Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, Simon's career has spanned six decades. Born in New Jersey, Simon grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City and developed an interest in rock music in his teens.

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."

Bigger and Better Things
Paul Simon Lyrics

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Holding hands at a movie show
-- rides in a car
Cherry floats at a soda shop
It's been fun so far

But let's go on to bigger and better things
Like Chapel bells (bell bell)
Wedding ring (ring ring)

Onward to bigger and better things
I'm ready, how 'bout you?

Cheek to cheek at a record--
Dressing up for a day
Shooting ducks at the carnival
It's been real real great

But let's go on to bigger and better things
Like Chapel bells (bell bell)
Wedding ring (ring ring)
Onward to bigger and better things
I'm ready, how 'bout you?

Football games every Saturday
Wienie roasts at the shore
All of this has been wonderful
And there's more in store

So let's go on to bigger and better things
Like Chapel bells (bell bell)
Weddding ring (ring ring on)
Onward to bigger and better things
I'm ready (ready) how 'bout you?

(Chapel bells and ring rings, bigger and better things)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Paul Simon's song "Bigger and Better Things" are about a couple who are reflecting on their past experiences and expressing their desire to move on to bigger and better things. The lyrics paint a picture of a young couple who have been enjoying simple pleasures like going to the movies, holding hands in a car, having cherry floats at a soda shop, dressing up for a day and going to football games every Saturday. While they have been enjoying these moments, they also yearn for more meaningful experiences, like getting married and living a full life together. They are excited about the idea of bigger and better things, and they are both ready to move forward and embrace the future.

The repeated refrain "Chapel bells, wedding ring, onward to bigger and better things" suggests that the couple is ready to take the next big step in their relationship and get married. The bells and ring symbolize the commitment and love they have for each other, and the bigger and better things represent the idea that their future together will be even more fulfilling than their past experiences.

Overall, the song "Bigger and Better Things" is about the anticipation and excitement of starting a new chapter in life with the one you love. The lyrics serve as a celebration of the joys of a committed relationship and the excitement of a future filled with possibility.

Bigger and Better ThingsPaul Simon Lyrics

Bigger and Better Things
Paul Simon Lyrics