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."
Biko
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
The man is dead
You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
The man is dead
And the eyes of the world are watching now, watching now
The above lyrics are from the song "Biko" by Paul Simon, which was released in 1987. The song was written in memory of Steve Biko, a South African anti-apartheid activist who was killed in police custody in 1977. September '77 refers to the month in which Biko died. The first stanza of the song describes the day of Biko's death in police room 619, and the repetition of the phrase "Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko" reflects the anger and frustration of the singer towards Biko's unjust death. The phrase "Yihla Moja" is a traditional African mourning chant, which is a very emotional and powerful way of remembering someone who has passed away.
The second stanza describes the impact of Biko's death on the singer's life. The lyrics convey a sense of emptiness and despair, with the outside world appearing colorless and lifeless. The red in the dream symbolizes the bloodshed, violence and pain of injustice. This stanza reflects the emotional toll that Biko's death had on those who cared about him.
The final stanza of the song is a call to action. The lyrics suggest that Biko's death was a spark that ignited a flame of resistance against apartheid, and that this flame could not be extinguished. The phrase "you can't blow out a fire" suggests that the struggle for justice and equality will continue in the face of adversity. The reference to "the eyes of the world" suggests that Biko's death was not just a local event, but a symbol of a wider struggle for human rights around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
September '77
The month and year when the events of the song took place
Port Elizabeth weather fine
The weather conditions in Port Elizabeth at the time of the events
It was business as usual
Normal activities were taking place despite what was about to happen
In police room 619
The location where Steve Biko was detained and tortured
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Repetition of Biko's name to highlight its importance and as a way of calling out to him
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
A Xhosa chant meaning 'the fire is still burning'
The man is dead
The confirmation of Steve Biko's death after being tortured by the authorities
When I try to sleep at night
The struggle to come to terms with the death of Steve Biko
I can only dream in red
The trauma and pain of the events are always present
The outside world is black and white
The world seems to have lost its colours after the death of Steve Biko
With only one colour dead
The overwhelming feeling of grief and loss after the death of Steve Biko
You can blow out a candle
An analogy for trying to silence someone's message or voice
But you can't blow out a fire
An acknowledgement that the cause Steve Biko was fighting for will continue to exist and inspire even after his death
Once the flames begin to catch
The growing momentum and passion of people who have been inspired and motivated by Steve Biko's legacy
The wind will blow it higher
The unstoppable force and power of people who have united for a cause
And the eyes of the world are watching now, watching now
The global attention and awareness that the death of Steve Biko has brought to the apartheid regime and its injustice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind