Simon's career began with a short-lived music group with her sister Lucy as The Simon Sisters. They had a minor hit in 1964 called "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod", and made three albums together before Lucy left to get married and start a family. Later, Carly Simon collaborated with eclectic New York rockers Elephant's Memory for about six months. She also appeared in the 1971 Milos Forman movie Taking Off, playing an auditioning singer, and sang "Long Term Physical Effects", which was included in Taking Off, the 1971 soundtrack for the movie.
Simon's major breakthrough was 1972's No Secrets. The album spawned several successful singles, including Simon's biggest hit, "You're So Vain". Simon continued to produce successful albums through the 1970s and early 1980s, moving into film scores after she was dropped by her record label in 1985. She performed the main title song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me - "Nobody Does It Better" which was a worldwide hit in 1977.
Playing Possum
Carly Simon Lyrics
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And browsed in the hippest newsstands
The we started our own newspaper
Gave the truth about Uncle Sam
We loved to be so radical
But like a ragged love affair
Some became disenchanted
And some of us just got scared
Now are you playing possum
Keeping a low profile
Are you playing possum for a while
Then you moved to the country
Bought a farm and tilled the land
Then you took your books to India
And got hooked on a holy man
But the wells they do run dry
And the speeches turn to words
And the woods are full of tigers
And freedom's for the birds
Now you run a bookstore
And you've taken on a wife
You wear patches on your elbows
And you live an easy life
But are you finally satisfied
Is it what you were lookin' for
Or does it sneak up on you
That there might be something more
The opening lines of Carly Simon's song 'Playing Possum' paint a picture of a young couple who, during the Vietnam War era, moved to the radical and hip environs of Cambridge. The reference to browsing through the hippest newsstands and starting their own newspaper resonates with the countercultural ethos of the times. The rebellious spirit of the singer, and their cohorts in the war on the establishment, shines through in their desire to give the truth about Uncle Sam. However, being radical is not without its trials, as the lyrics suggest. Like a ragged love affair, some became disenchanted, and some got scared. The imagery captures the highs and lows of being countercultural, and how disillusionment can creep up on those who refuse to accept the status quo.
When the singer and their partner moved to the country and bought a farm, they seemed to have found a new way to live. However, as the lyrics reveal, even this idyll was temporary. They soon turned to India, seeking a deeper understanding of spirituality, inspired by a holy man. But even holy men have their limitations, and the couple soon realized that the wells run dry, and speeches turn to words. The woods may be full of tigers, and freedom's for the birds. The couple's search for meaning and purpose, in a world that is often limited by its horrors and pitfalls, is a universal theme.
The final lines of the song reveal that the couple has adjusted to a more settled existence. They run a bookstore, wear patches on their elbows, and live an easy life. However, the question remains whether they are finally satisfied or whether there's something more that they crave. The lyrics suggest that life can sneak up on you and that you are never truly done with searching for something more. In summary, the song 'Playing Possum' is a poignant exploration of the human desire to seek meaning and purpose, and how this quest can take various forms throughout a person's life journey.
Line by Line Meaning
We lived up here in Cambridge
We were living in Cambridge at the time
And browsed in the hippest newsstands
We used to read newspapers that were considered cool at that time
The we started our own newspaper
We started our own newspaper company
Gave the truth about Uncle Sam
Our newspaper reported the truth about the United States government
We loved to be so radical
We enjoyed being unconventional and rebellious
But like a ragged love affair
However, being radical was not always easy and it was like a turbulent relationship
Some became disenchanted
Some of us lost interest in our cause
And some of us just got scared
While some of us got frightened due to the risks involved in our activism
Now are you playing possum
Are you pretending to be asleep or dead?
Keeping a low profile
Are you now trying to avoid the limelight?
Are you playing possum for a while
Are you deliberately avoiding attention for the time being?
Then you moved to the country
Then, you left the city for a more rural area
Bought a farm and tilled the land
You bought a farm and started farming
Then you took your books to India
You then travelled to India with your books
And got hooked on a holy man
You got fascinated or inspired by a spiritual leader
But the wells they do run dry
But eventually, things stop giving their abundance
And the speeches turn to words
The speeches lose their impact and become just words
And the woods are full of tigers
The situation around you is threatening with dangers lurking all around
And freedom's for the birds
The freedom is just illusory and elusive
Now you run a bookstore
Now you're running a bookshop
And you've taken on a wife
Now you're married
You wear patches on your elbows
You wear elbow patches, probably suggestive of a leisurely lifestyle
And you live an easy life
You live a placid and comfortable life
But are you finally satisfied
But are you completely happy now?
Is it what you were lookin' for
Is this what you dreamed of?
Or does it sneak up on you
Or did it slowly come to you?
That there might be something more
That there could be something greater or different?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLY SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind