Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. On… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, Simon's career has spanned six decades. Born in New Jersey, Simon grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City and developed an interest in rock music in his teens.
He began performing with his schoolfriend Art Garfunkel in 1956; together the two came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. The duo's blend of folk and rock music in hits like "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America", and "The Boxer" served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their career together peaked with their last album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), at one point the best-selling album of all time. Throughout his subsequent solo career, Simon has continued to explore an eclectic mixture of genres, including gospel, reggae, soul, and more. His celebrated 1970s output—comprising Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)—kept him in the public spotlight and saw critical and commercial acclaim, spawning the hits "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
Across his life, Simon has intermittently reunited with Garfunkel for several tours, including the famed Concert in Central Park. The widely lauded Graceland (1986) became Simon's biggest album of his career, melding his rock sound with worldbeat flavors; its single "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's top hits. A sequel of sorts, The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), preceded his own successful Concert in the Park, attended by a half-million fans. That decade, Simon focused his energies on a Broadway musical The Capeman (1997), which was poorly received. In the first quarter of the next century, Simon continued to record and tour; his later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011), and Stranger to Stranger (2016), have introduced him to new generations. He retired from touring in 2018. His most recent work, Seven Psalms, will see release in May 2023.
Simon is among the most acclaimed musicians and songwriters in popular music, and one of the world's best-selling music artists, both for his solo work and with Garfunkel. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland, have seen induction into National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress crowned him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He is a co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, a nonprofit that provides medical care to children.
In an in-depth interview reprinted in American Songwriter, Simon discusses the craft of songwriting with music journalist Tom Moon. In the interview, Simon explains the basic themes in his songwriting: love, family and social commentary (as well as the overarching messages of religion, spirituality and God in his lyrics). Simon explains the process of how he goes about writing songs in the interview: "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."
He began performing with his schoolfriend Art Garfunkel in 1956; together the two came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. The duo's blend of folk and rock music in hits like "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America", and "The Boxer" served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their career together peaked with their last album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), at one point the best-selling album of all time. Throughout his subsequent solo career, Simon has continued to explore an eclectic mixture of genres, including gospel, reggae, soul, and more. His celebrated 1970s output—comprising Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)—kept him in the public spotlight and saw critical and commercial acclaim, spawning the hits "Mother and Child Reunion", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
Across his life, Simon has intermittently reunited with Garfunkel for several tours, including the famed Concert in Central Park. The widely lauded Graceland (1986) became Simon's biggest album of his career, melding his rock sound with worldbeat flavors; its single "You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's top hits. A sequel of sorts, The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), preceded his own successful Concert in the Park, attended by a half-million fans. That decade, Simon focused his energies on a Broadway musical The Capeman (1997), which was poorly received. In the first quarter of the next century, Simon continued to record and tour; his later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011), and Stranger to Stranger (2016), have introduced him to new generations. He retired from touring in 2018. His most recent work, Seven Psalms, will see release in May 2023.
Simon is among the most acclaimed musicians and songwriters in popular music, and one of the world's best-selling music artists, both for his solo work and with Garfunkel. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland, have seen induction into National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress crowned him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He is a co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, a nonprofit that provides medical care to children.
In an in-depth interview reprinted in American Songwriter, Simon discusses the craft of songwriting with music journalist Tom Moon. In the interview, Simon explains the basic themes in his songwriting: love, family and social commentary (as well as the overarching messages of religion, spirituality and God in his lyrics). Simon explains the process of how he goes about writing songs in the interview: "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."
