Graceland

Can I confess that I've struggled with this lyric?

The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar

I am following the river down the highway through the cradle of the Civil War 

I'm going to Graceland

I know it's idiomatic, but if you are "following the river down the highway," aren't you going south? And if you are going south to Memphis, you aren't anywhere near the Delta -- so what the f*ck would you know of how it is shining?

And if you are going north instead, and can see the delta, I don't think the cradle of the Civil War is anywhere nearby.  Charleston? Sure. Richmond? Might work. Atlanta? Maybe a stretch, but I'd hear the argument. The south side of Memphis? Nope. Hell, even Harper's Ferry has a better claim than Memphis.