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."
April Come She Will
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old
"April Come She Will" is a beautiful song about the cycle of seasons, the passing of time, and the fleeting nature of love. Each stanza describes a different month of the year, and the changes that come with it. The song begins with "April, come she will" - a simple observance of the upcoming season. When the streams are ripe and swelled with rain, we know that April has arrived, and the earth is being renewed.
As the song progresses, Simon draws parallels between the natural cycle of the seasons and the cycle of love. May is a time for rest and reflection, as we hold our loved ones close in our arms. June brings restlessness and a need for change, as we begin to search for something more. July is a time of departure, when love flies away unexpectedly, leaving us to wonder what went wrong.
The song reaches its climax in the fourth stanza, as Simon observes that "August, die she must" - an acknowledgement that all things must come to an end. The autumn winds blow chilly and cold, signaling the approach of September and the memory of love that has now grown old. It's a poignant conclusion that reminds us to cherish the moments we have, and to be grateful for the love we've shared.
Line by Line Meaning
April, come she will
The month of April will eventually come
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
The rainy season will make the streams full
May, she will stay
May will remain for a while
Resting in my arms again
I will hold her again after a period of separation
June, she'll change her tune
In June, things will change
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
There will be a sense of unease and unpredictability
July, she will fly
July will pass by quickly
And give no warning to her flight
It will end without any indication
August, die she must
August will come to an end
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
The weather turns colder in autumn
September, I'll remember
I will recall what has happened in September
A love once new has now grown old
Love that was once new has now aged and changed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@reginaldoassuncao9485
April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old
@semagcr
April come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain;
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again.
June, she'll change her tune,
In restless walks she'll prowl the night;
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight.
August, die she must,
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold;
September I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old.
@luciaaliaga5997
April, comes she will,
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain.
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again.
June, she'll change her tune.
In restless walks she'll prowl the night.
July, she will fly,
And give no warning to her flight.
August, die she must.
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold.
September, I'll remember.
A love once new has now grown old.
@zenodotusofathens2122
I'm just an old guy sitting alone in a park playing this song and when I heard "August, die she must" I broke into tears thinking about my wife who died 11 years ago. Yesterday would have been our anniversary.
@belleame914
Oh God, I am so sorry for your loss...
@sarahbreisch4750
I'm so sorry. This song makes me cry too. I miscarried my first baby, in July of 2004. After I eloped with my husband in June of the same year. It's always been meaningful for me.
@rotterdammer5243
I`m sorry for your loss, I could`nt imagine.......But, count yourself lucky, You got to share a love which I have never experienced. I will die alone. Y`kow it`s"Better to of loved and loss than ever loved at all"...........
@layneannen
I know that pain also, songs can trigger emotions for sure. I am so deeply sorry for your loss!!
@lowellirish
You are loved...❤
@reginaldoassuncao9485
April, come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September, I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old
@meghandevito2205
Thank you
@PInk77W1
Thx
@jenniferloewenstein3538
This is one of the most wistful, beautiful songs they wrote… definitely underrated