has mentioned my take on it yet. I had always assumed it was a song about drug use. The color film presents the world as beautiful and focuses attention on the specific but simple beauties like the "green of summer" and makes you think "all the world is a sunny day." "Don't take my Kodachrome away" isn't so much about addiction as it is not to take away the only thing that makes life beautiful and bearable, hence the desperation in the coda.

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General CommentYou can pretty much read drug-use into any song, if you want. But at least you made it half-interesting, papker :)

Yes, I think the song is about stark reality versus imagination. And trying to balance the two, "please don't take my Kodachrome away."

It doesn't matter if you're a scientist, an engineer, a medical-researcher, a photographer, a painter -- if you want to accomplish something new, you need at least a little creative / semi-original thinking. High school tries to take that away. That's only good if you're a straight-laced accountant, lawyer, or brick-layer and, even then, you might need a little creative thinking sometimes.

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My InterpretationI think it's about living in a fantasy instead of reality. Through the eyes of a view-finder. He's conscious that it's just a representation but wants to continue to be blinkered by it it because the 'bigger picture' of true reality is too hard to face. There Goes Rhymin' Simon is one of my favourite albums of any artist.

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General CommentHe's saying he likes the different colors of the spectrum. The kodachrome was a camera. Don't take his camera away it gives him reminders.

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General Commentthis song makes me feel all fuzzy inside.

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General Commentcatherineks is right on the money. it's a light song that brings to mind a warm summer sunset. but paul also gives it substance. the "crap in high school" part is genius (as most of us can likely attest). the second verse takes the cake, in my humble opinion. the reflection on all the girls he's ever known and the idea of bringing them all together...sweet nostalgia. it's also ingenius to incorporate photography terms in the midst of it. "everything looks worse in black and white" classic song, paul simon.

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