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."
Congradulations
Paul Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, seems like you've done it again,
And
I ain't had such misery since
I don't know when,
Oh, and I don't know when,
Oh, and I don't know when.
And many more waiting in the lines
In the courtrooms today,
Oh, in the courtrooms today.
Love is not a game,
Love is not a toy,
Love's no romance.
Love will do you in, and love will wash you out,
And needless to say you won't stand a chance,
And you won't stand a chance.
I'm hungry for learnin',
Won't you answer me, please.
Can a man and a woman live together in peace,
Oh, live together in peace?
In Paul Simon's song "Congratulations," the singer is addressing someone who has achieved something significant, but the singer is not happy for this person. The lyrics express resentment and jealousy towards this person's success, as the singer says "seems like you've done it again, and I ain't had such misery since I don't know when." The repeated "Oh, and I don't know when" emphasizes the singer's frustration and confusion about their emotions.
The second verse shifts to a commentary on society, as the singer observes people slipping away and waiting in courtrooms. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the legal system or the general dysfunction in society. The final verse poses a question about the possibility of a harmonious relationship between a man and a woman, suggesting a desire for something that seems unattainable. The line "love will do you in, and love will wash you out" acknowledges the challenges of relationships and the potential for heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Congratulations!
Expressing a sarcastic tone to signify the opposite meaning of the word congratulations. In this case, it is meant to mean the opposite of happy about someone's success.
Oh, seems like you've done it again,
The author recognizes that the other person is celebrating an accomplishment.
And I ain't had such misery since,
The author acknowledges a frustrating or unhappy circumstance in their life.
I don't know when,
The author does not have a specific time frame for when they last experienced misery.
Oh, and I don't know when,
The author restates their uncertainty about when they experienced such misery.
I notice so many people slippin' away,
The author is observing the prevalence of people leaving or falling apart.
And many more waiting in the lines,
The author is noting a significant amount of people participating in some sort of bureaucratic system.
In the courtrooms today,
The author is specifically referencing a courthouse environment, likely in relation to legal proceedings or disputes.
Love is not a game,
The author is cautioning against viewing love as a casual or trivial pursuit.
Love is not a toy,
The author is warning against viewing love as a mere instrument of entertainment.
Love's no romance.
The author is expressing a disillusionment with the common notion of romantic love.
Love will do you in, and love will wash you out,
The author is highlighting the destructive power of love, potentially leading to personal ruin or emotional depletion.
And needless to say you won't stand a chance,
The author is emphasizing the severity of the consequences of being involved with love, and how it can overwhelm a person.
And you won't stand a chance.
The author reiterates the idea that almost nobody is equipped to handle the emotional toll of love.
I'm hungry for learnin',
The author is expressing an eagerness to gain knowledge.
Won't you answer me please?
The author is requesting a response to a question.
Can a man and a woman live together in peace,
The author is posing a hypothetical question about the ability for individuals of different genders to coexist without contention.
Oh, live together in peace?
The author repeats the question to emphasize its importance and seek an answer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind