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."
Cars Are Cars
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
Similarly made
Similarly sold
In a motorcade
Abandoned when they're old
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
Engine in the front
Jack in the back
Wheels take the brunt
Pinion and a rack
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
But people are strangers
They change with the curve
From time zone to time zone
As we can observe
They shut down their borders
And think they're immune
They stand on their differences
And shoot at the moon
But cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
Drive â??em on the left
Drive â??em on the right
Susceptible to theft
In the middle of the night
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
I once had a car
That was more like a home
I lived in it, loved in it
Polished its chrome
If some of my homes
Had been more like my car
I probably wouldn't have
Traveled this far
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
Cars are cars
All over the world
The song "Cars Are Cars" by Paul Simon is a commentary on the universal nature of cars and the differences between them and people. It emphasizes the idea that cars are the same no matter where you go in the world, but people are vastly different from one another. The song starts with the repetition of the line "Cars are cars, all over the world," emphasizing the universal nature of cars. However, Simon also notes that cars are "Similarly made/ Similarly sold/ In a motorcade/ Abandoned when they're old." This implies that while cars may be the same, they are also disposable and easily replaced.
The second half of the song focuses on the differences between cars and people. Simon sings about how people are strangers, constantly changing, crossing borders, and thinking they are immune to others. The lines "They shut down their borders/ And think they're immune/ They stand on their differences/ And shoot at the moon" suggest that people tend to create divisions between themselves, whereas cars remain the same.
In the final verse, Simon reflects on a car he once had, which was like a home to him. He explores the idea that if his actual homes had been more like his car, he may not have had to travel so far in life. This verse reminds us that cars can hold a special place in our lives and that they can be more than just modes of transportation. Overall, "Cars are Cars" provides a thoughtful take on the differences between people and cars and how they interact with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Cars are cars
Automobiles are the same everywhere
All over the world
No matter the location, the uniformity of vehicles remains the same.
Similarly made
The manufacturing of cars follows a standard process globally.
Similarly sold
Cars are marketed and distributed using almost identical patterns everywhere.
In a motorcade
Cars are always part of a larger group when they move in volume.
Abandoned when they're old
Cars reach end of life at some point and are usually no longer used.
Engine in the front
The engine is situated at the front of the car.
Jack in the back
The jack that raises the car is placed at the opposite end from the engine.
Wheels take the brunt
The wheels of the car are tasked with carrying most of the vehicle's load.
Pinion and a rack
The gears that regulate the movement of the car are usually located on the sides.
But people are strangers
People cannot be compared to cars as they have different personalities and characteristics.
They change with the curve
People adapt to different situations and circumstances just like their moving counterparts.
From time zone to time zone
As individuals travel from one region to another, their attitudes and preferences change.
As we can observe
People's behavior can be studied and tracked when they move from one location to another.
They shut down their borders
Countries have strict measures to monitor who enters their territory.
And think they're immune
Countries with strict laws think they are protected from outside interference.
They stand on their differences
Countries and cultures emphasize their distinct qualities and differences rather than focus on similarities.
And shoot at the moon
People in power exert their energy and resources into meaningless ventures.
Drive â??em on the left
Cars can be driven on the left side of the road in some countries.
Drive â??em on the right
Cars can be driven on the right side of the road in other countries.
Susceptible to theft
Cars can be vulnerable to theft everywhere.
In the middle of the night
Thieves prey on cars mostly at night.
I once had a car
The artist once had a vehicle of his own.
That was more like a home
The car meant a lot more to him than a mere mode of transportation.
I lived in it, loved in it
He spent a considerable amount of time in the car and enjoyed doing mundane tasks there.
Polished its chrome
He took great care of the car's exterior and ensured it looked aesthetically pleasing.
If some of my homes
The character compares his homes previously to the car.
Had been more like my car
If his homes had given him as much comfort as the car did, he wouldn't have traveled as far.
I probably wouldn't have
The author most likely would have stayed in one place.
Traveled this far
He wouldn't have been compelled to explore new places and experiences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind