Songfacts®:

• Paul Simon tells the story here of a rock musician unable to gain entry into his own gig, as he lacks the wristband required. He compares the 6' 8" bouncer barring him from the concert to St. Peter at the pearly gates. "It's not a true story," Simon told Rolling Stone. "But I know plenty of people with this story and there have been times where I've been stopped backstage and asked to see a pass."
• The song is a collaboration with the Italian electronic dance music artist Clap! Clap! whom Simon was introduced to by his son, Adrian. The pair met up in late July 2015 when Simon had a gig in Milan, Italy and he and Clap! Clap! worked together via email over the course of making the album. As well as this tune, Clap! Clap! contributed to two other tracks on Stranger to Stranger, "The Werewolf" and "Street Angel."