Born at the Right Time
Paul Simon Lyrics


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Down among the reeds and rushes
A baby boy was found
His eyes as clear as centuries
His silky hair was brown

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time

Me and my buddies we are traveling people
We like to go down to restaurant row
Spend those Euro-dollars
All the way from Washington to Tokyo
I see them in the airport lounge
Upon their mother's breast
They follow me with open eyes
Their uninvited guest

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time

Too many people on the bus from the airport
Too many holes in the crust of the earth
The planet groans
Every time it registers another birth

But down among the reeds and rushes
A baby girl was found
Her eyes as clear as centuries
Her silky hair was brown

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime




And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Born at the Right Time" by Paul Simon are filled with a poetic resonance that is both introspective and observational. The song speaks to a sense of renewal, rebirth, and rebirth of one's self, one's place in the world, and one's relationship with humanity. The first verse speaks of a baby boy that was found among the reeds and rushes, his eyes clear as centuries, and his hair silky brown. The imagery here is that of a new beginning, a fresh start, and an innocence that is free from the scars of the world.


The second verse shifts to a first-person point of view, as the singer and his friends travel around the world and take in its many sights and sounds. The singer sees babies in airport lounges and reflects on the uninvited guest that he is in their lives. He speaks of his travels as a form of escape, a way to leave behind the burdens of life and to gain a fresh perspective.


The final verse returns to the theme of renewal, this time with a baby girl found among the reeds and rushes. Her eyes are clear as centuries, just as the boy's were, and her hair is silky brown. The repetition of these images reinforces the notion of rebirth and gives the song a cyclical structure.


Overall, "Born at the Right Time" is a deeply introspective and reflective song that touches on themes of renewal, rebirth, and the fleeting nature of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Down among the reeds and rushes
In a humble, serene setting


A baby boy was found
An innocent child was discovered


His eyes as clear as centuries
His eyes were wise beyond his years


His silky hair was brown
His hair was soft and innocent


Never been lonely
Has never felt truly alone


Never been lied to
Has always been told the truth


Never had to scuffle in fear
Has never had to fight for survival


Nothing denied to
Has always had what they needed


Born at the instant
They came into the world immediately


The church bells chime
The world welcomes them


And the whole world whispering
Everyone's talking about them


Born at the right time
Born at the perfect moment


Me and my buddies we are traveling people
I'm a traveler with my friends


We like to go down to restaurant row
We enjoy exploring different restaurants


Spend those Euro-dollars
We spend money on our travels


All the way from Washington to Tokyo
We travel far and wide


I see them in the airport lounge
I see babies everywhere, even in airports


Upon their mother's breast
Nursing from their mother


They follow me with open eyes
The babies watch me curiously


Their uninvited guest
I am a stranger to them


Too many people on the bus from the airport
The world is overpopulated


Too many holes in the crust of the earth
The planet is being damaged


The planet groans
The planet is suffering


Every time it registers another birth
Every time a new person is born


But down among the reeds and rushes
In a quiet, peaceful place


A baby girl was found
Another innocent child was discovered


Her eyes as clear as centuries
Her eyes were also wise beyond her years


Her silky hair was brown
Her hair was also soft and innocent




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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