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Paul Simon Lyrics
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover "The problem is all inside your head", she said to…
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover lyrics The problem is all inside your head she said to…
A Charmed Life Some people, some people Never had no storm or strive Some p…
A Church Is Burning A church is burning The flames rise higher Like hands that a…
A Different Kind of Love Baby we got a different kind of love Not just a…
A Good Foundation for Love A boy like me A girl like you Two hearts that beat Forever…
A Hole in the Ground Some people say Jesus that's the ace in the hole But…
A Most Peculiar Man He was a most peculiar man That's what Mrs. Reardon says…
A Simple Desultory Philippic I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored I been John O'Hara'…
A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored I been John O'Hara…
A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) I been Norman Mailered, Maxwell Taylored. I been John O'Hara…
Ace in the Hole Some people say Jesus that's the ace in the hole But…
Adios Hermanos It was the morning of October 6th, 1960 I was wearing…
Adios Hermanos %5BEdit%5D It was the morning of October 6th, 1960 I was wearing…
All Around the The World or the Myth of Fingerprints Over the mountain Down in the valley Lives a former talk-sho…
All Because Of You I went to my doctor I said Give me some relief He said T…
Allergies (Maladies) oh, melodies Allergies to dust and rain Maladies,…
America Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together I've got…
American Tune Many's the time I've been mistaken And many times confused Y…
Another Galaxy On the morning of her wedding day When no one was…
April Come She Will April, come she will When streams are ripe and swelled…
Armistice Day On Armistice Day The Philharmonic will play But the songs th…
Back Seat Driver Okay now listen baby I′m gonna take you for a spin We're…
Beautiful Snowman sittin' in the sun doesn't have time to waste He…
Bernadette Whoa I got time on my hands tonight You're the girl…
Bigger and Better Things Holding hands at a movie show -- rides in a car Cherry…
Biko September '77 Port Elizabeth weather fine It was business as…
Born At The Right Time Down among the reeds and rushes A baby boy was found His…
Born in Puerto Rico I was born in Puerto Rico We came here when I…
Boy in the Bubble It was a slow day And the sun was beating On the…
Bridge Over Troubled Water When you're weary, feeling small, When tears are in your…
Call Me Al A man walks down the street He says, "why am I…
Can I Forgive Him I am Esmeralda Agron, senora I know I've no right to…
Can't Run But I can't run but I can walk much faster than…
Cars Are Cars Cars are cars All over the world Cars are cars All over the…
Cecilia Cecilia, you're breaking my heart You're shaking my confiden…
Cecília Celia, you're breaking my heart You're shaking my confidence…
Coast A family of musicians took shelter for the night In the…
Congradulations Congratulations! Oh, seems like you've done it again, And I…
Cool Cool River Moves like a fist through traffic Anger and no one can…
Cool Papa Bell It turns out to be a great thing for me I…
Crazy Love Fat Charlie the Archangel Sloped into the room He said I hav…
Darling Lorraine The first time I saw her I couldn't be sure But the…
Dazzling Blue Truth or lie, the silence is revealing An empty sky, a…
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her (A-wa) o kodwa you zo-nge li-sa namhlange (A-wa a-wa) si-bon…
Duncan Couple in the next room bound to win a prize They've…
El Condor Pasa I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail Yes I would If…
Every Girl A heart is something no one just can buy Not even…
Every Night When I Turn Out The Light Every night when I turn out the light I tenderly kiss…
Everything About It Is a Love Song Locked in a struggle for the right combination of words…
Everything Put Together Falls Apart Paraphernalia Never hides your broken bones And I don't know…
Father and Daughter If you leap awake In the mirror of a bad…
Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover "The problem is all inside your head", she said to…
Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall Through the corridors of sleep Past the shadows dark and dee…
Fortune Teller Cookies Ni ni ni nu nu nu Ni ni ni nu Ni ni…
Further to Fly There may come a time When you'll be tired As tired as…
Getting Ready For Christmas Day From early in November to the last week of December I…
God Bless the Absentee Lord I am a working man And music is my trade I'm…
Gone At Last The night was black, the roads were icy Snow was…
Graceland The Mississippi Delta Was shining like a national guitar I a…
Gumboot I was having this discussion In a taxi heading downtown Re…
Gumboots I was having this discussion In a taxi heading downtown Rear…
Have A Good Time Yesterday it was my birthday I hung one more year on…
He Was My Brother He was my brother Five years older than I He was my…
Hearts & Bones One and one-half wandering Jews Free to wander wherever they…
Hey Schoolgirl There may come a time When you'll be tired As tired as…
Homeless Emaweni webaba Silale maweni Webaba silale maweni Webaba sil…
Homeward Bound I'm sittin' in the railway station Got a ticket to my…
Horace and Pete Hell no I can't complain about my problems I'm oka…
How Can You Live In The Northeast? We heard the fireworks. Rushed out to watch the sky. Happy…
How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns In the blue light Of the Belvedere Motel Wondering as the te…
Hurricane Eye Tell us all a story About how it used to be Make…
I Am a Rock A winter's day In a deep and dark December I am alone Gazing…
I Do It For Your Love We were married on a rainy day The sky was yellow And…
I Don Acts of kindness, like breadcrumbs in a fairytale forest Le…
I Don't Believe Acts of kindness, like breadcrumbs in a fairytale forest Lea…
I Know What I Know She looked me over And I guess she thought I was…
In A Parade Some nights the er is quiet as an ekg But tonight…
Jesus Is the Answer [ INSTRUMENTAL ]…
Jonah Half an hour change your strings and tune up Sizing the…
Just to Be With You I could sail across the sea Finding islands old and new I…
Kathy's Song I hear the drizzle of the rain Like a memory it…
Killer Wants to Go to College 1st inmate Killer wants to go to college He wants to…
Killer Wants To Go To College II Sal I know you're trying to protect me Searching for another…
Kodachrome When I think back on all the crap I learned…
Kodachrome* When I think back On all the crap I learned in…
Late in the Evening First thing I remember I was lying in my bed I couldn't…
Learn How to Fall You got to learn how to fall Before you learn to…
Leaves That Are Green I was 21 years when I wrote this song I'm 22…
Let Me Live in Your City You got the cool water when the fever runs high You…
Lighthouse Point Way down by the water Is place called Lighthouse Point And i…
Loneliness Mmm, loneliness You're gone and I must confess My nights are…
Long Long Day It's been a long, long day I got some run-down shoes Ain't…
Look at That Look at that Look at this Drop a stone in the abyss Then…
Love Cool me Cool my fever high Hold me when I cry I need…
Love & Blessings Love and blessings Simple kindness Fell like rain on thirsty…
Love and Blessings Love and blessings Simple kindness Fell like rain on thirs…
Love and Hard Times God and His only Son Paid a courtesy call on Earth One…
Love Is Eternal Sacred Light Love is eternal sacred light Free from the shackles of time …
Loves Me Like a Rock (Mhm, that's that, that's that groove) When I was a little…
Make a Wish Du du du du li du Wake up Du du du du…
Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard The mama pajama rolled out of bed And she ran to…
Mother and Child Reunion No, I would not give you false hope On this strange…
Mrs Robinson And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson Jesus loves you more than…
My Little Town In my little town, I grew up believing God keeps his…
My Only Defense The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
Night Game There were two men down And the score tied In the bottom…
Nobody Who knows my secret broken bone Who feels my flesh when…
Obvious Child Well I'm accustomed to the smooth ride Or maybe I'm a…
Oh Marion The boy's got brains He just don't use 'em that's all The…
Old The first time I heard â??Peggy Sueâ?? I was 12 years…
Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean Once upon a time there was an ocean But now it's…
One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor There's been some hard feelings here About some words that w…
One-Trick Pony He's a one-trick pony One trick is all that horse can…
Only One You The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
Outrageous It's outrageous to line your pockets off the misery of…
Papa Hobo It's carbon and monoxide The ole Detroit perfume It hangs on…
Paranoia Blues I got some so-called friends They'll smile right to my face …
Patterns The night sets softly With the hush of falling leaves, Casti…
Peace Like a River Peace like a river ran through the city Long past the…
Pigs Sheep and Wolves Big and fat Pig's supposed to look like that Barnyard thug S…
Play Me a Sad Song Saturday night and I'm all alone Don't have a date, I'm…
Proof Begin again No easy trick without a guide or walking stick B…
Quality The way you move It's got quality Come on baby, let's go…
Questions for the Angels A pilgrim on a pilgrimage Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge …
Quiet I am heading for a time of quiet When my restlessness…
Rene and George Magritte with Their Dog After the War Rene and Georgette Magritte With their dog after the war Ret…
Rewrite I'm workin' on my rewrite, that's right Gonna change the end…
Rhythm Of The Saints Soon our fortunes will be made, my darling And we leave…
Rock'n Roll Skaters Waltz She wore a short velvet skirt and the brightest red…
Run That Body Down Went to my doctor yesterday She said I seem to be…
Satin Summer Nights I been sleeping on the roof of my building It's cooler…
Scarborough Fair Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary…
Señorita With a Necklace of Tears I have a wisdom tooth Inside my crowded face I have a…
She Loves Me Like A Rock (Mhm, that's that, that's that groove) When I was a littl…
She Moves On I feel good It's a fine day The way the sun hits…
Shoplifting Clothes Simon-Walcott Vampires Din Din Din Din Shopliftin cloth…
Shy Dum, dum, dum, Dum-dee-dooby-dooby Dum, dum, dum, Dum-dee-do…
Silent Eyes Silent eyes Watching Jerusalem Make her bed of stones Silen…
Sleepy Sleepy Baby Du-du-du-du-du... Du-du-du-du-du... Sleepy sleepy baby Is i…
Slip Slidin Away Slip slidin' away Slip slidin' away You know the nearer your…
So Beautiful or So What I'm gonna make a chicken gumbo Toss some sausage in the…
Soft Parachutes Soft parachutes Fourth of July Villages burning Returnin…
Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy Some folks' lives roll easy as a breeze Driftin' through a…
Something So Right You've got the cool water When the fever runs high You've go…
Song About the Moon If you want to write a song about the moon Walk…
Spiral Highway Ev'ry bar and grill Ev'ry greasy spoon Anywhere a quarter …
Spirit Voices We sailed up a river wide as a sea And slept…
St. Judy Little sleepy boy Do you know what time it is? Well the…
St. Judy's Comet Little sleepy boy Do you know what time it is? Well the…
Still Crazy After All These Years I met my old lover on the street last night She…
Stranded in a Limosine He was a mean individual He had a heart like a…
Street Angel My heart goes out to the street angels Working their way…
Sunday Afternoon Salvador, the afternoon sunlight is folding around us, The d…
Sure Don't Feel Like Love I registered to vote today Felt like a fool Had to do…
Take Me to the Mardi Gras C'mon take me to the Mardi Gras Where the people sing…
Tenderness What can I do What can I do Much of what you…
That Was Your Mother A long time ago, yeah Before you was born dude When I…
That's Me Well I'll just skip the boring parts chapters one, two,…
That's Where I Belong Somewhere in a burst of glory Sound becomes a song I'm bound…
That's Why God Made the Movies When I was born My mother died She said,'Bye bye, baby,…
The Afterlife After I died, and the makeup had dried I went back…
The Boxer I am just a poor boy Though my story's seldom told I…
The Boy in the Bubble It was a slow day And the sun was beating On the…
The Coast A family of musicians took shelter for the night In the…
The Cool Moves like a fist through traffic Anger and no one can…
The Cool, Cool River Moves like a fist through the traffic Anger and no one…
The Greatest Story Ever Told Tell me a story Tell me a story I used to be…
The Late Great Johnny Ace I was reading a magazine And thinking of a rock and…
The Lipstick On Your Lips If you should walk right up to me And i ask…
The Obvious Child Well I'm accustomed to the smooth ride Or maybe I'm a…
The Rhythm Of The Saints Soon our fortunes will be made, my darling And we leave…
The Side of a Hill On the side of a hill in a land called…
The Sound of Silence Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you…
The Teacher There once was a teacher of great renown Whose words were…
The Vampires If you got the balls then come on me te…
The Werewolf Milwaukee man led a fairly decent life Made a fairly decent…
The Wobble Hey! Get up Get up and do the wobble Oh, won′t you…
Thelma If a feeling's born and no one complains Well that's good…
Think Too Much They say that the left side of the brain Controls…
Tick Tock Tick tock tick tick tock tick tock tick Tick tock tick…
Time Is an Ocean I speak to you in Jesus? name As Jesus speaks through…
Tony Hernandez You know it takes a strong man to survive Tony, Tony…
Trailway Bus Lazarus A passenger traveling quietly conceals Himself With …
Trailways Bus A passenger traveling quietly conceals himself With a magazi…
Train in the Distance She was beautiful as southern skies the night he met…
Under African Skies Joseph's face was black as night The pale yellow moon shone…
Virgil I've got a wife and four grown children I can't afford…
Wartime Prayers Prayers offered in times of peace are silent conversations, …
Was A Sunny Day Was a sunny day Not a cloud was in the sky Not…
When Numbers Get Serious I have a number in my head Thought I don't know…
Wristband I stepped outside the backstage door to breathe some nicotin…
You Can Cal Me Al A man walks down the street He says, "Why am I…
You Can Call Me Al A man walks down the street He says why am I…
You Can Call Me Al A man walks down the street He says, "why am I…
You're Kind You're kind, you're so kind You rescued me when I was…
You're the One May twelve angels guard you While you sleep Maybe that's a w…