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."
Bernadette
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the girl of my dreams
When I'm near you my future seems bright
Oh I want you to be my girl
I want you to be my movie
I am Sal Mineo and I need you so
Sweet Bernadette
Whoa you got style from your hair to your heels
Though my words may be jumbled
Still I'm telling you just how it feels
I love you
I love you
And the breeze that wraps around you
Satin summer nights
A girl I can't forget
Whoa you're the smile of the moon Bernadette
Dom dom dom doo
Well-a well I'm home
Dom dom dom doo
Well-a well I'm home
Wop, wop, wop, wop
Come with me
There's a place I want you to see
When the leaves are dark
I've got a hiding place in central park
And the sky is a coat of diamonds
There's a wooden cross over my bed
The city is lit with candles
They're shining for you Bernadette
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oo oo, Bernadette
Dom dom dom doo
Well-a well I'm home
Dom dom dom doo
Well-a well I'm home
Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop
The lyrics of "Bernadette" by Paul Simon tell a story of a man who is in love with a woman named Bernadette. He expresses his admiration for her and says that when he is near her, his future seems bright. He wants her to be his girl and compares himself to Sal Mineo, a famous actor from the 1950s who was known for his good looks and charm. The singer praises Bernadette's style, saying that even though his words may be jumbled, he wants to tell her how he feels. He says that he loves her and compares her to the smile of the moon.
The song takes on a dream-like quality as the singer sings about a place he wants to take Bernadette. This place is a hiding spot he has in Central Park that he describes as being surrounded by diamonds in the night sky. The lyrics also mention a wooden cross over his bed and candles that are lit in the city, shining for Bernadette. The song provides a sense of romantic nostalgia and wistfulness that is characteristic of Paul Simon's music.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa I got time on my hands tonight
I have nothing to do tonight and I am free to think about my love for Bernadette.
You're the girl of my dreams
Bernadette is the girl that Paul has always dreamed about and thinks about constantly.
When I'm near you my future seems bright
Just being around Bernadette makes Paul feel optimistic about his future.
Oh I want you to be my girl
Paul wants Bernadette to be his girlfriend and share his life with him.
I want you to be my movie
Paul wants to make memories with Bernadette that they will both cherish like a good movie.
I am Sal Mineo and I need you so
Paul is referring to the late Sal Mineo, a famous actor who was known for his good looks, and he feels a connection to him because of his love for Bernadette.
Sweet Bernadette
Paul thinks of Bernadette as a sweet and kind person and this is evident in the way he addresses her.
Whoa you got style from your hair to your heels
Paul thinks Bernadette is a stylish person and admires the way she dresses.
Though my words may be jumbled
Sometimes Paul struggles to express his feelings for Bernadette and this line acknowledges that.
Still I'm telling you just how it feels
Despite his struggles, Paul is still trying to express his love for Bernadette.
I love you
This simple statement speaks to the depth of Paul's feelings for Bernadette.
And the breeze that wraps around you
This line refers to the way the wind seems to surround and encompass Bernadette.
Satin summer nights
This line describes the warm, comfortable evenings that Paul envisions spending with Bernadette.
A girl I can't forget
Paul knows he will never forget Bernadette and the way she makes him feel.
Whoa you're the smile of the moon Bernadette
This line suggests that Bernadette is beautiful and has a radiance that shines like the moon.
Dom dom dom doo
These sounds are musical and playful, contributing to the light, happy tone of the song.
Well-a well I'm home
The repetition of this line creates a sense of comfort and security in the idea of home.
Wop, wop, wop, wop
Similar to the previous line, these sounds are rhythmic and contribute to the upbeat tone of the song.
Come with me
Paul is inviting Bernadette to join him on a journey, both literally and figuratively.
There's a place I want you to see
Paul has a specific place in mind that he thinks will be special for them to experience together.
When the leaves are dark
This line creates a sense of romance and adventure by suggesting a specific time of day to visit this special place.
I've got a hiding place in central park
This line is both romantic and playful, suggesting that Paul has secrets to share with Bernadette.
And the sky is a coat of diamonds
This line captures the beauty and wonder of moments spent with a loved one.
There's a wooden cross over my bed
This line is more mysterious, but could suggest that Paul is a religious person or has other secrets to share with Bernadette.
The city is lit with candles
This line creates a romantic, dreamlike image of the city where Paul and Bernadette live.
They're shining for you Bernadette
This line suggests that Paul sees the world around him as being just as in love with Bernadette as he is.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Similar to other repeated sounds in the lyrics, these are playful and contribute to the fun, upbeat tone of the song.
Oo oo, Bernadette
This line simply repeats Bernadette's name, emphasizing her importance to the song's narrative.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WALCOTT, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind