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."
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover lyrics
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
She said it's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude
Fifty ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
She said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways
She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
The lyrics of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" describe a conversation between two people, where one person is offering advice to the other on how to end a relationship. The first verse suggests that the problem lies within the listener's mind, and the solution can be found by thinking logically. The singer offers to help her friend find a way to be free - because she believes there are "fifty ways to leave your lover."
In the second verse, the singer admits that she doesn't want to intrude, but feels she must repeat herself. She suggests a few ways to end a relationship in the chorus, such as "slip out the back, Jack" and "hop on the bus, Gus." The final verse reveals that the conversation is happening between two people who are intimate with one another, which adds an additional layer of complexity to their conversation.
The core message of the song is that difficult situations often require creative thinking, and sometimes the only way to find a way out is by talking things through with someone you trust. The lyrics encourage people to think outside the box and explore all of their options before making a decision, much like the singer and her friend are doing as they brainstorm ways to end the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The problem is all inside your head she said to me
Your struggle to leave your lover is something you have caused internally and is not caused by your partner.
The answer is easy if you take it logically
Leaving your lover is a practical decision that can be made by working through the situation logically.
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
I want to help you figure out how to break free from your current relationship.
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
There are many different options and strategies you can use to end your relationship.
She said it's really not my habit to intrude
I do not want to interfere in your personal life, but I feel that I must help.
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
I hope you don't misunderstand my words or interpret them in a way I do not intend.
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude
Despite the risk of being seen as rude, I will repeat myself so you clearly understand what I am saying.
You just slip out the back, Jack
Try and leave discreetly so your lover doesn't notice.
Make a new plan, Stan
Create a different approach to leave your lover than what you've tried before.
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Be straightforward about your intentions to leave your lover.
Just get yourself free
Escape from the relationship in any way you can.
Hop on the bus, Gus
Leave town or escape in a way that's quick and efficient.
You don't need to discuss much
You don't really need to have a conversation with your lover about why you're leaving.
Just drop off the key, Lee
Leave your lover's place and move on with your life.
And get yourself free
Break free from the relationship and move on with your life.
She said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I feel for you and your struggles, which is why I want to help you find a way out.
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I know you're hurting, and I want you to find happiness again.
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain about the fifty ways
Thank you for your kind words, but please explain what these fifty ways are.
She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
Let's take some time to think about this and talk about it further tomorrow.
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
I have faith that a little more time will help you see how to leave your lover.
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
Her words of encouragement and support resonated with me and I knew she was right.
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
There are an abundance of strategies and ways to end your relationship.
Fifty ways to leave your lover
There are so many different ways to escape and move on from your partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brenda Wood
Love this song.. my oldest son who would be 29 yrs old in Feb.. rip son.. loved this song.. his motto..
Brenda Wood
@Richard Gibbs ty so very true... Also his daughter keeps him alive... She will be 7 in January. Spit fire just like her daddyt
Richard Gibbs
Your memories of him keeps him "alive."
Beautiful.
WillBirdFace
Ur son had some great taste
LaMina Webster
I’m so very sorry for your loss!
Valentino King
I'm sorry for your loss...
TD Riehm
The drums are so on point marching into a battle sounding. A One. Great intro to any song glad it is this one.
Mirko San San
This song has helped me extricate myself from a few oppressive relationships over the years. There is great wisdom in it.
Renee Wilson
Great song with a smooth beat & lyrics that have a message aka classic
Guacamolly
I just took a trip down memory lane❤️