Origin of "myth of fingerprints"

[SFBAguy]

I first heard this intriguing expression in a Paul Simon song, then later as the title of a movie.

But where did it come from? Did Paul Simon make it up for his song or is it older than that?

Thanks all!

[Wanderlust]

Sounds like the Myth of Sisyphus -
The king of Corinth was condemned to forever roll a huge stone up a hill in Hades on to have it roll downagain when he reached the top.

Would that fit the song?

[jessicala]

The song is called "The Myth of Fingerprints" or if you want to get technical, "All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints" and it's from 1986. What's the date on the movie?

[panamajack]

This is not necessarily related to the song, but I did find an uncredited quote that may be related at a website (http://artemis.austinc.edu/admin/rellife/AColyte/may99.htm) that discussed the song and its popular conception. How's that for dubious origins? The (unreferenced) quote is as follows :
...and I think direction is sufficient. When you have a strong sense of direction, then meaning clings to it in some way. People bring meaning to it, which is more interesting to me than for me to tell the meaning to somebody.--Paul Simon


For the benefit of wanderlust & others who may be confused ever since the watermelon :

Most people's idea seems to be that the Myth of Fingerprints is the idea that people think they are unique when they actually have a lot in common with other people. The song includes lines like "I've seen them all and they're all the same" and "it's not just me, and it's not just you, this is all around the world".

At one time I thought the myth was that fingerprints would never disappear, a metaphor for a need to leave an impression of oneself on the world.

[SFBAguy]

JayLa, I meant to imply that the movie CAME OUT after Simon's song, not just that I had SEEN it afterward. Ah well. It was released last year. That the phrase had been used by two different artists had me wondering. But it seems like maybe Simon made it up himself. Still, an interesting concept.

Panamajack, thanks for the link; it provided some food for thought (munch, munch).