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."
All Because Of You
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said
Give me some relief
He said
Tell me what's the matter with you, boy...
I said
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
So I went to my drugstore
I said
Do the drugs on me...
He said
Oh, what can you do
When it's all because of you
You know, it's all because you wouldn't say, I do
Ain't nobody loves me
Nobody needs my love
This is my only life
(...)
Holy Moses, what's this goin' on
I said
I can't believe it's true
Brain's all messed up, can't be straight
And it's all because of you
That's right, it's all because of you
Yes, it's all because of you
It's all because you would not say we're through
So I went to the gypsy woman
I said
Give me some relief
She said
I ain't got no potions and no special kind of weed
She said
I'll tell you what to do
She said, I'll tell you what to do,
She said, go away, take a week or two
I ain't got nobody
Ever since you been gone
Love is an...
Going away, another lover
Is an easy game
I won the same way too
Said it's all because of you
All because of you
All because of you
All
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I said
It's all because of you
All because of you
That's right, it's all because of you
The lyrics of Paul Simon's song All Because Of You describe the singer's disappointment and despair after a failed romantic relationship. It appears that the person he was in love with did not reciprocate his feelings and refused to marry him despite his persistent requests. The first two stanzas reveal that the man is so distressed that he has to consult a doctor and a drugstore owner to find relief from his emotional pain. However, none of them can help him because the root of his discomfort is the unrequited love that keeps haunting him. As a result, he feels alone and unwanted and believes that his life has lost its meaning.
The third, fourth, and fifth stanzas suggest that the man's mental state has deteriorated to the point of confusion and paranoia. He cannot believe what has happened to him and cannot make sense of his thoughts. He tries to seek solace from a gypsy woman, but she too tells him that she cannot provide him with any cure. Eventually, the man feels abandoned and defeated, as he realizes that he has lost the love of his life and that he cannot turn back time to fix his mistakes.
Overall, the lyrics of All Because Of You depict the devastating effects that unrequited love can have on a person's psyche. The song conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair that is almost palpable, and it emphasizes the importance of mutual affection and respect in any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to my doctor
I went to see a medical professional for help
I said
I spoke to my doctor about my health concerns
Give me some relief
Provide me with a solution to alleviate my discomfort
He said
The doctor responded to my request
Tell me what's the matter with you, boy...
Explain to me what is causing your health issues
I said
I responded to the doctor's inquiry
It's all because of you
My struggles are a result of your actions
It's all because of you
My hardships are due to your behavior
It's all because you wouldn't say, I do
Your refusal to commit to a romantic relationship is the root of my troubles
So I went to my drugstore
I visited a pharmacy to acquire medication
I said
I communicated my need to the pharmacist
Do the drugs on me...
Provide me with the necessary drugs to alleviate my issues
He said
The pharmacist responded to my request
Oh, what can you do
There may not be a solution to my problem
When it's all because of you
The cause of my distress is your fault
You know, it's all because you wouldn't say, I do
Your refusal to commit to me is the source of my troubles
Ain't nobody loves me
I do not feel loved by anyone
Nobody needs my love
No one is interested in receiving my love
This is my only life
This is my one and only existence
Holy Moses, what's this goin' on
I am shocked by the events taking place
I said
I vocalized my confusion
I can't believe it's true
I am having trouble accepting the reality of the situation
Brain's all messed up, can't be straight
I am mentally disorganized and confused
And it's all because of you
You are the root cause of my distress
That's right, it's all because of you
It is indeed your fault
Yes, it's all because of you
There is no doubt that you are the cause
It's all because you would not say we're through
Your unwillingness to end our relationship caused my suffering
So I went to the gypsy woman
I sought the advice of a fortune-teller
I said
I expressed my desire for relief
Give me some relief
Offer me a solution to my problems
She said
The gypsy woman responded to my request
I ain't got no potions and no special kind of weed
I do not possess any magical remedies or substances
She said
The fortune-teller continued her response
I'll tell you what to do
I can offer you advice
She said, I'll tell you what to do,
The fortune-teller repeated her offer of guidance
She said, go away, take a week or two
The solution to my woes is to take some time away from the situation
I ain't got nobody
I do not have anyone in my life
Ever since you been gone
Since you left my life
Love is an...
Love can be a difficult thing
Going away, another lover
After you left, I began seeing someone else
Is an easy game
It is easy to start a new relationship
I won the same way too
I also found someone else easily
Said it's all because of you
Your actions are the cause of my problems
All because of you
You are responsible for everything wrong in my life
All because of you
Everything terrible can be traced back to you
All
Without exception
All because of you
Your choices and behavior have caused all of my suffering
All because of you
I have no one else to blame but you
That's right, it's all because of you
You are the one responsible for my pain and hardships
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jon Dear
Fascinating to hear the early version.
Bernard Durand
Oh thanks a lot ! The first time I see that. One trick pony.
Elegido Propuesto
Great. But Oh, Marion is more exciting.
The only time
That love is an easy game
Is when two other people
Are playing it
David Jimenez
Prefiero mucho mas la version de Oh Marion
I prefer Oh Marion a lot better
eloy martinez
Hola, David. También prefiero Oh, Marion pero me resulta refrescante esta versión. Lo bueno es que podemos disfrutar de ambas en el cd, edición con tres bonus tracks entre los que está este. Saludos