A Blast from the Past: Paul Simon’s Hit Song “Kodachrome”
After sharing that short feature yesterday on the last roll of Kodachrome, it seems appropriate to share this once-super-popular song written about the same film.
Simply titled, “Kodachrome,” it was written by American musician Paul Simon after the first breakup of Simon & Garfunkel.
Since Kodachrome was a trademarked owned by Kodak, Simon was required to note this fact on the album, and also include a registered trademark symbol (®) after the song’s title. Kodak would later use the song on television commercials promoting the film.
Here’s the album version of the song:
When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of edu—cation
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wallKodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome awayIf you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they’d never match
my sweet imagination
everything looks WORSE in black and whiteKodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome awayMama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome awayMama don’t take my Kodachrome
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome awayMama don’t take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Mama don’t take my KodachromeMama don’t take my Kodachrome away
