B-side "I Know What I Know" Format 7"
12" Length 5:45 | Released April 1987 (1987-04) Genre Worldbeat Label Warner Bros. | |
"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the fourth single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. The song features guest vocals from the South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Contents
Background
"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" was written when Simon went to South Africa. While he was there, he gathered various music from locals, and risked possible imprisonment due to the apartheid regime. Upon returning to New York, Simon finished the album with the artists he brought back from South Africa, and performed live on Saturday Night Live on May 10, 1986. During the performance, Simon sung live to the backing instrumental track featured on the album while Ladysmith Black Mombazo mimed their parts. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing in Zulu on this track. Their refrain roughly translates to: "It's not usual but in our days we see those things happen. They are women, they can take care of themselves."
Personnel
Covers
The song has been covered by the Soweto String Quartet and features on their greatest hits collection. English singer MIKA performed a live piano cover of the song on his BBC Radio 2 show The Art of Song in March 2016.