Mrs. Robinson
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
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
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
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 Robinson's affair
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this, you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
The song "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel was written for the movie "The Graduate" and tells the story of an older woman who seduces a younger man. The lyrics begin with a sarcastic salute to Mrs. Robinson, and the line "Jesus loves you more than you will know" is meant to highlight her hypocrisy as a devout Christian who is leading a double life. The chorus then gives a blessing to Mrs. Robinson, while also implying that Heaven may be the only place that will accept her if her secret affairs were ever exposed.
The next verse is almost like an interview, with an insincere questions about Mrs. Robinson's interests and activities. The young man is only interested in learning more about her in order to have an affair with her. The lyrics suggest that Mrs. Robinson is lonely and looking for attention, as evidenced by the description of “sympathetic eyes” surrounding her.
The final verse contains cultural references, including a depiction of a lazy Sunday afternoon and a reference to Joe DiMaggio. The line “Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you” implies that the nation is searching for a hero, but there are none to be found. The song ends with the realization that in the end, there are no heroes or role models, and that the young man will continue to pursue Mrs. Robinson despite the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
A toast to Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
An expression of support and encouragement
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Exclamation of enthusiasm
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Wish for well-being and happiness
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Encouragement to maintain spiritual faith
Hey, hey, hey
Exclamation of enthusiasm
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files
Request for information
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Offer of assistance and empowerment
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Emphasis on supportive community
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home
Encouragement to be comfortable
Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Advice to conceal something
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
Suggesting a secret location
It's a little secret, just the Robinson's affair
Acknowledging the private nature of something
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids
Emphasis on confidentiality
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
A playful reference to Mrs. Robinson
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
A casual moment in time
Going to the candidates debate
An upcoming political event
Laugh about it, shout about it
An invitation to express oneself
When you've got to choose
When faced with a decision
Every way you look at this, you lose
A pessimistic outlook
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A lament for a lost hero
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Hope for a return to better times
Woo, woo, woo
Exclamation of emotional pain
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Question to Mrs. Robinson
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away
Confirmation of Joe DiMaggio's absence
Hey, hey, hey
Exclamation of enthusiasm
Hey, hey, hey
Exclamation of enthusiasm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MondeSerenaWilliams
LYRICS
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
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
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hide it in the hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It's a little secret just the Robinson's affair
Most of all you've got to hide it from the kids
Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates' debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Jolting Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
@vincenzol.2813
Lyrics: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
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
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
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 Robinson's affair
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this, you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
@evvelzaman_icinde
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know, wo wo wo
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
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
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know, wo wo wo
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
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
Coo coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know, wo wo wo
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates' debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at it you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you, wo wo wo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson
'Joltin Joe' has left and gone away, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
@virvisquevir3320
“Mrs. Robinson,” was originally titled, “Mrs. Roosevelt.” The song and had absolutely nothing to do with the plot of The Graduate. When director Mike Nichols said he needed another song for his movie, Paul Simon told him that they were too busy touring and that he only had “a song about times past, about Mrs. Roosevelt and Joe DiMaggio and stuff,” but it wasn’t finished yet. It was originally a tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt and the passing of an era; a more innocent era to be exact.
When Nichols realized "Mrs. Roosevelt" had the same number of syllables as “Mrs. Robinson”, he asked Simon to change the title and the song “Mrs. Robinson” was born.
Joe DiMaggio Wasn't Wild About His Inclusion In The Lyrics
The song asks "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?" then immediately answers itself "Joltin' Joe has left and gone away." The former New York Yankee and three-time MVP was puzzled by the lines, and he told Simon just that when they happened to meet. Paul Simon wrote of the encounter and conversation in a New York Times article marking DiMaggio's passing in 1999:
"What I don't understand," [DiMaggio] said, "is why you ask where I've gone. I just did a Mr. Coffee commercial, I'm a spokesman for the Bowery Savings Bank and I haven't gone anywhere."
I said that I didn't mean the lines literally, that I thought of him as an American hero and that genuine heroes were in short supply. He accepted the explanation and thanked me. We shook hands and said good night.
Simon admitted in the editorial that he didn't quite nail the explanation to DiMaggio, and went on at more length:
In the 50's and 60's, it was fashionable to refer to baseball as a metaphor for America, and DiMaggio represented the values of that America: excellence and fulfillment of duty (he often played in pain), combined with a grace that implied a purity of spirit, an off-the-field dignity and a jealously guarded private life. ... He was the antithesis of the iconoclastic, mind-expanding, authority-defying 60's, which is why I think he suspected a hidden meaning in my lyrics. The fact that the lines were sincere and that they've been embraced over the years as a yearning for heroes and heroism speaks to the subconscious desires of the culture. We need heroes, and we search for candidates to be anointed.
https://groovyhistory.com/original-name-simon-and-garfunkel-song
@bigboredthing
Had a teacher in primary school called Mrs Robinson. The whole school (only about 100 kids) got together and sung this to her on her 50th birthday. I'll never forget that day.
@MichaelJ44
Unless you get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
@themoreyouknowfools4974
That is amazing. Sounds like something that would happen in a tv show
@Raccoon469
I want to say r/thathappened but I feel like this REALLY happened
@MASTEROFEVIL
200th like
@SStupendous
@@MichaelJ44 It's YOU!
@ClassicFolkSongs1539
When this song was at its height, my sister was 19 years old, dying from cancer. I was 17, and left school to spend a dreary winter with her in a Chicago hospital where they were doing experimental chemo. Late night, we'd order a pizza to be delivered to the ER in the basement, because nobody was allowed on the 8th floor cancer ward that late. We'd ride the elevator down and back, harmonizing this song together. She died too soon after that. I'm in my 70s now, but when I hear this song, I'm 17, in an elevator with great acoustics, holding a pizza, and singing my heart out with my best friend.
@afgtp0906
thats was beatifully written. Thanks for sharing that.
@angru5oklok
So sorry for your loss!
@alissfrancisDC
😢